2.1
The Sun beamed in. Down onto Soul. Blinding her eyes so quickly that it made her groan and turn over to look away. It took so much effort just to open them back up. The idea of going back to bed, going back to that stillness in her mind. Such an empty night but anything… to ignore everything. But she can’t stay in bed. Today was camp, of course.

Camp. Again. Soul stared out to the closet door across from her bed. Laying upon her side. Shifting under her blanket with her wings gently stroking up along her sides.

Were they ready for another day? She sure wasn’t. Wow, it had been so long since she was so unwilling to even get out of bed. How long ago? Back when it was for the same reason. Wait a minute. Soul darted up. Looking down her belly to the blanket that swallowed up her legs and stomach, and the pillow to her back. Did I fall asleep like this? No… Soul remembered. She remembered crying into her blanket.

It felt so long. Not even remembering how long it lasted. Just coming back to this. Finding herself under her blankets and listening to the birds chirping outside her window and the slight gust of wind howling. I didn’t fall asleep like this. She turned her head over to her door. Still closed. Didn’t mean a thing. That’s why… I need to get up. Those two, that was so nice of them. Always so nice of them to do all the things they did for her. I wish I had been awake when they did. Soul looked down to the hoof she lifted up to her face. Staring at it. It would have been nice to be there… when they tucked me in. Running my hoof down their faces. It’s been so long. So long since I felt that feeling they gave me when they did. Now I’m just left here to wonder how it was they found me. I probably looked pretty silly. Not as silly as being carried in their hooves and settled to bed with both of them by her sides. Silly, wanting to be awake even so to see it happen. She sighed. They probably just wanted to be sure I fell asleep comfortably. Nothing more. Nice of them either way. Better than what she could expect of most ponies. I guess I can get up.

Soul looked outside to the Sun just rising over the great spires of the mighty cloud city sprawling all along the horizon. Looked like she would have to leave soon. Better get up before they come and get me out of bed. Anything to avoid Nimbus’ wake up singing. She leapt out of bed. Heading over to the door… stopping, stopping to look back. Can’t leave that. Soul grabbed hold of the hat off her bed. A new day. Where did all that hope go that I used to have? Hope for something good to happen.

2.2
Fresh and cleaned, Soul came out from the bathroom with a shine in her damp mane and actually eager to go downstairs and find out what that delicious smell was. See what it was those two were having and maybe get a hold of some for herself.

“Good morning, Soul” Nimbus greeted her as Soul came down to stand at the bottom of the steps. The mare was right there on one of the sofas leaning right over it. Happily waving her tail about behind her. She looked to be excited. “I was just about to come wake you.” “No, no” Soul said. “I can get up myself.” “Really? Aww, you’re all grown up finally” Nimbus giggled and she went back to lay back down upon the couch. Whatever. Finally grown up?

Soul went back to sniffing the air. Trying to figure out what it was but she couldn’t put her nose to it. Whatever it was, she wanted it. “I hope you left me some of what you made” Soul insisted as she headed over to the kitchen. Like her stomach reacted. Oh man, did it react. Rumbling so loudly that it almost hurt and made her wince with a sudden stop. Damn, she didn’t even know it would be like this to go to bed without food. She never normally wasn’t this hungry in the mornings. Please don’t leave me with cereal. That stuff wouldn’t cut it this morning. “I heard your tummy” Nimbus said out loud back at the couch. Making Soul blush a little. At least she wasn’t doing it in front of anypony. Making a fool out of herself… like usual. With nopony here to make fun of her or do anything mean to her. Quite the opposite, she could tell, when she saw the plate zip into view from out around the corner and Starry’s happy voice there to greet her.

2.3
“I hope you’re hungry” he said. Sifting the plate side to side in his mouth and he brought it over to Soul for the filly to see. To see, as he lowered his head and presented it to her, the unexpected. Her eyes lit up. What’s this? Did they?

Soul stared down at the plate and the stacks of food left on top of it. The stacks of pancakes. Steaming hot enough to make all the butter melt over it and into the syrup that Starry went to town with. Its smell told her that this is what she had come down to find. Not cereal, but something like this. “Is this for me?” she said in shock. “Yup” Starry said. “A special breakfast for a special morning.” Saying it like it was nothing. He just walked past Soul and brought the plate over to set it down upon the table where Nimbus waited for her at, leaning over the sofa. Both smiled back at her. What? They made this breakfast for me.

Soul glanced over to the plate again that lay behind both of them. “What’s the occasion?” Soul asked. Not like today actually was special. She already knew it was just going to be like any other. Soul still didn’t stop herself from slowly walking over to join them at the table. To get closer to that plate. Expectantly looking up to both of them. Her eagerness kicked in and her hooves clambered over the cloudy floor to get to them just at the thought of stopping her rumbling stomach. Starry stroked his hoof over her damp mane as she passed him. “It’s our congratulations to you, champ.” Congratulations for what? Soul threw herself up on the sofa. Leaning over to the plate and taking a whiff. “You did such a great job yesterday” Nimbus said. Sitting up next to Soul. The mare practically threw herself over to sit right up against the filly so their sides touched together. Soul didn’t move away.

“We wanted to celebrate with you but you went right to bed, we thought a nice breakfast would be good enough to make up for it. Do you like it?” Celebrate? What was worth celebrating? I didn’t do anything yesterday worth celebrating. Soul’s eyes fell off from the pancakes. Looking up to the steam that coiled out from it and spiraled into the air before it disappeared into the cloudy ceiling above. Like rainwater to come back down from that blue mass. Down upon her. She couldn’t bear to look at it any longer. Staring back down at the food. Food meant for her for messing up everything. I can’t believe I actually am wanting to eat this when there are so many others who are more deserving of it. At least those ponies tried their best to achieve what it was they wanted, unlike me. And I get to deal with it again today. …Right? “I have camp again today, right?” Soul asked. Blankly staring down at her pancakes. Waiting for whatever. “Yup, we got a special activity planned for today so I hope you’re excited” Nimbus confirmed. I get to deal with it again today. Go back to that place. To all those ponies who don’t know just how awful I am. The ones who do. Soul didn’t want to. She didn’t want to go back to them. To see those eyes of her own fur color that stared at her with so much pity. Sitting there and not even caring about what happens to me. She’s so cruel. All of… them… are so cruel. I don’t want to go back. “I… better eat up to get ready” Soul said. Nimbus clapped. “Yay!” The mare leaned in closer into Soul. Much happier than Soul would expect her to be in the morning or have seen her like this at all. She must really like my… enthusiasm. Hehe. The best I can do is try to make the most of it. For her and Starry. Today is not like today. Though it still feels like… its far worse.

“You’re going to have a blast today” Nimbus said blindly. I thought the same yesterday morning. Glad to see one of us thinks that. Soul came in at her pancakes with her mouth open. All I can do… is just hope for the best. Her teeth touched down. Holding her tears in.

I don’t want to go to camp today. Please…

2.4
Soul bit into her sandwich. Not the same as yesterday, she just got done wolfing down her bowl of strawberries as quick as she could. Hopeful to get her lunch done as soon as she could. Just like all morning long. Really wanting everything to get done as quickly as possible. But did the morning feel like such a long drag compared to yesterday. Maybe having something to do with spending most of it doing simple exercises such as stretching and strength building stuff she did on so many occasions at home. Except a bit less. Far less wingups than she was used to. A pretty easy morning if not for how boring it was.

Uneventful. Hoping to keep it that way, now that she was here with the two ponies she felt so much more comfortable being around. Amber and Breezy right there next to her, fighting over the last bit of a bag of chips it looked like. Breezy doing a pretty good job pinning it down under herself to keep Amber away from it as her older sister climbed on top of her. Saying something about making her breakfast this morning so she should get the chips. Strange that there wasn’t anything that made Soul want to step in. Their playing seemed so much more like just kid’s play.

A little laugh coming out every now and then until Amber started tickling her little sister. Enough to make Soul smile after all the worry she suffered through. So much like yesterday. Almost like the day had just repeated. Just waiting for something to happen in this boring day. She hoped for it to stay boring. Didn’t seem like it would be the case.

2.5
A special day? That is what Nimbus called it. Oh yeah, it had been special. Hours of nothing happening while Soul was hellbent on just doing her best to keep out of everything that happened. Some of the kids talked to her. Asked her some questions about how to help improve their flying. Nothing more. So relieved when she saw… him just pass by without even giving her an eye. More than happy to just get to lunch and her chance to hang out. Take a break from all the work.

Nimbus had been right, yesterday was an easy day. Today was nothing but work, easy, yet her wings felt so good at her sides. Blistering with pride in themselves with all the exercises she had them do today just to warm up for some sort of ‘trial’ run, which is what it was called. Something that would help them with coordinated agility? Soul didn’t know what that meant. Agility… maybe something she was already versed in. Letting the newbies catch up. She wished them the best of luck for whatever it was. She personally felt no worry. So terrible that the worry had shifted to something far more unnerving. Eating away at her. Making her constantly look over her shoulder every chance she could just fearing what could happen. The memories were so fresh, no matter how long ago they were. Like an open wound. She felt an itch on her wing. Refusing to scratch at it. Staring down at her sandwich.

“You okay, Soul?” Soul blinked down at it. How long was I staring at it? She looked back up. Amber had been the one asking her that with the bag of chips right in her mouth. Am I okay? “Yeah... I’m fine.”

She didn’t know if that was a lie. So much to be afraid of. When she really thought things would change but to feel this feeling again. I even skipped out on all the fun we had planned last night just because of this horrible place. In one day, so much had changed. Because I don’t see it as any different to what I am used to. Like I never left. Returned to something like this. And Nimbus said I could rely on her. That things would be different. Yes, they would be different if we had just kept doing what we had been doing and spend some time together doing something fun like I wanted. Then I wouldn’t be like this. …I can’t get mad at her. She had the best intentions. Doing so much to get me here and all the excitement in her face, more than she was used to. She really was happy being able to teach Soul here at the place she worked at so often. They even made me breakfast. Did so much for me lately. I really did impress them. But I just feel so broken right now.

Soul planted herself against the wall of the main building. Listening to the laughter and chatter of all the other ponies… just out there, out of sight. I impressed so much but I just don’t want to be near any of them anyways. Even if they like me. I’m just used to this. Still frowning around the two ponies who were the only ones who tried with her. Soul did her best to shake it away. “So I see you got your chips” Soul randomly commented to Amber. The filly happy to acknowledge she had overtaken her little sister who pouted to the side.

2.6
“Looks like you’re still stealing food from your sister, Amber.”

Both fillies heard. Turning to see, look upon the one filly who loomed out by the corner. Shadowed in it but her mane brightly glimmered in the colors of the earth. She made Soul’s heart skip a little. She didn’t even know that filly had been here. She hadn’t even seen her all morning.

Rainbow Dash stepped out with a bag in her mouth. Glancing over to the younger twin she passed by. Soul only saw it for a moment, that look of disapproval in Breezy’s face. “I didn’t steal from her” Amber said. Reeling on her hooves a little. Her face almost hit by the rainbow mane sifting so softly in the breeze. Stepping up to the older sister. That dead look in her magenta eyes. Like they beamed into the pony they looked upon but her voice came out so softly. “Old habits don’t die, huh? Oh well. As long as your sis is cool with it then you two can have all the fun you want taking food from one another.” Strutting past her, over to the one place Soul did not want her. Did not expect her. As shocking it was to see her here, but the filly came over to stand by her. So close, enough that Soul’s hind legs kicked in. Dropping her bitten sandwich back down into her bag and stepping up. Ready to grab her hat and bag. Just wanting to leave. I don’t want to deal with anypony else. Not even my ‘flight buddy.’

“Well it’s nice to talk to you too” Amber said to the filly, getting the hint from Soul that she was also ready to leave. Though they don’t know why. They can have their own reasons. I just can’t deal with this right now. This weird pony. Better to be with the few who actually bothered to try talking to me instead of ones like her. I can’t believe I have to fly with her here for the rest of the season. “Where are you going?” Soul stopped before her hooves even went. It made Amber and Breezy stop though, all of them turning back. Soul looking over to the rainbow maned filly staring off away from them. Clutching the bag in her mouth. Tighter. “Breezy and I got things to do before the next lesson, we thought Soul might want to come join us.” Nice save, Amber. Just them going off to eat their lunch elsewhere. Leave her behind.

2.7
Leave this pony who… grimaced hearing that. Dash’s wings twitched so slightly. The bag crumpling under her teeth, and the wrinkles in her nose. But she still spoke out.

“Oh… I don’t mean to keep you. But, I thought I could maybe talk with Soul about the practice we got this afternoon. Aren’t we flight buddies?” The filly glanced to Soul with an inquisitive eye. What the hell? Soul looked back to the twins. They didn’t seem to have something to say. Just looking to Soul for an answer. They expect me to have something? I’m just as confused. Really wanting to just get on out of here and leave this miserable pony to herself like she always wanted to be. Especially after yesterday, like she thought Soul had forgotten. It still hung. It still stung. That she could just leave me with those words yesterday, making me feel so pathetic when I really needed somepony to help me. She’s no better than anypony else that… Soul hated having to think of her like this. After she had seen something so bright in her yesterday. So different. As unique as her mane.

I really don’t know why I pity her after all that had been said about her and what she said to me. Except for that wince in her eye. Soul shook her head. “I’m gonna go eat with Amber” Soul said to her. Giving Amber her approval. I think it would be best for us to just fly together… until… I don’t know. Soul wasn’t sure at all what to do about any of this. Like a lost lamb. So scared. So few I can rely on. After just a brief moment of happiness. Such a shame it died off so fast.

“My name’s Rainbow Dash, …it’s nice to talk with you, Soul.”

2.8
That was what got her attention. All the fillies stopped in their tracks yet again. Centered on the rainbow maned filly sifting her hoof over the clouds. Waiting for Soul. “Just want to let you know that I look forward to flying with you for the fall” she said to Soul. Soul cocked her head. Rainbow sat herself down right where Soul had sat moments ago, letting her bag go and pulling out her lunch. Not bothering to say any further. Alone with herself like normal. That same pony… but so different from what she saw yesterday. What is with her? Did she expect me to forget?

Even crazier with why it was that Soul felt even more of that pity for her. That motion from when she looked into her eyes for the first time and saw something so deep inside. Like it called to her. Strong and waning. As much as another pony knew. So close to home. What am I doing, doing this right now? With her legs coming back over to the filly who sat by herself. Dash was the one who looked more surprised than anypony else.

“I’m gonna talk with Rainbow Dash for a little bit” Soul said to Amber. Really curious to know what it was the filly wanted, what with everything screaming at her to just leave her. But there was something with her. She was acting a little nicer than yesterday. Then Soul realized this was the most that the filly had said to her. I don’t trust her, but I can sit with her. “You sure about that?” Amber asked. “Yeah, you two get ready for the lessons” Soul left them to it. Not turning back to see them shrug their shoulders and leave her behind. Feeling their gazes coming back to her. Really worried for her. They shouldn’t be. Whatever happens, happens.

2.9
“You don’t want to hang out with them?” Rainbow Dash asked. Soul dropped her bag right back down again. Alongside her hat. The hat took Rainbow’s interest for a moment. Taken back when Soul sat down next to her. Keeping her distance, Soul felt a little comfortable. Not being nearly as close as she would let Amber near her. Close enough for her to feel like… she actually was eating lunch with Rainbow Dash.

Soul never answered her. Preferring to go about unwrapping her sandwich again. Slurp down the juice she loved. Not caring if Rainbow was watching her. She certainly was. Silent. Soul didn’t know what to say. Rainbow was the one who wanted her here. “Cut this silence shit.” Soul almost spat out her juice. She certainly did cough on it. Coughing into her hoof. Now that was the harshest thing she had heard anypony say. Said with a grin by the filly next to her. “We’re flight buddies after all, so feel free to talk to me whenever.” Rainbow offered a wink to her.

“I introduced myself, didn’t I?” Should I be any less amazed by such a strange pony? “Yeah…” Soul muttered. Coughing up the last of what was left. “I’m Soul Serenity.” Taking the cue. “Alright, so we know each other. Let’s eat!” Dash chewed into an apple. More than ready to get at it all, leaving just a filly with her in stunned amazement at the behavior she was witnessing. So down, so often. Soul couldn’t take her eyes off the pony. But acting like this. Shrugging it all off and talking to Soul like it was no big deal. Like she should just accept it all. No way.

2.10
“I really should get back to Amber” Soul pushed herself up. Not even a minute. So stupid. Of course this was dumb. This pony was such a jerk to her. Every moment around her… it just felt so uncomfortable. No better than anything else. Exactly as she’d expect from this place. As she should have since the start because things never die. I even thought I could go without anything to hurt me, until she got rained on.

“Wait!” Rainbow Dash scurried to her hooves, almost throwing her food off into the clouds in her rush to get over in front of Soul. Planting her hooves firmly down in front of her. Soul stared up to the filly looming over her. Where her messy mane shone brightly in the Sun. The shadow of her face so strong. Soul let her wings come out. Clasping onto her food and hat. Just wanting to get away. “I’m sorry for what I said yesterday.”

Rainbow placed a hoof onto Soul’s shoulder. Pressured. Trying to keep her down. Soul didn’t fly. She lashed away, back into the wall. Getting rid of that touch to her. Holding her bag close to her. Some sort of wall between her and Rainbow. The filly smacked her teeth, uttering the words again. But Soul… she didn’t understand how to take it. The low tone in her voice. “I’m sorry.” But Rainbow just walked away. Heading back to her food. Leaving Soul alone once more. Free to fly off. “Before you go, just want to let you know that… it’s not gonna get any easier from here” Rainbow said.

2.11
“What do you mean?” Soul eased her wings. She should have left instead. She had her chance. Rainbow Dash was so longing in her gaze down upon her food. Slowly but surely, she sat back down with Soul. “I did see what Aurora did to you yesterday. I’m… still sorry for what I said, and that I didn’t do anything.” An apology for that now, Soul didn’t bother to take it to heart. Kind of incredible at this pony’s guts to say it now. Especially after how she made Soul feel.

She couldn’t believe her. “We’re just flight buddies… you don’t need to help me at all. Most ponies don’t” Soul said. Should she have said that last part? How she felt. Talking with the pony who she knew didn’t really care. After all that was said. “Yes, we’re flight buddies and it was kind of a punk move of me to not say anything yesterday to you. I should have done something for you… but I just…” Soul waited for her to finish. Waiting for a while. The rainbow maned filly going right back to chowing down on yet another apple. Leaving it at that?

“Just what?” Soul asked of her. Dash swallowed. Sighing so hard. “I just didn’t want to get involved. I didn’t feel like I could do anything for you. Just get myself in trouble.” Oh this was a blast. It wasn’t often Soul got to hear somepony talk so selfishly. Not help her just because she was afraid. Afraid of Aurora? At least I would step in… if I saw somepony else having to deal with what I’ve had to deal with. If only she had stepped in. Maybe I would feel a little better. “Of course…” Soul muttered. “Remember I said it wasn’t gonna get any easier?” Rainbow said. “You kind of messed things up yesterday with that stunt you pulled at the end of your flight.”

That told her a lot. Rainbow Dash had seen it too. Yet no other pony did besides Aurora. No point in denying it to her. Soul nodded. She was well aware she messed up badly. Just to try and avoid this whole situation. “Yes, I’m a terrible pony.” Soul boiled inside herself. More and more upset with how it all turned out. Having to cry over it for so long last night. Just seeing how it was that nothing she ever did worked out in the end and now she was back to how things used to be. Back when… when Nimbus took me out of camp. After all that work, for it to happen again. Soul had no idea what to do. Just see how stupid she had been. Like Dash was just here to confirm it. Really her signal to just leave and deal with her later whenever she absolutely had to.

2.12
“Don’t say that, come on now” Rainbow leaned to her. “So you messed up. Doesn’t mean it’s all over. You pissed off one pony. Doesn’t mean you’re no less of a skilled flyer.”

Soul whipped her head up to look at Dash with alert eyes. Alerted at hearing her say that. It actually threw Dash off with the Pegasus almost falling on top of her with surprise. “What’s with you?” Dash asked. Backing up a little. Soul couldn’t let that be ignored. She called me a skilled flyer. That had to be the nicest thing she had heard come out of her mouth. Right after reaffirming her that, yes, she screwed up. So she was watching when I flew, seeing the whole point why I did it in the first place. To show her what it was like. She had no clue if she succeeded. “Nothing, I just didn’t expect to hear you say that about me” Soul said.

“Oh… well your coordination is pretty good and you do a great job at high speeds. If you had stuck that landing, it would’ve been perfect.” Thanks for reminding me again. “Look, I’m not that great of a flyer. It’s been pretty slow for me since the last camp I was at, but… my parents thought it would be good if I came here to learn. Since we’ll be buddies… can I…” Rainbow Dash glanced to her. “Rely on you to teach me a little? Just show me what I can do to improve cuz, oh man, I suck at coordination.” Soul could not say no to her. After what she just said. They were buddies. Buddies who talked to one another for the first time now about something so natural to them. Soul was sort of enjoying this. Not so much what Dash had to say about herself.

“I’d love to help you. But, I don’t think you suck. I liked how you performed yesterday.” Rainbow laughed. “Whatever you say, Soul. Hey!” she extended a hoof to Soul. “You can call me Dash if you want. Try to be gentle with me this fall.” The sarcasm in her voice was so hard. Even Soul caught it. Bumping her hoof into the one given to her. Surprised to find herself smiling a little. Dash laughing from the successful hoof bump and going back to her food. Soul went back to hers as well. Bringing the sandwich back to her mouth and her stomach still growled for it. Taking another bite, she tried her best to think about what to say to her flight buddy. “You ready for whatever we’re gonna do today?” Soul asked. “What even are we doing?” Dash asked. “Coordinated agility. Sounds like some sort of group effort or something, I don’t know. But I bet you and I will probably be flying together soon.” That sounded fun. It’s not often I get to fly alongside another pony. Much less one in training like me.

2.13
“But I need to ask you something.” “What’s that, …Dash?” Soul smirked. “Can you fly to the best of your ability? No crashing on purpose, but don’t expect me to do perfect.” Soul bit her sandwich again. “I won’t do it again…” she sighed. “And don’t expect me to be perfect either.” “I would hope you’ll try your best” Dash said. Perking Soul’s ears back up at what sounded like a demand. It sure did seem like it with Dash staring her down with those dead eyes again so lost of any light. Enough that it kind of frightened Soul. What is with her? “I don’t want you to be bullied again. You pissed off the wrong pony yesterday, so it’ll be best if you try to do what he expects.”

Her eyes trailed off. No less leaving Soul in a state of amazement at how deep that struck her. Do what he expects. Bullied? She hated to hear that word. Again. Much more making her shake at the idea of doing what he wanted. Just something not right in what Dash had said. She heard me yesterday, right? About flying for yourself. I do all of it for myself. Not for him, and I’m willing to fly accordingly to help Dash. She shouldn’t say things to me like that after what I’m willing to do to help her. “What do you mean the wrong pony?” Soul asked. “I’ll just say that Aurora Flash, all the pegasi here, they come from places where that whole crap about Cloudsdale is pretty important. I don’t think you’d want to bug them with faking your flying anymore.”

“What crap about Cloudsdale?” Soul asked. So very confused in how Dash was talking. More and more of a strange pony, but there was something deep inside what she said. Soul couldn’t quite put her hoof on it but she heard something so dark inside her voice. As dead as her stare. As quiet as she got the more she talked. Till her voice was nearly silent. “Pride in flying. Just be sure to watch your back. Not everypony will be like me to you. Most of them wouldn’t understand.”

2.14
“So you two ready for some practice today?”

Soul turned to a familiar voice, one she did not wish to hear. Losing Dash to see the Pegasus who had rounded the corner. His hooves stepping closer and his smile so deep, not at all enough to make Soul eased. Eased to see Aurora was with her… standing by her once again. The closest he had ever been, towering over her. With not even Dash there to say a word, not even move to look at who it was who joined them. Leaving Soul to deal with it, because that is what it felt like. No words to say. No answer to give, Soul just wanted to get away from him. Push her hat aside with a kick of her hind leg, sending it over to Dash. Right as she did her best to stand up and just leave them both.

“Wow, just some friendly talk before we all train” Aurora said. “Hope you fillies ate enough.” Soul gasped when her sandwich smacked up into her face, right after she saw the kick of a hoof connecting to her food. Spilling it all over, under the laugh the colt made. Staring pitifully down to see what it was that had happened, as fast as when it rained on her. All that water falling around her to puddle. Her lunch left asunder at her hooves. Falling into the clouds so slightly, never to be seen again. Leaving her with an empty stomach. “I’m sorry, didn’t see you there.” Soul stared down to the clouds. Not at all wanting to look up at the colt who made her want to tear up. Just wait. Wait for him to leave. Hoping he didn’t make fun of her. Her and her shaking legs. Or worse. “She’s not doing anything wrong, Aurora. Maybe you should go back and stretch to get ready” Rainbow Dash said.

Stepping over to Soul. The filly looking back up only to look upon her flight buddy standing by her side and keeping her vacant eyes upon Aurora. Her still eyes, yet not all of her was still. Soul wondered if he saw it, because she sure did, that Rainbow Dash was shaking on her hooves. She was stunned. Seeing her afraid. Soul leaned closer to her. Is she trying to help me? She didn’t care. As long as she had somepony near her. Keep away from any who would hurt her. With all those memories so fresh. Just go away.

2.15
“You say that like it’s a challenge” Aurora said. “Sorry, but I’m not one for losing… or letting fakers get the better of me.” Soul wincing at every accusation. Amazing that Dash didn’t even flinch or leave at all. She stared on. Looking past Soul to the one behind her. “I think you should just keep to your place and know where it is you belong. Isn’t that right, Rainbow Crash?”

That was what made Dash’s leg shudder. Twitch so quickly that Soul almost missed it. How could he say such a terrible thing to her? Crash? Soul wanted to turn around and tell him he was wrong. That Dash was not a bad flyer, just like how Dash had said such nice things for me. So why? Why am I so afraid to even move? To look him in the eyes and tell him all he is saying isn’t true. But to just deal with it. Soul listened to the hooves that walked away from them both. Waiting. Looking over to find the older colt had left them both. Both together with Dash silently rasping in her breath so weak unlike her boyish voice. Soul looked to her to do something. Rainbow just left her. Heading back to where she had sat. Tossing out what was left of her apples.

“Thank you, Dash” Soul whispered. “I can’t be there all the time to help you, Soul” Rainbow said from behind her long tail. Lifting up a bag in her mouth and bringing it over to Soul. Dropping it at her hooves. Leaving it there, just leaving all of it behind.

Dash walked away. Away from a Soul Serenity that had nothing she could say to her. Not from what had happened. What she had done. Leaving this bag with a sandwich poking out of it. Just for her. “Like I said, watch your back” Rainbow said. With Soul left alone to eat the gift her flight buddy had given her. Hoping she would not be hungry, and her shaking legs kept her still. Really wishing Dash had stayed longer. Had not left at all. Until she heard the whistle to head back and toss out their trash. Rushing over, she thought twice about it, looking down at it.

She decided it best to put her hat back on. Pushing it tightly down over her face. She ran off to join the others. Running and then… slowing… slow when she came closer to the group. The group who didn’t even know what was happening to her. If they would even care.

2.16
Neither Amber or Breezy knew of it though she never decided to tell them, finding the twins ready and happy to be together after a nice lunch. Soul avoided everypony else, not daring to look any of them in the eyes. Even the ones who she could tell somewhat adored her. Time to just get this day over with, weather all this crap and do her best to simply avoid messing up again. She sat with the twins, the only ponies she considered being with. Soul couldn’t avoid it.

“So how did it go with Rainbow Dash?” Amber asked, taking the time they had before the lessons as other kids still came back from their lunches. How did it go? Soul could put no term to it. She certainly was not at all what she had expected. A pony with such a beautiful mane and smile, though so inclined to keep herself looking a little messy, it never took away from her elegance. Something seen up close. Her mystery. How shocking it was to finally talk with her after what happened yesterday. She was quite different. But it dragged in her mind, keeping her silent. Just how it was that pony looked. She looked nothing like when they first laid eyes upon one another. Something so deep inside her. Something that scared her a little. Made her worry now that she was her flight buddy. Doing all that before… giving me her sandwich.

I don’t know what to say about her. How I feel. But the other two ponies with her leaned away, clearly uneasy when the sound of wings fluttering in their descent rushed over them and settled down next to Soul. Where Rainbow Dash had decided to take her place. Rejoining her flight buddy. Never expecting her to come back so soon or even… sit next to Soul with the group. Looking to Soul and nodding. Soul just stared at her, at this pony giving her fullest attention to their instructors. Soul took the moment to look around them. How all the other ponies in their group were. Breezy with Amber. …Aurora with Spitfire. All the ponies set together in pairs. All the flight buddies with one another, and here she never expected her buddy to be with her. For both of them to join with how all the others were. Yet it felt good, a little. Sitting next to the one I’ll be flying with for now on. Strange as she was, Soul was not like Amber and Breezy when it came to Dash. Whatever they both felt, Soul only felt like it was right to be close to her. That she decided to come to me, sounded like it all was real when they talked earlier.

Maybe she relies on me. She’s counting on me. So that must mean I should count on her.

2.17
“I see everypony is bright and ready for our afternoon lessons” Nimbus announced to them all. “All of us pumped up from our exercises this morning?” Some ponies agreed, others simply nodded. Looking like some of them were a tad sore. Soul’s own wings tingled with energy.

She wondered how Dash was holding up. “Now, we assigned you all flight buddies for the rest of the fall and today will be our first buddy-buddy lesson. We got a real special treat for you all that’s gonna be a lot of fun.” So just as she suspected. She will be working together with Dash today. So soon. Kind of strange that she felt not at all afraid to scooch herself a little closer to Dash. Seeing how all the other groups were so enthused at the news. Soul wanted the same. What happened between the two of them didn’t stop Soul from coming closer to her buddy and giving her a smile. Rainbow Dash blinked. Took her a moment but she returned the smile. A pretty weak face she gave. No, that wasn’t it. She was nervous.

“Flying is not all about how fast you can go or how impressive your moves are. Lots of times, you’ll need to fly in conditions that won’t be friendly and you gotta know how to deal with it” Nimbus said. “It all starts off with how coordinated you are when observing your surroundings. …Or if you all want a better reasoning, high flyer pegasi need to know how to be observational to pull off incredible moves for audiences or they’ll mess up badly.”

Soul knew quite well what she was talking about. They did do several activities about keeping an eye on everything as she flew. Somewhat good at it, kind of strained her eyes a bit to always be on a swivel but… if it meant being able to do what it was that Nimbus talked about. Either way, Soul felt confident already of what it was she may be going on about. Sugarcoating it as well, unlike what she did with Soul personally when explaining the consequences of messing up in observation. Enough to make Soul wince. Fearful of what could happen. So willing to teach hard, she began to see more of the teacher Nimbus she knew starting to pop out recently here. Unlike yesterday with that silly show she and Starry made. “So for this lesson, we’re gonna have all our pairs flying together, dodging obstacles. The beauty of it is… you’ll both be working together to watch over one another. Let each other know what to do to complete the flight and keep each other safe. For this, you’ll all be relying on your partner.”

Soul and Dash didn’t help but look at one another together. Both surprised to hear how Nimbus had put it. Rely on each other. Our first real lesson together and it’s something so inclusive as that. “I got your back if you got mine” Dash said. She’s got my back. Funny, she said something so different not so long ago. About me having to watch my own back. Soul would not refuse her now. She agreed. “I’ll watch out for you.” Both fillies smiled.

2.18
Nimbus directed all of them up to the big and open sky that had been set over their section of the camp. Kind of open, save for something totally unnatural. All the clouds that had… not even been there before lunch. Soul didn’t see them before. All lined up and arranged well up in the sky, going on for quite some distance. Like stacks of formations one would find along the side of a lake. Rocks surrounding a big, open area. Going far and wide.

“For safety, we’ll be using clouds” Nimbus told them all. Those big and fluffy giants no threat at all to any Pegasus. Everypony stared up in wonder seeing that all the clouds were no longer alone. So many other pegasi came in. Soul recognized them. The same mares and stallions who had helped set up the sky yesterday for all of them. Set up with their clouds. Floating with them and waving down to Nimbus and the kids. Some set their hooves upon clouds. Other reared their hind legs up and kicked at midair. Soul took a moment to realize what this was supposed to be. “Everypony will need to follow me while the clouds are sent right at us. All of you need to do your best to avoid getting hit by them. Remember, this is meant to help teach you all to rely on your own observations as well as others, so help your partner.”

“Nimbus” a certain colt called out. Weird hearing him sound so normal now and not talking to Soul. Aurora waving his hoof to Nimbus at the front of the group. “Sorry, but I wanted to know how fast we will all be allowed to fly at and, it sounds fun, but why do we have to fly so low to the ground? We all flew pretty high up yesterday.” What was he getting at? “I think it’ll be cool if we all could fly at high altitude with some extreme speeds” he went on. Some of the kids seemed to like this idea. Soul couldn’t lie, while he was an asshole, she liked his idea too. Always doing these types of dodging exercises at low level, she loved the idea of being able to fly more like she did yesterday for this. Many others seemed to agree with that too. Even Spitfire and the twins didn’t have a problem. Leaving Nimbus up there with a frown hearing the request and the approval.

2.19
Soul wanted to agree. Except… she noticed how Dash lowered her head in the corner of her eye.

The filly crumbling in on herself, rearing her wings up and over her body as she hid her head down. Frowning so deeply, not at all like… like she had been because this… this was her face yesterday after she had crashed. Staring down at the clouds. No happiness at all in her look.

Soul loved the idea, but she had heard it from this pony before. She thinks she’s not as good. No matter what she said, Soul saw different in her. She thought this filly was good, incredible that she was so afraid. Understandable. She was nervous. Nervous about messing up again. Much like another filly that Soul knew well. It was when Dash’s legs began to tremble when Soul shook her head. I was told to watch over my buddy and… she relies on me. Just like I have to rely on her. I hate to do this but “Nimbus!” Soul waved her hoof up. Stunned for a moment when all eyes fell on her. Along with the pony next to her. Glancing like she had no idea what to expect. But I’m doing this for her. Forget all the attention. I owe her for lunch. At least.

“I don’t think it will be a good idea for us to fly like that for something so risky. Somepony could get hurt.” It only made sense and Soul was afraid it could be her buddy who would get hurt. Or at least that her buddy was the one fearing she would get hurt. The best I can do is try to help her. Something rewarded by the shock in Dash’s face. Like she expected differently from me. Though none of the others seemed to agree. Lots of the kids groaning over the idea now that they were fired up. Shaking a moment when she saw Aurora up front shaking his head at her and turning away. Lost amidst the grumbling of disapproving kids. None of them even caring about how it may be that Dash felt, because she was the only one who knew it. At least Amber and Breezy did nothing over it all. Looked like they were down with anything.

2.20
“High flying, huh?” Nimbus rubbed a hoof along her chin. Taking a moment and then she looked upon her class. “Pardon me for a moment.” Soul found it an odd thing for her to say. Not expecting Nimbus to turn tail to the class and trot away… so carelessly. Enough to sway her tail to them, swaying before it reared up and… her mighty wings flashed out. Swooping out over the clouds she stood on. Baring her golden feathers in the first time the class got to see her wings in action. Soul could sense in them… the impression they had at seeing the wings Soul was used to. Ones Nimbus did so well to care for to shine bright in the Sun itself like eternally glossy. Roaring out over her body, baring her cutie marks set upon her flanks to them all. The very marks of her namesake… the ones Soul loved to liken to just how skilled the Pegasus was. Wrapped in clouds, an arrowhead darting forward into the sky, much like the pony those marks belonged to who blasted off into the sky with such a gust ripping out from where she had stood. Sending the clouds rippling and the air churning. Wind roiling over Soul and all the others. Though she didn’t care. Hoping the other kids could witness this, pretty sure what it was Nimbus was doing.

The mare, a shine of yellow in the clouds, ripping up into the sky. As clear as it was, nopony could not be able to see her. Impossible to not with all the noise she was making and how fast she was going. Soul sat back and watched the mare who made the air ripple the sky around her, a small dot flashing over them all in a hail of thunderous cracks that split the air. Trailing their distorted winds in her wake. Faster than most of the kids could even turn their heads to keep an eye on her when she zipped over them all, spiraling about and turning so sharply. So violently that the wind she made even breezed across Soul’s mane. It was odd, but she felt a little proud to hear some of the other kids sound out their amazement at how fast the mare went and how high it was she soared.

Not even caring with how many twists and turns she made up there. Zipping around with no aim or direction. Because that is what it was meant to be. Soul saw it. Like she was dodging things that weren’t there, coming at her. Not even losing grip on her speed or control. No break in the void of wind she sent out behind her. Nothing that told her she flew any less perfect than normal. It was just how Nimbus was. She could have been anything, Soul knew that. Yet she chose to be a flight instructor. Glad it was that she decided to show them all this.

It told Soul that she agreed with what Soul had said.

2.21
Not even her landing was without grace and perfection. The mare diving in and reeling her wings back up with gentle flaps. Sending the wind blasting back down and tearing the clouds asunder. Churning and swirling under her flapping wings, careful to land with the elegance of a dancer. All four hooves setting down as one, and Nimbus gave her wings one last flick before she settled them once more. Their job done. Her job done.

She looked back out to the group. “Now does anypony want to fly like that right now while dodging a hail of clouds?” Soul waited. Getting just what she expected. No more ponies there to groan over what Soul had said. They all fell silent. Some wings tucked in. Not one kid bothered to try and fight for flying like that right now. Nimbus got her answer, and Soul smiled. Thank you, Nimbus. You really helped.

Soul glanced back to Dash. The filly no different from the rest. Stuck in her stare at the mare who showed them what it was like. She gulped. At least she didn’t look down anymore. She wouldn’t be let down by Soul. “Good, so we’ll be flying mid-range at both altitude and speed for this lesson” Nimbus affirmed. Coming back over to join with the group.

Her wings fluttering so slightly at her sides. Clearly pumped from the adrenaline she undoubtedly got from such a short flight. So proud and strong. As good as she was, Soul never felt inferior to Nimbus. How confident and strong she was, still such a goof, but she was somepony Soul could see at the end of the day that she could call an inspiration. The best chance she had at reaching her goal. She always did admire that about Nimbus. Always willing to help despite her talent. Nimbus’ leg shook.

2.22
The group gasped, and Soul’s mouth dropped seeing Nimbus trip over herself. Fall right over on to her face. Burying her nose into the clouds. Soul almost stood herself up. Her hind legs kicking to their needs, but she held herself. Watching Nimbus tumble onto the ground and spreading those same wings out that had made her soar, now laid out on the clouds.

“Are you alright?” one kid asked. Some more cried out their concerns. Calling out her name. Soul wanted to get up and come to her. Not at all sure what it was that had happened. She just fell over. Why? “Nimbus” Soul called out to her. Joining with some of the others. Though none could see the concern in her voice. So sharp and pained. Soul, fearful but… she saw her to be okay. Nimbus scrambling up onto her legs. Laying upright, rubbing a hoof over her head. Ruffling her long mane so hard to make more spikes in it than normal. Groaning for a moment, she shook her head. Trying her best to look like nothing had happened. Soul hated seeing her like that. Nimbus was blushing at her embarrassment, still smiling like all was okay. Laughing at herself.

“Looks like I had a fall, haha.” Yeah, you did. None of them knew why. None of them could tell that Soul was… was used to it. She always hated when it happened. Seeing the mare shake or fall over. So rarely. Never knowing when she would do it. Surprised to see it happen to her now in front of everypony. Oh, I’m so sorry, Nimbus. Soul wanted to tell her that. Come up there and help her get back on her hooves. Not the first time she would do that. Always scary when it did happen. Nimbus always got back up after it. Changing so quickly back. Her blush fading, wobbling a little on her legs that tried to push herself back up. It was Starry who made Soul sit her butt down. The stallion running up to join with Nimbus. Whispering to her and clasping his hooves around her. She stood right back up. Starry helping as long as he could. Until Nimbus waved him off.

“I’m fine” she said to him with a smile. Starry smiled as well. Soul breathed deeply. If he thinks she’s okay, then I’m glad she’s okay. Still… I hate how it had to happen to her now. After that beautiful display she made in the sky. Doing all this just for the kids. She recovered quick. Quick… with one last tremble of her legs.

2.23
“I can take over” Starry said to her. Nimbus refused, waving her hoof to him. “No, I’m okay. We’ll stick to it.” She turned back to her class. “So… everypony up with me please. You’ll all follow me in your pairs, and remember to do your best to keep each other safe. Don’t fly ahead of me when we’re up there.” Everypony hesitated. Then they started getting up. Soul took longer, lost in a daze looking at Nimbus. Worried for what happened to her. Wondering. Just hoping she was okay. It always was so draining when she saw her fall over like that. It took Dash offering a hoof to her before Soul accepted it and got up on her hooves. Joining the others with her buddy at her side. Keeping to the rear of the group. Soul looked ahead of them all, surprised to see Nimbus lock eyes with her for a moment. She must have been able to tell.

Nimbus smiled at her and arced her brows. Letting her know nothing was wrong. Okay, Nimbus. Please be careful. I don’t even care that we will be flying together again in the same sky, as long as you’re alright up there. I’ll do my best for you. Soul assured herself. Broken from her thoughts when a hoof tapped her side. It was Dash, smiling at her.

“Thank you, Soul” she said. It was no problem. Dash had been told she could rely on me. We’re both flight buddies, after all. “I’ll have your back up there, and I won’t go too crazy” Soul told her. Arcing her wings up with a stretch. Their huge spans split out and then over her body, granting her some looks from some of the other ponies who readied themselves as well. Dash joined in. Stretching her wings out, so much smaller than Soul’s but so strong in their looks. So determined in her face. She was ready. Standing side by side with Soul. Looks like this gets to be our first flight together.

2.25
The other pairs took off one by one. Following after Nimbus who shrugged off what had happened to her and was quick to return back to her beloved sky. Not even close to as fast as she had been but enough for the kids to catch up with her when they all ascended up on their smaller wings. Dash looked about ready to join them. Soul was too, but she held a hoof out over to Dash. Right in front of her to keep her still. “What’s up with you?” she asked.

Soul didn’t expect her to know. But that’s what we’re here for, to teach one another and perform together. Soul already saw what it was they could do. Something different from the rest of the class as all her time training with Nimbus kicked in. This was going to be kind of different from the norm but it was agility basics for this type of flying.

“Give them a moment” Soul told her. Holding Dash and herself back as every other pair took off ahead of them. Following after one another and spreading out when they got up in the air. They looked to have the idea down as well except for what Soul felt would be best. Best for Dash. The filly could try her best to, but Soul saw that she was a little nervous about flying in this. Not necessary considering her skills but… Soul was not one to talk. All those pairs in the center of the flight formation up there were going to have a hard time with this, not something Dash should be a part of. So… Soul had a better idea than being up in a cluster, surrounded by all the other pairs no matter how far apart. Dash raised her brow looking up with her antsy wings worriedly wondering when it was they would fly. Left there, both fillies sitting back while more and more pairs took off ahead of them and even more readied up to join. Then Dash giggled.

2.26
“Now I see” she said. Soul gave her an affirmative look. “Get it now?” Soul asked. “Oh hell yeah, we’re gonna have a lot of room now. As long as you don’t make me do any crazy maneuvers, I think we got this.”

She had Soul’s word, no crazy maneuvers but… she did think of some things. Let’s not do a repeat of yesterday. Today, Soul would fly to the best she could. Confident in her buddy to pull it off as well. Since both fillies would stick to the back of the group, she bet Dash would feel much better. “Did you know about this trick?” Soul asked her. “I did but… thanks for reminding me” Dash smirked. Uh huh, Soul smiled at her. Pushing her hat down even harder, certain it will not blow off. Not at the speeds they would go.

She bent her forelegs along with Dash. Both fillies spread their wings out. Soul’s wing almost touching Dash’s and both waited for the rest of the pairs to take flight. One second passed. Soul counted. Feeling Dash over there wanting her to take the initiative. Stick with me and we’ll have this. Two, and three. Soul waited and pushed her hind legs back. “Let’s go.” Soul flapped her wings. Dash at the same time, and Soul was pleasantly happy to see her buddy going up with her side by side. Not a single difference between their flying. Dash perfectly keeping her wings in pace with Soul in what Soul could call a gentle flight even with the wind rushing into both of them. It didn’t stop her or Dash, her new buddy keeping her cool. Up and up, they rejoined the rest. Keeping a little way back from the closest pair of the cluster ahead of them. Soul peered on, catching sight of Nimbus at the front. All of them still heading up into the sky, soaring freely as one whole class. Together. That was the difference.

Soul glanced over to her flight buddy. Dash determinedly staring forward with her forelegs reaching out to the groups ahead of them. It wasn’t often she had another pony with her in flight being this close to her. Kind of natural looking for Dash. She wondered if Dash thought the same as Soul. Wondering how it was they got to get to this point. Excited at the chance of flying together with a new pony. Not certain of the other’s skills. If she was worried still about Soul putting her into a hard flight move. Just as Soul worried that her buddy was worrying. No need to, Soul had her back. Just have mine.

2.27
They all got to a point that seemed to be proper for a mid-altitude flight, with the sprawling courses of the camp well below all of them and the main buildings that had towered over them all down there now becoming tiny shapes dotting the clouds. From up here where they could all see the spanning towers and seas of clouds of the entire city reaching out to the far beyond of the camp, all under the shine of the massive rainbow rising over them all. The puffs of clouds churning out from the factories, all clouds so white and fluffy out and about around the city save for the huge clearing that only the camp could have for the kids.

Soul looked around their environment, turning back over to her buddy still so set on keeping sight of the others in front of her. Neither of them didn’t have much of an idea what to expect, but those lines and lines of clouds set out around their flight paths didn’t leave Soul easy. “Hey Dash” Soul grabbed her attention.

“So tell me, have you ever flown something like this before?” Dash shook her head. “Not once. …I’ll be honest… I’m a little excited for it. I’ve never flown with things being thrown at me before.” Yeah, who’s to tell when those clouds would start flying at them. She bet many of the other pairs were nervous. Not Soul and didn’t even look like Dash was much more intimidated. Different from yesterday. Was it because she was with me? I won’t let her down when the clouds start flying.

“I got an idea” Soul told her. Dash all ears for it. Anything to help with this first buddy lesson. “Let’s change up. You fly above me” Soul said to the confused Dash. All the other pairs were flying side to side. “Let’s do back to belly. You over me, and keep up. One of us keeps watch on one side and the other watches the other side.” “Now you’re speaking my language” Dash said. “I’ll take left side!” The cyan filly bucked her wings down and sent herself skipping up and over Soul. Casting her shadow down upon her buddy, Soul felt the cover of Rainbow Dash right over her. Looking up to her belly right above. Her tail whipping wildly so close to Soul that it looked like it may hit her. It wouldn’t. Dash looked to have it under control. “Then I’ll take right” Soul said. “I’ll let you know when something is coming” Dash chimed in on the plan. “And I’ll do the same.” Soul grinned. Certain the two of them would make a decent team at this. Even if they didn’t succeed, Soul felt like they may. Trying their best, this little buddy lesson was actually sort of fun for her. Fun enough for her to not have to worry about failing.

2.28
Whistles rang in Soul’s ears. Echoing loudly across the camp. All around them, all across the sky. One after another, alternating left and then right. Sounded like a signal to Soul. She kept her eyes set upon the whole sky to their right. Scanning wildly around as much as she could. Picking out any specks or changes. Watching the many pegasi who fluttered about the clouds, the same ones that would come at them. Soul didn’t bother to see how the other pairs coped with all this. Not even looking to see how Dash was doing above her. Flapping her wings so hard that wind came down onto Soul’s back. The others can deal with it as they pleased. To Soul, it was just her and Dash right now with plenty of room to pull this off.

“Stay still!” Rainbow called out. Gusting wind down upon Soul even harder and her wings beat her up away from Soul. So quick, Soul’s ears heard the sound of whishing wind and caught sight of the cloud zip right over her. Not even grazing her. Blasting past so quickly it tumbled and spiraled as it fell away from them having passed by where Dash had been moments ago. The little filly came back down to hover over Soul once more. Then it began.

All those pegasi bucked at the clouds, so sharp in their kicks to send them all gunning right for their group. Flooding the sky. Where it was clear seconds before, no more. Clouds crisscrossing the sky. Soul listened and heard the frantic chatter of the other pairs ahead of them. It didn’t keep her from keeping watch. Catching sight of it before it even happened.

2.29
“Dash, two hard flaps, go up.” Soul followed the opposite of what she said. Certain it will be good enough to dodge the mass coming right at them from the right. Soul ducked down with two flaps, listening for Dash to do the same, and both fillies curved around the cloud that passed in between them. Howling in its fury, unable to stop them.

So close, it’s mass almost grazed the tops of Soul’s ears. Probably almost hit Dash’s hooves. But both fillies made it and leveled out together. Banking up and down once more to dodge an even faster cloud that came in from Dash’s side. Oh crap! “Dash, up!”

The filly shot up, Soul confident she missed it, but she had to be the one to deal with this. Soul skidded her wings forward and almost threw her head out from the force of her stop. Just in time for her to tuck in her wings so close. Their flaps stopped for a moment to let them pass. Soul held her breath when the cloud skipped in front of her. Slicing across the edge of her nose with not even a feeling. Just as the wind rushed across her back from the second cloud that passed behind her. Sandwiched between them. Soul let out her breath, breathing into the span of the cloud. Eyes darting left and right so quick. Quick enough to see them both leave from her and barrel off. Free to let her open her wings back up before she even started to fall, the filly zipped up to rejoin Dash. Right in the same position as before. Dash laughed.

“Whoa! Are you okay?!” “Yeah” Soul said. Not a bit of sweat or fear in her. That… was nothing. Also, nothing she wanted Dash to deal with. A little curious to know if Dash could have been able to squeeze herself between two oncoming clouds and not even be thrown off by them. “No bigg…” “Down!” Soul did as Dash yelled of her to do. The sky shook when that cloud shot by over her. Coming back up with Dash again. She laughed. “Thanks.” “No problem, buddy” Dash grinned down to her from between her forelegs. Going back to keeping watch.

“We got this” Dash said.

2.30
Both fillies having to skip and halt so many times because those clouds started coming in so fast. So much more of them. Those pegasi on the sides must be having a blast sending all these at them. Not a problem, Soul and her buddy will get it done. Dodging so many more that came in at them. Passing by Dash in a spiral to get out of the way of a big one that almost hit her. Soul churned around her buddy and took position again under her. Listening to Dash’s warnings. She did the same for Soul’s.

Just thrilled that she heard many of the others having quite a time dealing with all this. Not these two. Soul loved this. Her heart not even beating hard, it felt so natural and lovely to fly like this. Like she flew by herself. Dancing in the sky as per her buddy’s warnings, avoiding anything that came at her. Dash being a perfect mirror. Like Soul flew alone. But she didn’t. It really was a little fun. Oh now I need to do some more coordinated flying with Nimbus.

“Soul, I got an idea” Dash said when she jumped over a cloud that came at her. “What’s that?” “Ever heard of a corkscrew?” A corkscrew? Soul thought. She couldn’t mean… “What about it…?” Soul very curious to find out what it was she was getting at. “I know I said no crazy moves but… let’s do this one. No cloud will touch us.”

Does she really know how to pull that off? Soul didn’t take her for the type. Surprising her that this filly knew about such a maneuver or even how to pull it off. But she sounded ready for it. Wanting it. …And no cloud will touch them. “Let’s do it” Soul grinned. “I’ll take left side” Dash called out, her voice trailing off. Soul could tell she was veering away. That means I got right. Playing it out in her mind, she believed she could see what it was Dash wanted to do. Not too advanced but good for some real fun. Oh yeah, her heart started racing now. I’m actually very happy she wants to do this. No boring flight for us. Soul curled her wings over and she listed to the right. Veering away from where she had been with Dash. Away and down, Soul plummeted downwards, arcing her belly to the side, she saw her flight buddy. Far over there, her belly facing Soul’s across a vast expanse of sky.

She was doing it. Dash spiraled down and dodged several clouds. Soul did the same much with the same result. Going down in the slow spiral, her back almost facing the clouds below. That was signal enough. Indeed, no cloud could hit her now when Soul banked right back in a hard turn. Shooting forward and giving herself a little spin. Not taking away from her slow turn back up into the sky, recovering from her downward spiral, she flew upwards now. Angling herself to slowly come in at that turn. She saw all the other kids far ahead of her. Bombarded with clouds, none to hit her or Dash. The two fillies alone together where no cloud could stop them. Soul flew herself back in to their original flight. Zipping in, she saw her buddy doing the same. So quickly. Coming right in at her and Dash passed overhead. Shouting out in cheers. Soul laughed. Happy for her to be so enthralled with this. It was fun. She loved it. Spiraling herself back down again, taking Dash’s place on the left side and Dash mirrored her on the right side. Belly to belly once more and both fillies pulled it off as one pony. Their turns and spirals not letting one single cloud get close. Except for one.

2.31
Soul let out a surprised sound when the cloud shot past her right when she spiraled herself back up and arced her flight path in a hasty turn to get back on course just in time to crisscross with Rainbow Dash again. Dash passing under her this time, leaving a ripple of wind behind her colorful tail, and the fillies funneled up and down. Soul banked her wings back left. Spinning herself, the clouds below turning around and she went upside down. Getting a quick glimpse of Dash doing the same across from her. She does it so naturally. It feels good. Soul laughed out into the sky.

It feels good! She dived down together with Dash. Both of them spinning slowly back up in a massive curl and they met together once more. Leaving it behind them. A path in the wind of streaks of air cutting a triple spiral in the sky. Two lines, formed as one. Soul cheered for them. More than happy to see Rainbow Dash laughing with her. Looking up at her smiling face, Soul loved that Dash was enjoying it. She needed it after how upset she had been lately. Like Rainbow was free of worry. “We just pulled that off!” Soul yelled at her.

“We should be performers for the camp” Rainbow laughed. Sounds good. Soul knew she was joking. Anything to keep her smiling. It was wonderful to feel so alive and free up here with another pony. So much she didn’t even realize she was more or less looking down at Dash with their bellies to one another, and Soul’s mane falling back down to the clouds below. Soul righted herself back up from flying upside down. Both of them dodging so many more clouds, their warnings working and their moves perfectly able to avoid them. Soul banked back up in front of Dash from a cloud her buddy had called out. Grinning down to Dash as she rolled over her buddy and Soul returned to her place underneath.

2.32
Her ears got the sound just in time, though. Soul was quick to try to dodge it and its whirring mass that barely grazed the tips of her hooves and jumbled her ever so slightly. Her wings caught her again, holding her upright just short of running into Dash and she steadied herself out. Blinking. That cloud came in so fast she almost didn’t know it was there… let alone… know which direction it had come from. Peering back over her shoulder, she saw the cloud fly off before falling to pieces in its wild tailspin. “What the…?”

“He did that” Rainbow mumbled right over her. He. Soul looked ahead of them. Looking across the lines of kids they followed after. There’s no way. But the sound in Dash’s voice and… no reason for clouds to come in from right in front of them. Unless it was because of the colt she got a glance of, his eyes looking over his own shoulders just for a moment. Soul had seen it right. He was glaring at her. Right before going back to flying off behind Spitfire. Behind the rest of the group… Soul looked all across them again. No. Everypony so focused on their flying. Not at all able to tell her what it was that had happened save for the one pony she was with. “Did Aurora do that?” Soul asked her. Looking up to her. Dash nodded. Not at all thrilled about it either. Soul was even less.

Why that scumbag. Why would he do that? Right when Dash and her were doing such a great job of performing so well. Dash was doing better than she expected and Soul was more than happy to help her along and fly so happily at the same time. Like they were meant to do this today. It was a true joy. Yet he had to try and ruin it. Soul hated to admit it, but her heart sank a little. As enthused as she was, now it plummeted. Like somepony had flipped a switch. It almost cost her.

2.33
Soul banked hard down to the right when another cloud shot in past her, not from Aurora, but from the side like normal. Shame… Soul hated it. Levelling out with her buddy again. Clouds coming in from left and right and Aurora set one right at her. Right at her face. She could already see how she would have panicked if that happened. No, she won’t let it affect her.

We were having so much fun, no way this would ruin it. She would fight for it. Not just for herself but also for her flight buddy. The buddy who glanced back down at her and they met eyes. Both nodding to one another. “We got this” Dash said. Yeah, we do. We’re gonna blow this lesson out of the sky and keep going to become an awesome flight team. All starting right here, and no way Soul would let that ever-beautiful idea die off in her mind now that she actually was getting Rainbow Dash to smile a little. Even enjoy herself. In these brief moments that made her enjoy it too.

“Yeah!” Soul said. “Let’s do this.” Putting her wings back to bare against the wind and shooting onwards with Dash. Determined to keep up what they had been doing. Until it happened again. Soul couldn’t believe her eyes, no idea that this is what she had to expect. Another cloud shot in, not at her. But the pony it did shoot at sure did find a way to deal with it. Soul only able to watch him barrel upwards just in time to avoid it. Just in time, but not enough to keep his hind legs free of it. The legs that kicked hard against the cloud he leapt over and burst at with a shot of his wings. It came right back at Soul from that kick.

2.34
“That jerk!” Soul shouted and ducked herself down in a dive. Dash didn’t even need to do anything. Not to avoid the cloud that went under her and across where Soul had been. Soul glared back up. Almost missing it. She tilted her wings and spun out of the way of the other clouds that came in from her side. Straining her ears to listen. Left.

Soul twitched her ear. What? She did it, knowing it came before she heard it. Cutting off Rainbow Dash yelling down to her “Are you okay…?” Soul let her wings forward and halted in her path, throwing her head and mane forward. Letting the cloud pass by from the left. Freeing her back up. She kicked her wings back into their pace. Quick enough to rejoin Dash with a scowl now on Soul’s face and panting furiously. Not at all happy over any of this. Here we were doing our best to fly perfectly and we were doing it. Then that asshole needed to do that and I almost got hit cuz of it. I don’t know what his problem is. I don’t care what it is. But he’s not going to mess up the fun Dash and I are having.

She didn’t need advanced warning to see it coming. Just seeing a cloud coming in at Aurora told her enough. I can do it. “Hang back” Soul said to Dash. Letting out one big flap from her wings. Going into a position she would not do for this type of lesson, but it will help with what was going on. She put herself right in front of Dash. At the same time that he did it again. I know what to do. I was finally having fun at a camp for once. I was making her smile. I need to be her buddy and help her enjoy her time even more. I won’t let our fun be ruined by that bully. The cloud came in at her. Powered by the kick of the one Soul was furious with. Too bad for him, Soul could see what was coming in from her front. Let’s see you try the opposite, hot shot. “Soul!?” Dash called out from behind. Got it.

No need to panic, Dash. Barreling right in at her face. Like no time was left. But Soul felt like she had all the time in the world. “Slow down!” Soul called back. The wind hitting against her back told her that her buddy was doing as she asked and Soul did the same. Tilting her wings down, letting her body curl up. She presented her belly to the oncoming cloud… and her hooves. Grinning with confidence. It never did look so hard when she watched the weather pegasi. Though she had no idea how to make it rain or anything like that, she was sure she could pull off something as simple as this. She beat her wings ahead of her. Gusting the wind wildly about with the fury of all that was left of her wings.

Just as she hoped. As long as she went in straight, it would work. All she needed was the wind. It was working wonders and did it perfectly with one final flap harder than any other. Striking back at the cloud just as it struck her hooves, and a big kick of her hind legs made her more than happy. Overjoyed with herself to see that the cloud did not burst into thousands of puffs at her kick. Instead… she got to level herself back out and fly alongside Dash again with a grin with that cloud shooting off away from them. Right back in the same direction it came from.

Weird, Soul smiled at Dash but she didn’t get it back. Her cyan buddy staring off with such a long face. One she shouldn’t have. Not when they got to watch Soul’s work.

2.35
So amusing it was when that colt turned his head to see it. Soul grinned. Aurora disappeared inside the cloud for just a moment, then reared out inside a puff of smoke from the cloud that exploded against him. Whipping his tail forward. Take that. A nice game of catch with you, and you lost. More than lost.

It happened so fast when his wings bounced from the force and he yelped in surprise across the group. Happening like that, Soul could not even frown in time. Be stunned at it. Just watch what she did unfold. I got him back… and then some. More than I wanted. Aurora tumbled headfirst into Spitfire. Plummeting right between her hind legs and sending her into a spin. The fiery Pegasus let her wings out. Desperate to stop her spin. She did, and looked like it hurt when she did, when her head collided right back down into Aurora’s head and both cried out in pain. Holding their heads to tightly, they could barely keep themselves aloft. Not able to fly with the group anymore, not with them hanging there crying out in pain. Rubbing their heads. Soul did just as they did. She stopped.

2.36
Soul hung back. Letting her wings slow down. Not at all trying to keep up with the group. Stopping alongside all the rest of them. All the ponies ahead of her who stopped with Nimbus just wanting to see what was happening. Concern on all of them. The clouds even stopped flying. Everything stopped flying, left to float in place. Soul held her forelegs close to her chest. Wrapping her hooves together, like trying to protect herself.

Oh no, I didn’t mean to hurt Spitfire. It happened so fast. One moment they were flying, the next… she had a hard time playing it all out in her mind, but she was well aware. What happened was not what she had wanted. Nopony even said anything. Nimbus flying over to tend to the two ponies who did their best to recover from that nasty collision. Hovering between the two of them, checking over their heads. Soul gulped. Oh no.

A tear went down Spitfire’s cheek. Looking up at Nimbus, letting her check her head. She cried so silently. Soul was just there, left to watch it. With a heavy heart. Tightening her grip on herself. Retreating back a little, though Rainbow floated forward a little more and held there. Staring on at the scene. She glanced back to Soul, shaking her head. Though she didn’t look disappointed. More of a face Soul knew well. She was afraid. Afraid as she should be, because Soul joined her shortly after when she heard the questions going across the group ahead as to what had happened.

“It was Soul!”

2.37
Said by none other than Aurora. Pointing a hoof right at her and rubbing his head with the other. “That jerk kicked a cloud at me.”

That alone shot Soul right through the heart. Left her in silence. To hear the truth come right out of the mouth of the one she despised. That she had been the one who did this, indeed. Not what she wanted but she got this anyways and now everypony stared at her. Turning to one another, shrugging shoulders. Nopony even sure what to make of it. Soul was no different. She had no way to make of it either. Except for the truth. That she had messed up… badly.

Messed up so much that now Nimbus herself was looking at her. Wonder in her eyes. Disbelief that she had done something like that… when she actually had. But I did it for a good reason. I wanted to get him back for being a jerk the past couple days. For making Dash have a hard time and… just so he would leave me alone. I just want him to leave me alone and stop treating me like I’m weak. Before… before anything happens… and here I am, making it happen by doing what I just did. I can’t believe it. …But I can’t lie. Not about this. Soul’s mouth quivered. Struggling to say anything. She wanted to, to protect herself and Rainbow Dash. So everypony can move on and just go along with the lesson. Go back to how fun it had been. Now she had to do this.

“I… I…” Soul murmured. Raising her voice with all her courage. “I only did it because Aurora was kicking clouds back at Dash and me!” Met with confused looks all around and the glare of the colt she spoke of. …And Spitfire who managed to give Soul a moment of her attention, and her teary eyes. She seemed such a tough girl, I can’t believe I hurt her like that. “I’m sorry, Spitfire. I didn’t want to hurt you. I just wanted him to stop doing that.” Spitfire looked off, sniffling a little. Shaking her mouth a little, she still managed to speak for a moment “I… I…” that was all she got out.

“I wasn’t even doing anything!” Aurora shouted. “That jerk is just jealous!”

2.38
Jealous?! Soul couldn’t believe the words she was hearing. Is he actually accusing me? No. I didn’t do it on purpose. It was because of him. Besides, why would I be jealous of him? But that was something for another time. She really wanted to shut him up about that… except for all the eyes looking at her. All the ponies who stared in disbelief. Disbelief over what he said about me or because of what I accidentally did? Really, all I saw was the cloud hitting his tail and ruffle his feathers a little. I didn’t want him and Spitfire to crash. Just something to get him to stop. To leave us alone. That was it!

“Dash saw what happened. He was kicking clouds at us” Soul turned to her buddy with a grin. Happy to see Dash look at her and she was still able to crack a small smile. One that fell off so quickly. “Right, Dash?” Soul asked her.

Asking her such an obvious question with an obvious answer. Rainbow Dash floated there. Looking away from Soul. Out at all the ponies that stared upon both of them. Waiting for them to say something. Soul saw them all before them. Eyes trained on Dash. No movement… save for the one Aurora made. Crossing his hooves, waiting for Dash to say something just like everypony else. Just like Soul now was… astonished that she hadn’t said anything.

She couldn’t. Not when Rainbow was there, her head fallen and her wings gently flapping till they nearly held still. Like it was only the wind that kept her aloft. The wind that carried away her words, before they graced Soul’s ears with their sting.

“I didn’t see anything.” …A tear went down Soul’s cheek.

2.39
Soul Serenity cried. Leaving them all behind. That’s enough! That’s it! I… I gotta do what I should have done so long ago. Because I knew this would all be a mistake. Nimbus lied to me. This would not be different at all. It was more of the same. It always was the same, just because nopony is ever nice to me. Soul flew. Beating her wings harder and harder. Not caring to see any more of it. Holding her hooves up to her crying face.

She really didn’t bother to try cleaning her face off. So many tears, so much pain. Flying over the entrance to the camp and leaving it behind. She just wanted to go home. Home was where nopony would be mean to her. Where she could just hide away inside her room and learn the way she wanted. Train the way she wanted. Forget friends. Forget that nonsense shit that Nimbus had told her. This camp was no different from the other one. Right when I thought that I had made friends. That… that I had met a pony who actually wanted to fly with me and be my… my actual buddy. My own flight buddy who seemed to enjoy flying with me. It was just moments ago. What changed? Why, Rainbow Dash? Why?!

Soul cried even harder thinking about it. Hateful of it. Unbelievable. But one thing was clear. I did so much to help her. I wanted her to smile and did my best to make things easier for her. I gave myself to her as a flight buddy and I wanted to help her get better. I don’t want to see her again. I don’t want to see any of this again. Forget making Nimbus happy. She was proud but… none of these ponies like me. None of them.

2.40
Soul halted so hard, almost running right into the shadow that swooped over her. Catching it in time to avoid it. Soul cried out. Not wanting to be near it. Whoever flew with her. She just hung there. Hiding herself behind her hooves. Crying into her fur. Please just go away. Leave me alone. I don’t want to be hurt anymore. I just want to be… “Soul” she peeked out. Only because she was more confident to show herself to the voice that spoke to her. To the pony in front of her. Starry.

Coming closer to her. His bright blue eyes shining in the sunlight… so different from what she would expect. Not an angry pony who didn’t like her. His eyes welling in sadness, and he held his hooves out to her. Giving to her. Soul didn’t care anymore. She would not pass out on it. She threw herself into his hooves. Letting her wings plop down.

Safe in his embrace. The only safety she felt right now. Away from all the others. With one of the only ponies she would ever allow to touch her. Hide herself away in his grip and stay there. That’s all she wanted right now. Some way to stay safe from all that she messed up on. That she ruined. All ruined now and no way to make it work. Just like last time… now reminded. Held in Nimbus’ legs to keep her safe… when she rushed Soul off… and the mare cried onto her. Begging her to be okay. Holding her tighter than ever before. As he now did, though no tears fell on her. But his hug felt better than anything else today. So much so, she wanted to tell him. Tell him in her sobbing voice. “I don’t want to go to camp anymore. Please.” Soul cried into his fur. “Please.” She whispered it. Hushing herself inside his embrace. Letting herself go when his hoof gently stroked across her mane. The only kindness she got in an endless sea.

2.41
It wasn’t often that Soul could claim to relate so much to the sight up above in that night sky. These thoughts usually never did cross her mind. Staring at it for so long, unable to get rid of everything that happened today. Today somehow felt like forever for her but so little happened to make her feel so badly. Worse than she had in a long time to be forced to just sit there and think over it over and over. Alone, by herself, she held her tail tightly. Not letting go for so long. The only sense of comfort she had since the Sun still sat just over the horizon, leaving her with just the darkness as the day died.

Good riddance to that day. Much better to be like this, a time Soul enjoyed a lot except for tonight where it felt so much more still. As the wind lightly howled over the deck that stood tall over the cloudy fields that reached far out to the stream of dormant factories and the glittering lights and streaks lining all about the coliseum beyond them. She let her wing do the work, lifting up the last spoonful of chocolate covered ice cream and leaving an empty bowl in its place. She ate without hesitation. Still enjoyable to the last bit. Still surprised when Starry gave it to her after dinner and that he was able to smile while doing it. At least he could, Soul could not even crack one as she stared up at the one thing that filled her mind with how much pain she felt.

2.42
In all of its splendor and beauty, somehow, still able to hold that taint of a pony etched right into its heart. The Moon she always looked upon every night and never wonder what it was like. See something in it that felt so familiar. Was it the endless thoughts of her hurting Spitfire. Making a total fool of herself in front of everypony. Or those terrible words she heard come out of the mouth of the very pony she did so much to help. Right when I thought we were supposed to watch one another’s backs and rely on one another.

Guess she was right, I should have watched my back. I should not have trusted her. Just go about expecting everything to be terrible and lonesome. Is that really how I’m supposed to feel every time I try to do something? I do wonder.

Soul blinked to the Moon. The dark crescent of the horned pony spanning all along its side. So different from the beauty of the Moon that she could only see in drawings, one free of that. That lonesome image. One that only reminded her of sadness and pain. Something she shared. I wonder what it’s like for you up there. Do you regret everything you did? Just like me. Where I just want to go to everypony and apologize to them. Let them know I didn’t mean them any harm. That I am a good pony worth their time without them hating me. Because I know I let so many ponies down today, but worst of all, I let myself down. By letting my hopes get too high. It always will be better for me to just be alone. Away from all the others who hate me. Just like you, but I know something. …You actually don’t want that.

2.43
It was still such a surprise that Starry did so much for her even after what happened. Flying her home, he even did all he could to ease her. Sit with her on the couch and just wait. Wait while Soul cried in his embrace. She still had no idea what it was he may think over it all. He said nothing to all her pleas, no words when she begged him to not let her go back to camp. Just took her home. Leaving Nimbus behind. I still appreciate all he did for me. But, I just hope he isn’t mad at me. He didn’t look mad. She wasn’t sure. It could easily be something else that she dreaded. Yet she had to do it. Let out her feelings. That she may have disappointed him, and that thought hung hard on her. Like the last time I disappointed somepony who was meant to care for me.

Please… please don’t let that happen. I promise I’ll be good… just don’t send me back. I won’t hurt anypony else or crush your dreams for me. Ruin everything you guys work so hard to achieve for me. I repay it like this? I’m such a brat.

At least he didn’t yell at me. Though she did flinch when he sat with her. Not expecting him to open his hooves to her. Not at all doing what she would expect when somepony didn’t like her. It felt good to fall into his hug. Feel that he may not be upset. There was another one now that she was more worried about. Keeping the Moon there to beam in her eyes, she didn’t need to turn around to know who it was that slid open the door and stepped out onto the deck with her.

Hooves much lighter than the stallion stepping down onto the wood. So she’s back.

2.44
Nimbus came up to her with steps that made her shake each time they fell. Soul had no idea what to expect. Nimbus was the one who expected the most out of me and I let her down. Such a fright to be left in the dark about how ponies felt.

A part of Soul wished that Nimbus had not found her. Just go to bed after a long day. She did stay back at the camp for a much longer time than normal. Another long night, unlike yesterday. Usually leaving her tired, not tired enough to stay away from Soul. So she must have something to say. The mare stopped beside her. Soul did not meet her eyes. Lowering her head as Nimbus sat down with her.

“Wouldn’t you rather be inside? It’s a little chilly out” Nimbus said. Soul shook her head. “If you’re mad at me than why don’t you just yell at me?” Soul blurted out, not at all feeling a mood for these stupid questions. Not when her mind was all aflutter with worry. Expecting what she deserved. Punished in some way. Do something like all the other ponies who deal with me, who I let down. Throw things at me, call me names, hurt me, …abandon me. Because this was all entirely my fault. Last time, I did nothing wrong. Then I try so hard to make things work and it all leads to this. I ruined things for myself this time. So be upset with me like I know you are. “You really want me to yell at you?” Nimbus asked. Soul didn’t answer. What could she answer with? She expected her to yell but… she didn’t want her to. She didn’t want any to be upset with her, just accept she made a mistake.

2.45
“Starry told me what happened” Nimbus made Soul cringe. Left wondering what part he told her in that long pause. That was what made Soul decide to look over to Nimbus. Find the mare had joined her in staring out to the Moon. Sitting much taller over her, her long mane of sunlight flowing down softly towards Soul. Her face so etched in the hurt of everything that happened.

“You really don’t want to go back to camp?” Nimbus asked. That part. Soul looked away. Oh no, I’m already getting to deal with that. I… I should have kept my big mouth shut and just told Nimbus herself… when I’m not shaking like some damn baby. Because this was certainly making her afraid. “Look Soul, I don’t know what happened, but… you need to tell me what it is you want.”

She sensed Nimbus looking down at her now. Judging her. Soul just wanted to curl up and hide away. Hide with her desires and leave all that had happened behind. Go back to a better time. But that was not what was expected of her. “I’m not going to yell at you over what happened” Nimbus said. “You and I have been together for so long now that I can tell… you’re afraid.”

Okay. “I don’t want to go back to camp” Soul admitted to her in a little whisper. That’s kind of what she wanted, except for the other thing that truly broke her heart. Suppressing it for so long. Thinking over all of it and remembering the feeling of when she flew today, it caught up to her. Made her curse what had happened. Hate that it didn’t go at all what she dreamed of when it felt like it could truly happen, and it was what Nimbus had wanted. I almost made it happen. Almost. It not happening, it made Soul tear up again. So upset with herself that she ruined it all and didn’t get the thing that sounded so nice to her and made her truly decide it would have been worth it to attend camp again after what had happened the last time.

2.46
“I only wanted a friend” Soul screamed. “You made it out like that was the place to find somepony who would like me and I thought I found it. Why does nopony like me?!” Soul threw her head back down into her hooves. Crying harder this time.

“I want a friend too.” Soul struggled to voice her despair. “If you wanted one, then what happened?” Nimbus said. “Soul, I just don’t understand what is wrong.” No, you wouldn’t. Of course not, because I’m all alone when it comes to all this. “Because you’re never there to help me! You keep giving me all this stuff and expectations of me, I can’t do it all. I’m always so afraid to disappoint you.” Soul threw down her hooves, tears flying out onto the deck, she stomped her hooves down after them. Soul walked away from Nimbus. Crying harder. Just wanting to leave her. It really did feel like her wings were ready to take flight and do as she expected. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t do it. I’m not that good girl you expect me to be, and I hated every second I was at camp.”

Soul stomped hard. “Every second!” No matter what was the truth, that is how she felt. As every moment fell away to be left with nothing but that heart wrenching moment at the very end. “Then why didn’t you say something?” Nimbus asked. Soul’s heart fell. Hateful of it, that she spat it out without thinking. “Because I don’t want you to get rid of me!”

Soul threw her hoof up to her mouth, crying streams down her cheeks and soaking the fur all around her hoof. Now it will. Oh, I’m so stupid. I ruined everything. I just yelled at her. All that fear so strong inside her heart. All because she just couldn’t live up to what she was supposed to do. After all the work I put in, I messed it all up in the end and now I’m yelling at her. Oh no.

2.47
Soul shook her head. Quick to turn around and look back at that mare with such a look of disbelief all over her face over what she just shouted. Soul quivered under her wings. “Please don’t get rid of me.” Ple… I’m seriously having to beg now. Is this what this day has done to me?

Just before, not long ago, I was so happy and pleased with everything. How did it all fall out of control? How did I manage to make it get to this point? But I’ll do anything. …Except… Soul didn’t want to go back to camp. If Nimbus didn’t accept that, she… she didn’t know what to do. Feeling so back up into a corner. Afraid and alone. “How can you think I would get rid of you?!” Nimbus yelled for the first time in such a long time.

The Pegasus stamped up onto all her hooves. No more disbelief. None more. She was angry. Angered… yet Soul held there. Holding on to her words. “I’m sorry” Soul whispered. “You seem to have forgotten, I brought you into the camp so you could make some friends” Nimbus said so sternly. More serious than she had been. So not used to hearing her talk like this, look like this. Her big wings flaring at her sides. Walking over to Soul. Soul turned away. Her wings held where they were. A feeling pushing her to try and fly off. She fought back. Not at all wanting to leave as much as she had been afraid that she would have to leave.

“Did I put some sort of demand on to you?” Nimbus asked. So close now. “I really did think you were having a better time, anything… because… you don’t know at all what it was like to see you so sad and crying in my hooves. I wanted to find some way to change that. I don’t ever want to have to see you like that again. It hurt me so much… because I care for how you feel. You were gone from me for days when it happened, and…” Soul couldn’t believe her ears. Nimbus was crying. “I cried every day you were gone. I missed you and was so afraid of what could happen to you. I guess you forgot how happy I was to see your face again and see you able to fly again. Why on earth would you think I would want to get rid of you!?” Soul turned to see her… her crying face. Tearing up so much, the most defenseless that a pony like her could get.

2.48
“I do so much just to keep you happy, and I’ll do anything for you Soul. It may not seem like it, but I will. I tried one way and… looks like it didn’t work. But I won’t stop doing everything I can to make you happy. But you… you also got to help me. You need to tell me how you feel. If something is bothering you or if it’s just not working out. Let me know and I’ll do everything I can. I didn’t put a demand on you with camp. I just thought it would be a good idea to try it one more time. But if you really do not want to go back… I can’t force you. Just never think I’ll get rid of you over anything.”

“Nimbus…” Soul whispered. “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry. Just know that I’m there for you. Starry is too. And all we want is for you to achieve what you want. Because you’re our little champ.” Soul didn’t need any invitation to do it, she fell into Nimbus. Wrapping her hooves around her leg, Nimbus sat down. Pulling the filly in with her wings. “I’m so sorry, I’ll… I’ll do better. I just want to be the best I can be” Soul cried out into Nimbus’ fur. “I thought I said don’t be sorry” Nimbus commented over her head. “Things just didn’t work out this time, but they will soon. I know it. You’re a special little Pegasus and I know you can do anything you set your heart to. Just don’t cry. Don’t cry over it. You’ll pull it off and you’ll have our help. You have so much time, so don’t give up. I know that it’s hard to talk to other ponies, to make friends. Trust me, Soul, it’ll happen. You just need to be the pony you always are. Don’t try to change yourself.”

And that’s what I did, I tried to change myself. I’m such an idiot. I had a friend for such a short moment, at least, I could have called her a friend. I fooled myself. I fooled all that I dreamed for. Wished for too much and did stuff I can only regret now. Even when I did my best to protect her. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to camp again?” Nimbus asked. “You can talk to me about it. I can help.”

All I want is to forget it all happened. Because all it does is just remind me of the good times that could have been. I hate to think of what it was I missed out on all because of my choices. “I don’t want to” Soul muttered. Left to silence inside of Nimbus’ hug. She held there, alone with the only pony who cared more for her than any other. Sad over it all and mixed with her joy of softly laying against Nimbus and listening to her heartbeat. Silence for them both to calm down. Soul didn’t smile at all, but she felt a little better hearing those words. That Nimbus cared for her enough to cry for her, she wouldn’t get rid of me. She kind of let it slip out. “I’m so happy you do all this for me.”

“How would you like to train with me tonight?” Nimbus sweetly asked above her. Not something Soul expected to hear, but that was the least surprising thing she had heard. After all that happened, Nimbus was still willing to train her. Such a long day, she still wanted me to be there with her for this. Soul let go of her. Able to smile a little up at her, it made her happy to hear. “Yes.”

2.49
Nimbus wiped the last of her tears away, a wing coming up and touching against Soul’s cheeks. Soul let Nimbus wipe her tears away too. Freeing Soul from her hug. Giving her one wing to invite her up and she spoke “Join me?” Nimbus held her wings out. Fully prepared to take flight. After all that happened, she still wants to fly with me. Soul would not refuse. Letting out her own massive wings and following close behind Nimbus as she took off. Flying deep into this silent and peaceful night where not one thing stirred in the air save for the two pegasi who now flew together. Soul kept close, wondering what it was they were to do tonight. Astonished they were even going to do anything tonight after such a hard day. Not like it looked like Nimbus forced it.

The mare looked as happy as ever, maybe happier with such a brilliant smile under her closed eyes. Darting on with no care in the world. But I know she cares. She cares so much about me. Guess I was stupid to think she would do something so mean to me. Nimbus always was there to guide her and help. She wouldn’t stop today. She would never stop showing that adoration Soul always saw in her eyes every time she looked at her, keeping her close. Nimbus dared not to even part with her. Staying side by side with Soul. Maybe even closer than normal to where their flapping wings came close to brushing. Carrying them off into the night sky. Soul looked away. Smiling deeply no matter how sad she looked. How sad she felt inside. By just hearing her be so nice to Soul. I’m her little champ. “I’m so happy we get to train tonight” Soul commented. Certain to let her know how much this meant.

2.50
“I told you today would be a special day, so of course I’ll be sure to spend some time with you doing our favorite activity” Nimbus said. “Count yourself important to me.” Nimbus banked a little to nudge a hoof into Soul’s leg. “Not many ponies get one on one tutoring from me.”

She said that almost like it was a big deal. Huh, Soul never thought of it that way. Were these little escapades so special to Nimbus? I always did enjoy them but even more when I got to train solely with Nimbus. I almost regret going to bed so early yesterday, and Soul was definitely feeling like doing it again tonight. Thank Celestia she didn’t. “So what are we doing tonight, …professor Nimbus?” She had no comment. More than happy to get right to the answer. “I thought it was about time I taught you something really special that…” she paused. Looking to Soul as if asking for permission to say more. Soul had no idea. “Sorry…” Nimbus muttered. “It had to do with today. Earlier.”

Back at camp? Soul admittedly lost spirit hearing that but… she wasn’t going to let it ruin this little moment she could get with Nimbus. She was a big girl, she could handle it. “What is it?” Nimbus sighed so hard. “The lesson at camp… it was meant to be a little early look into what I want to teach you.” Coordinated agility? Or flying with another pony? My agility is fine, and… I did see that… that there is some joy in having another partner with you. Somepony other than the one I had to work with. Soul more than happy to think she may do some sort of agility exercise alongside a more dependable pony like Nimbus who she could rely on to give her instruction. She never lets me down. “An agility lesson?” Soul put out the one she was less enthused about.

“Your agility is spot on for a filly your age. It has something more to do with a little trick I use when doing more troublesome flying or just when it’s hard to pay attention to everything and… react accordingly.” Wow, that sounded a lot like she was pointing out a little something that started to make Soul groan at her. Not at all amused to hear her talk about her ability to pay attention. Not when so many things were coming at her from so many directions. It’s not like I’m a master flyer. “So what else do I have a hard time dealing with, if you don’t mind sharing?” Soul asked. More than happy to hear whatever critique Nimbus had for her, if any existed. “Well your landings could use some work.” “I… umm…” Soul smacked herself. Much to Nimbus’ delight. What, did she even know that was a fake? My landings are fine. Though Soul would not dare admit she purposefully messed up yesterday just to… to try and avoid stuff that happened anyways. “You also need a lot more high speed and altitude training, which… I wouldn’t introduce to you just yet.”

“But high-speed sounds so much fun” Soul countered. “I’m good at mid-speed already. Why not go up a level?” “Rushing, huh?” Nimbus said. “I’m not sure why you’re rushing. You’re only nine and have plenty of nights to spend with me before you’re an adult. Lots of time to practice what it is I do want to start teaching you. Because any pony can do high-speed, high-risk flying, but it’s the talented ones that truly succeed and shine above the rest, and talent is not just given. You gotta work on it long and hard.” Soul hung her legs down, letting only her wings stay propped up and carry her along. Less than thrilled to hear she had so much more to do before she could do the more advanced stuff. Really wishing to have it now. “So what move are you gonna teach me?”

2.51
“You say that like you’re not happy about learning an advanced technique.”

The tone in her voice was sure. Nimbus sounded so confident in prying Soul’s mind to whatever idea she had, and it worked. The filly quickly turning to pay attention. “Agility is one thing, but it doesn’t solve everything. All pegasi are prone to accidents and… you’re no exception to the rule.” “I know” Soul muttered. Pointing out all the times she fell before. Always falling, but always getting back up. “Even I have made mistakes and trained hard to find ways to fly better than the rest.” Nimbus stopped. Soul took a second to stop as well. Turning back in wonder as to what the Pegasus was on about.

Both of them hung high over the cloudy fields. Nimbus turning her head about, letting her mane flow gently in the breeze. She shut her eyes. Craning her neck. Exposing her neck to the world around her, and her wings slowed. Glimmering in the moonlight. Not even a care written on her. Like she was totally at peace. Breathing deep the air. Speaking with such a long exhale. “My dad once taught me something that very few pegasi know. He loved the idea of passing it down to me, drilling it into my head until I got it. Could know what it was like. I was not much older than you when I understood and…” she giggled. “I admit, it did make me want to try to be what he was. Join with the ranks of those esteemed pegasi, so little of them who could actually do what he could do. He never did say I could teach it to anypony, but…” she whispered. “Let’s break the rules.”

“What are you going to teach me?” Soul said so anxiously. No longer willing to be left about with mystery. Her tail wagging in excitement over hearing the story and that she could see what Nimbus was talking about. “Lots of pegasi rely on their eyes and ears to perform stunts and fly at incredible speeds without the risk of accidents” Nimbus said. Hovering past Soul, the filly followed after. Both of them coursing off in the direction of that mighty structure in the distance so lit up to break the night sky in a light greater than the Moon may ever achieve. “Listening to the wind and the sounds of other obstacles around you, far better and reliable than using your eyes. A gift that all pegasi have.” “I know that” Soul said. “It was pretty easy to get down.” She tooted her own horn.

Her ears her most reliable method of flying. Paying attention to so many things. “And can you keep track of things coming at you from three directions?” Nimbus asked. “What about four… and above you? Keeping track of other pegasi you fly with while also worrying about running into a mountain right in front of you or caught in a gale?” Like she was trying to let her know that she messed up badly during the lesson today. Yes, I had a hard time keeping track of all that. Left and right and… that jerk throwing things at me. Having to watch out for Dash too. As much good as that did.

2.52
“What did you think about our little flight yesterday morning?” Nimbus asked. “I let you ride me and we had a nice flight.” “I really enjoyed it” Soul said immediately. No way she couldn’t. “Kind of dangerous too” Nimbus pointed out. “But I could tell it was safe to fly that way with you. I didn’t just fly into it, I had to make sure we could do it without you getting hurt. Only one way I could tell that.”

What is she going on about? Soul was getting confused now. Curious to know what it was she used to apparently know all that yesterday. “Us pegasi can use our ears to listen to the wind, but…” Nimbus stretched out her wings even further in their sways. Guiding the breeze in between her feathers. “What if I told you, that very few pegasi can actually read the wind?” “I’d say you’ve been reading too many unicorn spell books” Soul said. That’s what it sounded like. Reading the wind? Unless she heard that wrong. Now that sounded more magical than anything else. Like a crazy experiment she would be able to think of several ponies trying to achieve. It didn’t keep her from being fascinated though.

Her hooves were crossed and more than ready to just write it off. She didn’t. A little glimmer in her eyes actually. Stronger when she felt the breeze come over her too. Driving her to really think what it was Nimbus was going on about. “What?” Nimbus said. “You think unicorns have a monopoly on ‘spells’?” Flailing her hooves over her head for a moment. …Crossing her eyes. Soul laughed at her face. Nimbus was still serious. “It’s not a spell though. It’s actually something that can really help you tell what is going on around you.” Soul got quiet. Giving her attention back. She did want to know more. If Nimbus was on about something, it sounded kind of awesome to have.

2.53
“There’s always movement in the air that we fly in” Nimbus said. She turned, waving a hoof across the front of her face, and back again. Like she swirled the air itself. Nothing there for Soul to see, yet… she saw something so deep in Nimbus. The mare was nearly entranced. Focused entirely on whatever it was she swept. Eyes scanning over and up. Not at all breaking her perfect flight pattern. No loss in her grace. So entwined in her flying. Soul could feel tingles in her head watching it.

“Even on perfect days, the air is moving and it always sweeps over us. Covers us when we fly, and… it can tell us things if you just focus. Not listening to the wind or sounds, I mean actually just taking a moment. Letting it go through your wings. Staying still and just waiting for the feeling that it gives you, that tells you so much about the world around you. Where things are, how fast things are going or how much time you have to dodge or even letting you know when it is right to slow down or speed up. It can let you see things you could never do by just looking at them. Tells you all about them before you even know they exist. Your left wing is twitching.” Soul stared at Nimbus, that pony who didn’t even put an eye to her. Soul, however, glanced to see that it was true. Listening to this was giving her the jitters. “Sorry.” Soul settled down as best she could. Not easy at all from what she was hearing and seeing.

“You can see it all and learn from it. Get a sense very few other ponies can get to let you know the world around you and all it is doing to try and teach you. It’s a talent that takes a very long time to master and there are so few who can teach it.” Nimbus set a hoof to her chest. Closing her eyes. “Dad’s memory is with me, …and… I want you to know it too. So I know it won’t be lost.”

“You really want to teach me this?” Soul asked. Baffled that she was so willing to show her this technique. Nimbus nodded. Not letting go of her chest.

2.54
“But… is it even real? How can I even know if I’m doing it?” Soul asked. “If it wasn’t real, I would have flown you into the air yesterday much sooner and we would have hit the tailwind from a fresh batch of clouds from the factories, and some little filly would have fallen right off me.” Soul had nothing to say. Gulping. That… would have been scary. “I can’t tell when it is you will know it. It takes time and lots of practice, until… before you know it, it’s part of you. As natural as you flying. Most of the time, I even forget I can do it. It just happens because I’m so familiar with it. But you will know when it is you can do it. Not gonna say you’ll have the same experience as me, but… you’ll know.”

“I’d like to start” Soul said, giddy now at the chance of being able to learn it. More than ready to see whatever it was that will tell her she knew how to do it. Like, would something amazing happen? Oh, I’ll become a flawless flyer right off the bat. No telling what it was. She just came over to Nimbus. Presenting herself. Nimbus smiled. “What do you say?” She leaned closer to Soul with such a smile. One that was uneasy.

Soul groaned. Hating she needed to say this. “Please teach me, …professor.” Nimbus laughed. Soul not at all pleased. “Professor smart butt” Soul whispered. “Oh I can’t say no to you” Nimbus said. Pulling something out from between her feathers. So slick and thin, Soul missed it. It was a black ribbon held between Nimbus’ hooves. “What’s that for?” Soul asked.

“Hold still” Nimbus came close to her. Holding the ribbon up and shrouding it over Soul’s face. When the filly realized it was a blindfold. Oh crap. This again. She needed to wear one of these when doing hearing training. “Gotta make sure you don’t have an easy way to do this.” That was the same excuse for that other lesson years ago. Relying on flying entirely with her hearing to find her way back home. But that was on a day when the wind howled the correct directions to her. Kind of cheap, but… it taught Soul a lot. How different will this be as her entire world went dark?

2.55
Soul perked her ears up. Not daring to move from her hover. Waiting to know what she needed to do. “Already got your ears up?” Nimbus asked. “Don’t you worry, I’ll be sure to fly silently.” “What are we doing?” Soul asked. Really lost when she heard Nimbus would be flying silently. What was that even supposed to help with? “Calm down, Soul. Everything will be fine. But you need to take a second to breathe and just focus on your flying.” She felt something touch her hind legs. Pushing them together. “Legs still” Nimbus said, she was the one holding them in place. Letting go when Soul did as she asked. Then… “tail steady” a yank on her tail stopping it from swaying.

She grumbled in annoyance. Just for a moment. She said to focus. Soul no newbie when it came to that. All the same routine when it came to hearing training and then… huh, that became almost second nature. Soul got it then. Just like Nimbus said with this technique. “You won’t always need to prep like this to tell what’s going on around you” Nimbus said. “But for now, you got to figure out how to stay calm and focus entirely on the air around you. As time goes on, I bet you can pull this off just like I do. And you get to do it the same way I was taught.” Nimbus’ voice trailed off. Sounding a little further to Soul. Just over to her right. The mare was shifting positions.

“Listen carefully. This is just like any other flight. Smooth and calm.” Her voice trailing off to a whisper. “You have that sense of freedom that we always have when we fly. Because the sky is an open world for any of us to take for ourselves for a moment. You just got to remember that nothing is there to stop you, while there are still dangers that take over our flight at the same time. It’s that ability to stay calm. Breathe deep and envision that world in front of you.” Soul only cocked her brow once. But she did it. As always. That warm and soothing knowledge that she was here in her sky. Just as she always enjoyed without any fear that she needed to perform for somepony else’s expectations. As painful as it always was to try and do it for others.

She despised it. Only making her smile knowing she could fly however she wanted. That the vast air around the lush and beautiful world was hers to be among. A warm and gentle place. So much like home. Her home. Where nothing can go wrong. As long as she made it so. Times came when it can be challenged, but it’s up to her to stay calm and relax. Brave it and rely on her wings to keep her in the flight. Protect her inside that soothing embrace the air gave to carry her forward. Panicking was the last thing to do. It always was about this. This feeling she had of a still world ready for her. Her sky.

2.56
Soul took a deep breath. “Can you hear the air around you, hear it tell you where things go and how things are?” I do. Like always. That wind going over her, even gentle, it told much. Like it could tell her when something came right at her before it could hit. If she needed to turn left or do a hard roll just to impress some birds she flew over, short of running into them. Able to hear anything and all around her. …Save for one thing. That was when she twitched her ear. So smooth and gentle. A world held in place. Nothing different than normal.

But… was Nimbus even there anymore. Her wings… fell silent. But her voice went on.

“The air is like a foal silent and sweet, and it can break you when you’re not ready. But if you just let it know you are there, and feel what it is they can tell you… just by their touch, you can read anything that it tells you. Don’t rely on hearing, let the air touch you and tell you what it is that it wants to say. The quick changes in it, gentle and moody. Even the softest change in how it courses through your feathers. Because all things that occupy the air leave a signal. And you can feel it.”

Her wings were silent. Like Nimbus was no longer there. Soul could see her, the image of a mare left there like some light in the dark that held herself up on stilled wings. Opening her embrace to her. Accepting her to try and find that comfort that she provided. Floating around her. Though she didn’t know where. But so much time passed, and Soul breathed deep. Her lip quivered for a moment. Scared that she may lose it. No, stop thinking that. It was all about staying calm. Soul let her shoulders down, raising her wings higher. Lifted up, a chill going down her spine. Such subtle breeze flowing through the tiniest of breaks in her feathers. Tingling. She felt it all. For some reason, it felt good. Different. “Try to catch me” Nimbus whispered. “You won’t be able to hear me, but the air can show you where I am.”

Soul didn’t flinch hearing that demand. The air felt good. She felt good. Her wings more than ready to guide her with the flow of the wind as her ears became useless. She didn’t doubt herself at all. Happy to know that… she could do this with Nimbus. So special to learn this. It felt better than anything before. Soul took one final deep breath.

2.57
The ability to read the air. To feel the sky. Is that why Nimbus always flew so well? So much better than Soul could imagine ponies to be able to. Can I even do it? It sounded so much like something that only ponies who are insanely gifted could pull off. But… I thought the same when I didn’t think I could find my way around using only my ears. How fussy I was. Not this time.

Soul fully prepared to make Nimbus proud. Inside that dark embrace of the blindfold, she didn’t bother to panic or think too hard on it. Just stay there and figure out what it is that I should look for. Some sort of trick to pulling this off. A gust of wind and light breeze flowing around her. It felt so normal, no different from just being able to tell which direction the air flow came and adjust your wings accordingly. It did nothing to help tell her where it was she should be looking. Not even able to tell if Nimbus was on the move. Her wings so silent and she was so clever.

Soul hated that the breeze whistled high over any chance she had to rely on using her ears to listen for breathing. But that would be cheating. Not at all anything she could use to be able to tell if anything came at her from any direction or fly with perfect agility. It was proven today with how close she came to getting hit. Yet this remained a mystery. The entire world around her felt so still even with the moving air. An endless sky constantly churning around her. Allowing her to be there. Simply as a trainee being taught things only a master could know. What it was she could use to figure this out, how do I read the air? Nimbus had said so much but it sounded like so little to her. It still felt good to do this.

2.58
Such a cool chill going over her that barely made her body shiver, it felt wonderful to be shocked with that kiss of the air and the soothing, unwinding release of a gentle touch. Her fur rising to greet it. Stabbing at the air all around her. Everything in motion to course above her fur, seep around her skin. Yet it all was like nothing moved at all and she was there in that darkness able to feel like it truly was a sense of pure and unbroken calm drenching the air. Soul smiled. Holding a hoof out in front of her, not sure what she may find. Expecting to possibly feel something there.

Strange. Nothing but… something. It always was a fascination she had with how she was able to tell how the wind and sky was just by feeling it running over her. Even better when she flew so very fast, all that adrenaline it sparked. That peace of mind inside mixing with her undying love of being in the sky. A grace not many ponies could get. She often wondered how it was like to have the strength of an Earth pony or the power of a unicorn. Dreaming of it more than once. But it always returned back to the fact she had wings. Wings she never was sad about having, nor this ability to become one with the sky itself. Look down upon everything and see all. So many pegasi who see this ability as just another thing or something meant to be prideful over. She never did know if anypony else felt the same way as her about it, that love of freedom. Of feeling like the world was not there to stop you but to guide you. That only Nimbus being the one who shared that same idea with her.

To a wide-eyed filly just out of being a foal, learning for the first time how it is to fly with purpose in your heart and expectations in your head. That is my key. My love of the sky and my partnership with it. A mutual love. One that gives me so much back as long as I trust it to keep me safe. The calm of it all.

Flying and learning… everything from the sky.

2.59
Soul settled herself. Letting her hoof back down, she held her breath. The air still, and she felt so still too… even inside. To tell what it was her body could sense. The slightest changes in her fur, shifting slowly over her skin. Her feathers crinkled. More and more, that tingle rushed around her body. Do any other pegasi I see every day feel anything like this? This control. It felt amazing. Something that I can rely on, and it has the ability to tell me things. Telling me so much that… made her feel so soothed. Like she had no reason to be afraid, because she wasn’t alone. Nimbus is still here. Soul thought that. She felt it.

Her ear flicked. Wow… I can tell this to be true. Soul let it out without even thinking, and her words never broke that silent embrace she shared with the sky. “Nimbus, I know I’ve been a pain for a long time when it came to training. I know I’m hard to teach and I suck so much at trying to pull off all these hard things I think you want me to do. But… you let me know that… it really was stupid of me to expect the worst out of you. I’m bad at making friends and always worried. I’m gonna bet I wasn’t the easiest pony you had to deal with. Still… you want to do things like this for me. I never feel more happy than when I get to train with you and learn all these amazing things you have in your head. I thought I messed up so badly today and that you would be mad at me. It means tons to me that you ignored that and… now you’re teaching me this.” Soul knew just how important it was.

“Your dad’s technique. And it’s yours too. You’re gonna give it to me. I can’t even tell you how much it means to me. I don’t care how long it takes, but I’ll be what I want to be and… you’ll be the pony on my mind when I pull it off. I can’t wait for you to be there when I’m all grown up and show you just what your training did. Thank you so much.”

2.60
…The air trickled.

Soul inhaled again, her fur flicked, and her eyes opened up to the darkness within that blindfold. Rushing her, it tickled but she knew she felt something. Something swaying over her body. From something so small. Nimbus did a great job at flying silently but… Soul didn’t need anypony to tell her as her heart beat hard and her shock hit her. Just for a moment. I could barely tell. Anypony could have missed it. A silent wing. One that twitched at the end of her words. Whose feathers cut the air so differently than they had been. Soul did as her body told her, without pause. She spun about and darted right at it.

It was there. Just right there, so close to her. Too close, but far enough for Soul to believe she had it. In time to extend her hooves out to it and give it a hug. Laugh together because… I think I got it. So brief, but it must have been what Nimbus was talking about. Soul felt it no further, she didn’t need to.

Barreling right in at it. She stopped right where it was. Clenching her hooves close and expecting the warm touch of a familiar pony. Her hooves hit air. …What? Soul gasped. Shrieked when hooves came over her instead. Pulling her in from behind and holding her so tight and so warmly. A mare laughing over her head. Soul didn’t bother to go on with the training, she pushed the blindfold off herself and found that she was indeed deep in the hug of Nimbus, the mare right there behind her. Holding both of them up with her wings. Nimbus buried her nose into Soul’s thick mane and giggled.

“Oh Soul, you’re such a sweetheart.” That made Nimbus tighten her hug even more around the disappointed filly. Soul craning her neck to look up at her. “What?! But I thought I did it. I thought I found you. Did I mess up?” Damn, and it felt like she did feel something moving. Like it was told to her right through her skin. Her disappointment coupled with… actual amusement that Nimbus was being so very affectionate tonight. I didn’t think saying that stuff would make her like this. Hehe, calling me a sweetheart. Soul let her head back down and settled her chin down on Nimbus’ legs wrapped around her. Frowning but happy. “I didn’t say I would be staying still” Nimbus mocked.

Soul turned her head to the side, glancing up in amazement at the mare so sweetly smiling down at her. She winked. Filling Soul with elation. Her smile growing, so very pleased with herself. Even if Nimbus had not answered her question, she didn’t need to. Soul was well aware of what happened and… she felt so close. More than happy to forget everything else that happened. As long as it meant spending so many more days with a pony who liked her.

“Let’s try it again” Soul suggested. “Let’s” Nimbus agreed with a nod. Freeing Soul and offering the filly a flight out further over the fields. Soul went with her, flying off.

2.61
Soul could not fly. Her wings did all they could to beat against the wall but… only one moved. Flailing over her, trying so hard to get her up. Away from it. Knowing that she was in danger. But Soul could only cry. Cry over her wing that stayed still. Kept her against the wall. Held her back against her will to fly off and be free once more. It was never meant to be.

Such a stupid girl to think that it could lead to anything better than this after all the months she had to endure it. All leading to this. She never could have known that this would happen when she ate her breakfast this morning, dreading having to go back once again. Feeling like more bad things would happen to her. More things to make her cry just as she did now. Not from words or laughter, but from her fear. Begging for it to end. For the pain to stop.

She kicked her hind legs against the floor. Trying all she could to cry out. Her voice barely escaping as little gasps. Too much weight on her stomach. Too much pain in her wing as the feathers bent and crumpled beneath the thing that kept her wing lost from her, like it was nothing more than dead weight on her kept nailed to the wall. Dead weight that sent shock down her entire body. Desperately crying inside. Her tears did nothing to help her. They could not tell anypony to help her. No matter how many times she cried through the months, it never stopped. Even when it hurt the most, and now… now it hurt more than ever. For anypony to do this to me. Soul looked out at all of them. So many figures who just watched her without a care. Blank stares inside of dead shadows billowing across the room but they all shared one thing with her. A smile. As was always whenever she cried. I never could have been able to tell this would happen today. For me to be so afraid… not for myself. I’ve been taught that… I can’t care for myself. I’m not worth it. From so many ponies who are so willing to abandon me and leave me to cry and feel this lonesomeness I get every night. Alone every night with nothing but my dreams. I don’t care if I get hurt, just leave my wings alone. Please.

But the shadows didn’t care. Not any of them or the one in front of her whose hoof pushed deep into her wing. Standing over her like some titan, defenseless to stop it. To get it off her, laying over her stomach and enjoying it all. I didn’t mean any of it. Please stop. Please. I know I’m not the best flyer here, I don’t want it. I didn’t mean to be a showoff. Just don’t take my wings from me. I love them. Please.

“Please…” Soul whispered with all the breath she could let out. “I’m… sorry.” I’ll do anything if I can just keep flying. I’ll give up anything. Just don’t take them from me. “Soul!” A door slammed hard. Smacked right against the wall. She turned to look. …More than happy to see those red eyes welling of tears upon the Pegasus shrouded in the light of day rushing in. She dropped her clipboard hard against the floor. One that broke under her trampling hooves. “Soul!” …You came. Soul screamed. Feeling the pain in her wing. …A soothing feeling coursing over her then after. Blinding. …Rest in the warmth… of your care. …It always was lovely… because it’s the only thing that keeps me smiling…

When you hold me so near.

Crack.

“Soul.”

2.62
Soul flung herself up, screaming, nearly sending her blanket flying with her name still ringing in her head from the voice of that familiar mare. Not finding her at all. Not in her dark room. She could not begin to explain how relieving it was to find herself safe in her room. Just remembering all that. That horrible day, and she had not seen such a thing in so long.

Taking her a moment to realize she had a nightmare. One that left her clutching none other than her wing, no matter how much it stung to touch it, she didn’t let go of it. More than happy to find she could feel it. Still there to keep her flying and still there to give her great nights of training with Nimbus. Oh crap. She held a hoof to her mouth. Did that short scream of hers wake them up? Expecting somepony to fly right in through her door. Crying out her name once more.

“Soul.” Soul’s ears flicked.

A tap from behind her. Many of them muffled through to her just like her name. S-somepony was saying her name. Holding her wing even tighter till she had to loosen up before it hurt even worse to hold that sensitive gift to her, but she crossed her legs closer. Not at all sure if she should be afraid. She turned to see. Not sure what to look for in the darkness of her room broken only by the moonlight shining through her window and the… the shadow swaying in it. Almost sending her into a panic. Or it would have but she caught a little something about it.

There was somepony out there floating outside her window, and it was none other than… Rainbow Dash smiling at her so small and waving a hoof at her.

Soul didn’t even blink. Not sure if she was seeing things or still in a dream. “Hey” she struggled to be heard through the closed window. “Wanna meet me out front?” What the hell? Soul let her wing go. Kicking the rest of the blanket off her hooves and more than ready to ask what it was she of all ponies was doing here. Except that Dash was quick to fly off. Leaving Soul there more confused than she had been scared moments ago.

2.63
Rainbow Dash is at my house? What on earth is that jerk even doing… was she staring at me while I slept!? She had no idea how long she may have been there. It did make Soul feel so icky thinking about it. Shivering at it. Now she wants me to meet her out front.

Oh great, I should probably wake up Nimbus and Starry. Get rid of that filly because no doubt she would bug Soul for a while till she came outside. Sweet Celestia, just the thought that she had been here for however long never crept out of her skull. Whatever she may have saw. …I hope I wasn’t crying or anything in my sleep. I don’t need anything more that she could use to be a jerk to me about. Soul paused for a moment. Didn’t sound like anypony came. Maybe she didn’t wake them up with her scream. …Maybe I shouldn’t wake them up at all. Soul had to admit, she was no less upset with Dash than she had been earlier. More than willing to tell her off now that she wouldn’t see her again after this. Dash can have the camp for herself and deal with it for all Soul cared. Sounded good to her. The filly shivered once more. Remembering camp. When those memories had not hit her so hard for so long, she was so glad to leave camp behind. Leave Dash behind too.

Soul jumped out of bed. Coming over to her window just to be sure the filly wasn’t still hanging around out there. Not finding her at all, Soul opened her door right into the dark and silent hallway where only the white light coming in through her window shone a little semblance of comforting light to guide her. Keep her from being afraid of venturing out her room alone in the dark. More fueled by her anger than being afraid. So upset that she had to be bothered by that filly who shouldn’t even be here. Soul crept down the hall and headed towards the stairs. Whispering to herself “How the hell does she even know I lived here?”

Is she stalking me? The nerve after what she did. Soul was extremely relieved to see how much moonlight shone in across the living room downstairs, easing her a little more to keep going without anypony else with her. It wasn’t often she got to see her house so quiet and still. She hoped Starry and Nimbus were sleeping well in it. Soul could handle this herself. If anything, she didn’t want to bug them after all they did for her today. She came up to the door. On the other side, the front yard of her house. Where she expected to find her. Very annoyed that this was going on to begin with. Her door silently came open.

2.64
“Hey Soul.” Rainbow Dash giggled a little in her mouth and smiled so happily, right there on the other side of the door, there to greet Soul. Soul less than amused. Not at all returning it.

Of all the things to expect, finding a pony like this standing out on her front porch all alone. Looking so much like this was not weird at all and that nothing was wrong. Really, what is wrong with this filly? Can’t she just leave me alone? Soul kept her hoof against the open door, more than ready to close it on Dash whenever she wanted. Tempting to. “Sorry to wake you up” Dash said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Scare me? Yeah, that was what scared me. Not like Dash needed to know. Nor did Soul bother denying it. Staring on at Rainbow, that was when Dash finally let her smile go and she sighed. “Are you mad at me?” “What do you think?” Soul responded. “Oh sweet Celestia” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “I’m coming all this way to see you and that’s not enough to get you to at least say hi, Rainbow.” There’s no way this pony can be real.

Soul shook her head. A dream. Nopony can be this stupid. Soul pulled the door back in. “Wait!” Dash stepped in with a flap of her wings, putting a hoof against the door. Frightening Soul from this sudden and pleading look on Dash.

“Look I’m sorry, I just wanted to come and see you” Rainbow said. “What is wrong with you?” Soul asked. Doing her best to fight with Dash and close the door on her. “Please don’t close the door on me. I feel bad about what happened earlier and couldn’t get to sleep. I… I was worried you probably were having a hard time sleeping too.” Worried? Soul let go of the door. Dash falling over when she sent the door flying back open from all that weight she had put on it. The filly plummeting on her chin with a loud thud into the wooden flooring of the porch. Soul glared down at her.

“Do you really think I care?” Soul said. “Go back home and deal with it yourself.” She raised her voice to the filly slowly getting herself back up. Rubbing her chin and getting what she deserved, sniffling a little from a small tear in her eye by how much it must have hurt to slam into the floor. Or from what Soul said, Soul didn’t care. As long as she left as soon as possible. “Seriously, how the hell did you even know where I live?” Soul demanded of her. No excuse for the filly to be stalking her.

2.65
“I… I tried to follow after you when Starry left with you” Rainbow said. Wiping her face off and trying to compose herself. “Because I wanted to say I was sorry. It was stupid of me to say what I said. But you were both gone before I could say anything. I just saw you two come here, I didn’t know you lived here too.”

“I don…” Soul stopped herself. Oh well, no point in denying it. It was obvious she lived here. Yes, this was her house. Congratulations, Dash. Now don’t tell me you’re going to bother me every night like this or follow me around. Soul smacked a hoof to her face, groaning. “And you decided to bug me in the middle of the night?”

“It’s a little past nine” Rainbow said. “You go to bed early, huh?” Past nine? So wait, Dash would stay up this late? Or… “And your parents let you out this late?” Rainbow rubbed a hoof over her leg. “I… snuck out. I told you, I just can’t get what happened between us out of my head.” “Well it wouldn’t have happened if you had told the truth” Soul raised her voice again. Forgetting that Nimbus and Starry were still asleep. “Seriously, what kind of flight buddy are you? I stick my ass out to help you and you ignore me when I need your help. I don’t know why you bothered coming, waste of my time. Jerk.”

Soul turned her tail to Dash. Stepping right back in. She reeled her hind leg up, kicking at the door to slam it on the filly. Wake up whoever, she didn’t care anymore. I can’t stand her. “I was a terrible buddy” Rainbow whispered. “I know it wasn’t right to ignore you, and I really do appreciate all you did to make that lesson more fun for me. Its why I feel so bad now, I really did enjoy being your buddy though. Not many ponies would stick up for me and I’m a total asshole for not doing the same for you.” “You’re right about that” Soul said. “I heard what you said to the instructor… you don’t want to go to camp anymore, is that right?” Soul let her hoof back down, shaken a little by hearing Dash saying that. Keeping the door wide open between them. Just how down… no, sad Rainbow sounded saying that. She sounded so broken. Another sniffle ringing out from behind.

Is she still hurt or… Soul turned around. Rainbow had sat herself down, staring down at the ground with her wings drooped as low as her gaze. Like some pathetic critter. “Would I not see you again?” Rainbow asked. That was the plan. I didn’t want to deal with any of you again. I still don’t, just like how none of you would want to bother with me. But why even be sad over it? You, of all ponies, are the one who hates me the most for leaving me to deal with everything myself. Soul didn’t answer her. Letting the air hang still between the two of them.

Dash grunted. “If you are gonna leave, can I ask you a favor?” “You want me to do a favor for you?” Soul asked, baffled.

2.66
“Can you fly with me one last time, so I can get the chance to at least show you how sorry I am?” Soul curled her lips. Her refusal right on the tip of her tongue, wanting to yell it at her and tell her just how mean she was for what she did. Dash flinched. Closing her eyes and reeling back a little on her hind legs. She ignored me when I was rained on, she gave me a cold shoulder so many times and worried me endlessly just for her to go around and show me she is a total jerk willing to throw me aside for no reason. Not stand there with me and let me be so afraid and sad. Why can’t I just say no to her? Bringing up the memory of flying with her.

She had almost forgotten just how happy and vibrant this filly had been flying alongside her, more than she had seen in her before. More than she thought Dash to be able to. I don’t know what it is, but seeing her fly so happily and free… it reminds me so much of myself and makes me so happy to see a pony come out of her shell and truly experience joy like I saw on her face today. How pathetic she looks right now, Dash really did want her to come along for one last flight, and wasn’t that my goal? To make her smile? Just like she did earlier today.

Am I selfish for just wanting to do this to prove myself better than her… or is it something else. Something in her heart that writhed seeing Dash like this. She felt so stupid for considering it. Even stupider for wanting to be the better pony. A little comfort for feeling like… deep inside, she could actually do something nice for a pony that didn’t deserve it. “Fly with you one last time?” Soul whispered. “How do you even see that happening?” She decided to pry. Wonder what the hell was inside that messed up mind of Dash’s. “I just want us to fly somewhere real quick, maybe for an hour. You and me.” Rainbow looked up from under her mane. “I’d like to show you something to let you know how sorry I am. Then we can go right back home. …And… go our ways.” So forlorn in that last line. She really didn’t like how she was tugging at Soul’s heart like this, but to see that filly left with one little shred of happiness in the end, just like me… with Nimbus. I would like for her to know what it’s like to fly freely. Still.

Oh Nimbus, is this how you felt when you decided to show me what it’s like. I don’t even know if I was this much of a burden. Did I pout and do bad things like Dash does? Or maybe I did something nice to convince you? Like Dash did… giving me her food. Letting me know how it is to fly together with another pony.

“Fine. I owe you for the sandwich.”

2.67
Like a switch was flipped, Dash’s spirits soared. Rising back up and giving Soul a tiny smile, so thankful in her face. Her little wings even twitched briefly. “Thank you… so much, Soul” she whispered. Soul took her first step out the doorway. Stepping onto the same porch as Rainbow Dash. “No more than an hour” Soul pointed out. “I’ll make sure of it. Oh, thank you.” Dash giggled, jumping back up onto all four and clambering right over to join with Soul. Stunning Soul with how much Dash was wanting to be near her.

“Thank you, thank you” Dash chanted, walking alongside Soul. Soul somewhat regretting her decision, somewhat perplexed by how happy Dash had become just by her saying yes to this. “We’re gonna have a blast” Rainbow proclaimed. “I got something so awesome to show you. I’ll make sure it’s worth it for you.” Rainbow went on, slowly creeping ahead of Soul with hyper hooves, and she stopped herself in front of Soul. Keeping the magenta filly in place. Soul backed away and almost protested when Dash reached a hoof out to her face. Slowly and gently. “What are you…” “Fix your mane up” Dash said. “You look like you just got out of bed.”

I did, smartass. Soul whipped her hoof away, doing it herself. Wow, I must have been tossing in my sleep. She just found out her mane was completely swept up and over. “I didn’t want to say anything earlier about it, but thought you might want to go out looking like usual” Rainbow said and she chuckled. “That was the first time I’ve ever seen you without your peek-a-bangs. It looked good seeing both your eyes.” “Is that so…” Soul muttered, ignoring her and putting her mane back down over her eye. “Sorry… I like it like that too” Dash retreated. Letting Soul walk past and onto the cloud yard. Kind of annoyed that Rainbow was saying this stuff. Not like how she was at all, that or she was serious and trying her best to make Soul feel a little better. Soul wasn’t sure what part was truth, but she had to admit she kind of liked hearing another pony say they liked her mane. When did we progress to talking about manestyles and crap like that? She wanted to mock Dash over it. Just letting her go.

2.68
Dash trotted back up to her side, splashing her hooves in the puddles and tiny streams coursing along the clouds and throughout the yard up to the waterfalls spilling over from floating clouds all about the house that Dash was increasingly fascinated with. She should see it during the day, when rainbows bloomed from atop those clouds and arched over the house. Very proud of it. Curious as to why Dash was so curious about all this if she was just here for one last flight with Soul.

One thing was clear, this was not the Dash she had seen in camp. She had never been this jumpy and energized with a smile on her face for as long as it had been now. Like hearing Soul agreeing to go with her was the best thing she had heard in a while. So very different. Intriguing Soul. Letting Dash walk as close as she was to Soul, headed over to a good and wide spot for them to stand together and stare out at the empty and starry sky. Soul glanced over at her. Waiting for Dash to look away from the sky with… with her big and… beautiful smile wrapped up in that sense of true adoration in her eyes. There is something off about her. What is she planning on doing tonight? “So, you’ll be leading” Soul informed her. “Where is it you want to go?” Dash took a moment to look back to her. She cocked her head and flashed her teeth. “Should’ve brought that Wonderbolts hat of yours” she said. “Too late now.”

Soul raised an eyebrow. Dash was ready to take flight. Silent and holding her wings out to take her into the sky. Nothing left to be said. Soul so perplexed and mystified. I did not think tonight would be like this. Never thought I’d see this pony again. But… there was some longing in her face that really did desire something true and free. To share with me tonight. Soul sensed her desire to take to that freeing flight. Maybe for just one small sense of comfort in this dreary and uncertain world.

I don’t know what she wants. But I’ll join her for tonight. Soul let her own wings out, dwarfing Dash with them. Flapping with her and both fillies took flight.

2.69
Rising over the house itself, Soul followed Dash right back to the very field she trained with Nimbus that night. Passing it all. Soul looked back to the dark face of her house drifting off in the distance, and the little bit of her window that she could still see. Was it right to do this? Soul wasn’t certain if she should regret doing this or have just stayed home. Yelled this filly off and never deal with her again. It was too late now. Forced to do as she said she would and follow Dash onwards across the dark and still sky.

Silent they were, though Soul noticed Dash take some quick looks back probably to make sure she was still there. Or maybe something else. Soul didn’t care. She wasn’t in much of a mood to talk. More or less preparing for whatever crap Dash had in store for her. If she was planning on being a jerk in the end. What things to say, indeed. Cursing she had to make the assumption this was going to turn out badly. If only Dash had not left her behind. But I’m kind of used to that, not really used to them coming back. Let alone leading her out here. Soul looked ahead, past her guide. Raising an eyebrow because... she wasn’t entirely sure what it was they were doing, but the sight ahead was still intriguing as they got so close to the lines of silent factories. The coliseum. Looming ahead and growing so tall over the spires and domes of the weather factories. Right in the heart of that vast expanse of clouds churning about it in an endless maelstrom to be lit bright by the many, many lights of blues and yellows shining all across the great coliseum, and the rays of lights that cut through the sky. Lighting up the night itself over it all. Those spotlights giving Soul a greater sense of comfort that she could fly with Dash in the dark, though they were the only ones up here. A little uneasy to be alone up here with this filly.

“I’ve actually been to these factories before” Dash said out of the blue. Breaking Soul’s attention.

2.70
The rainbow maned filly keeping up her flight but too busy looking back at Soul to care where she was going. Just straight ahead. Both of them gliding past the towering stacks so many times thicker than they were like titans that always churned out that shroud of blue mist every day and seeding Cloudsdale in the rain showers that always kept the city’s clouds so warm and wet.

Soul had been here before as well, not that she boasted about it. It was all so interesting to see how these buildings that spread out so far and wide within their cloudy embraces and spanning white columns could pump out all the weather systems she could imagine for the weather pegasi to work with, but it didn’t take her. She never wanted to be a weather Pegasus. “My dad works here” Dash pointed down to one of those massive buildings. “Cumuli workers. It was so awesome to get to see him work when he took me. You know, I actually would like to learn how to do that stuff someday.”

“Well I don’t know how to do it, can’t really help you there” Soul talked her off from this. Feeling even worse hearing this talk. Only reminded of how well she managed to manipulate a cloud today and that leading to everything else. Dash could grow up to be a damn goose for all it mattered to her. Quieting Rainbow up again. Pretty displeased she looked, when I’m the one who should be displeased. You wanted to fly with me one last time, and I… I don’t even feel anything like I did earlier with you. Did Rainbow get anything out of this or was this a waste of time just to get Soul out here to talk to about random things? It really did suck. We did so well together and I felt so alive… so different just by flying with you. Like I could do what I pleased without worry or distraction. Just enjoy what we could do together. Soul didn’t even respond when she saw Rainbow had backed up a little. Taking her time to even bother to acknowledge Dash was there next to her, wing to wing, inviting her.

2.71
“How about we do some tricks?” Dash suggested. “I got one.” The cyan filly tilted herself over and presented her back to Soul with her wings facing the ground and the sky. Some vertical glide. “Do this too, back to back. We can do some spins or something” Rainbow grinned from under her flowing mane.

“Come on.” So enthusiastic with her request. Sheesh, maybe I would. I’m just not in the mood to do that. I’ll fly with you but we aren’t going to do anything fancy.

Soul ignored her. Her silence getting across, Rainbow Dash leveled herself back out. Not at all happy. She just went back to her original place in front of Soul. Seeing that, Soul had to admit that no matter how much she was disappointed with this filly, she did feel a little tug at her chest seeing just how down Dash had gotten so quickly. Almost like when she crashed yesterday. That same look under her dreary bangs. Not at all bothering to look upon Soul again and just go on towards that sight ahead. Soul sighed, looking away from her and to the coliseum once more. Closer still for her to become ever more enticed as to what it was they were doing.

What surprise Dash had in store, not daring to ask. Certain the filly would not answer and just have an attitude. I’ll just see. But, oh man, that sound that made her ears perk up. The sound of cheering roaring across the sky in muted hushes. Growing more and more as they got closer, and the lights glowing stronger to where they shone so many different colors across the sky. Leaping high over the walls, those walls that grew taller. So tall that they began to dwarf the airborne pegasi. Not hiding at all what Soul could imagine was making all those sounds, and her wandering mind as to what it was that was going on. If what it was actually was happening. It stung a little in the back of Soul’s mind where she thought about the pony that had trained with her tonight. Is something really happening here tonight? Why are we even here? Soul’s excitement didn’t help but grow alongside her wonder as to if it could be true. If so, another question arose that she hoped was just her worrying.

Why did tonight happen then?

2.72
Soul held her place floating just above the clouds, her hooves skimming over it all. Unlike Dash. The cyan filly quickly ran off ahead of her. Frantically, even. Curious to Soul. She seemed almost worried in fact. Rainbow Dash had taken her right to the foot of the mighty coliseum where its great and vast wall rose so high over them. Bright and powerful. Its blues and whites so great that they even lit up Rainbow Dash herself. Made her look not at all like a rainbow maned pony anymore. Lighting up the worry in her face.

That filly charging right up to the wall and stopped in her tracks by the gates that shut out what Soul remembered as the main entrance. Right where she was years ago, waiting in line, only to be told she wasn’t old enough to go in and having to go back home with Nimbus so saddened that their day had not happened. Closed and empty now. Not a motion at all, save for Rainbow Dash. She practically barged her way right into the gate. Clanging it against her force and running a hoof down a bar. By herself.

Soul stayed back and watched her. Not sure if she should do anything or just leave. Disturbed and… then concerned when she saw Dash’s face contoured in such pain and fear. The filly ran along the side of the gate, banging at it all over. “Come on!” she yelled out. Nopony there to answer here except for… another cheer so vast. Louder than before like it could echo across the entire city. Seriously, what is going on? Soul had enough of being left in the dark over this. She settled herself down.

“Dash.”

2.73
Rainbow ignored her, calling back out to anypony beyond the gates. Wrapping her hooves around the bars and she tugged at them. Keeping her tail to the filly who walked up behind her, but Soul didn’t need to see her to know there was something so wrong with her.

“Dash, what is the big idea? Tell me now.” I could have gone right back to sleep. Though Soul would not tell her how frustrated she was getting and how very worried she was getting over what it was that may be happening inside that coliseum. Rainbow smacked her hoof against the gate one more time. Giving up, slouching herself against it. She let out such a groan. “And we can’t even fly over it. We’ll get in so much trouble.”

“Dash! What is going on?” Rainbow dropped back down onto all fours. Letting her wings sink with her head. Staring away from Soul, no nerve to face her. So much fear in her voice that left Soul shocked. “I’m sorry. I took too long to come get you. It’s my fault.” “Can you turn around?”

Soul had enough of trying to talk to her butt. After a pause, Rainbow did as she asked. Still not looking away from the clouds she stood on though. That was fine. “Now tell me, what is going on here?” Soul asked. Wanting answers now that another cry of joy blasted all across the stadium and the whir of wings rippling the air so swift and powerful. “You wake me up and then you take me for a flight and you take me here instead. Is this some sort of joke?” Dash shook her head under her mane. Even talking back, she didn’t face Soul. Her voice so quiet and longing. Somehow easing Soul just a little. “I did say you should’ve brought your hat. Well… it was for this.” Dash’s words making Soul’s eyes widen.

2.74
“I meant to get you earlier but I got lost, looks like I messed everything up.” “What… do you mean?” Soul asked still trying to come to terms with it. Her mind aflutter in the confirmation of what was going on inside. Such a spectacular and wonderful event that she had never got to see before and only able to hear about it through Nimbus and Starry. The two ponies who were more fans of these things than anypony Soul had seen before. Yet, Soul had not even heard about something like this today. Why? Why did I not know? Why…? Soul looked down to the clouds herself. Shocked. Left to wonder why it was they remained silent to her. “Soul…” Dash glanced up from under her mane.

“I wanted to show you how sorry I was for what I did. I snuck out to try and get you so we could see tonight’s Wonderbolts display together.” Soul was hit so hard. Even harder. Being told flat out that such an event was happening… and… Rainbow Dash… she wanted me to go with her? There’s no way. Soul met Dash’s eyes. Not sure what to say. Hoping Dash would keep going, because she sure as hell had no idea what she needed to do. Wanting some sort of guidance. “I’m sorry, so, so sorry” Dash practically begged. “I really thought it would show you I appreciated everything you did for me in camp today. Not many ponies would do that stuff for me. A stupid thank you wasn’t good enough, especially after what I did. I’m such an idiot, huh?”

Dash’s voice became so shaken. Trying to sound tough saying it, but she was just as weak as Soul was right now, though Soul would not admit why it was she was stricken. But she listened. “I’ll be honest” Dash said. She walked away from the gate. Back over towards where it was they had landed. “I wanted to do this so we could at least hang out since… since you… won’t be coming to camp anymore.” Dash looked back down. So sad over saying that.

2.75
“Hang out?” Soul muttered. Remembering what it was that was on her mind once more. “Yeah” Dash nodded. “We could do things together every now and then… look!”

Rainbow turned around, stretching her wing out. Surprisingly, a pouch fell out from deep under her feathers and right into Dash’s hoof. She bounced it up and down. “I even brought my allowance to pay for tickets for both of us. It’s… the least I could do.”

Pay for my ticket. Well… even if this had happened, if they had not been late, Soul was not sure how to feel. She just knew she was so lost and confused and so very upset with what it was Dash was saying. It just wasn’t right after all. “You embarrassed me in front of everypony at camp” Soul whispered. “You lied to get me in trouble. You ignored me when I needed help. After everything I did for you to make today a good one for you… you ignored me. What makes you think I would want to hang out with you?”

Soul let her wings out. Ready to take off. Her vast wings and confidence, no way this filly could catch her. …But… she stood there with the notion of… one last chance. Tell me why. “Tell me why.” Buying me a ticket would not be enough to convince me. You were nice to me before and that turned out to be a ruse.

2.76
“You’re right” Dash whispered. “I don’t deserve to hang with you. You gave me a lot and I turned my back on you when we were supposed to be flight buddies. But… I… I…” She held her tongue. Unnerving Soul. So agitated now, really wanting this over and her wings more than ready to make that first great flap needed to send her blasting away from this. “You what?” Soul demanded, she made Dash cower behind her hooves. “I was afraid!” she yelled in response, and Soul stopped in her tracks.

Wow… she actually is afraid. So afraid to admit that, saying it… it made Dash shake. “Afraid?” Soul asked. Her wings began to slow. “Yes! I was afraid” Dash said again. Putting her hooves over her head. “I wanted to stop you from doing it, but I was so stupid. I just let you do it and… and now you don’t like me because I was too afraid to get involved. I didn’t want the others to be mad at me too. I just wanted to get along with everypony.” That sounded… so familiar. Almost like… yes, I did put her on the spot. Right when… when I should have known.

It’s amazing. I can see so much from what little you said. I remember seeing that terrified filly so down and distant from everypony else and you got paired with me in the end, paired with a pony who was the same way of wanting to get others to like me, and I messed that up for myself. You were afraid of ending up the same way. Soul jerked up when Rainbow smacked a hoof into the clouds so loudly. The filly took the bag of her allowance in her mouth. Dragging her hooves along, she walked away. Headed over to… to the rows of stands strewn about in silence along the wall of the coliseum.

Soul did not go after her, she did not even keep her eyes on her. Stunned in her shock at what she heard and how much it hit her. I didn’t want to try and be a showoff to the others. You didn’t want to try and stand against them. Wow. Soul smacked her own face with her hoof. I… I should have guessed.

Would… would I have done the same? Soul did not think so. She did the opposite of what she should have done in the end anyways. Against all she wanted to do and it backfired so badly. Why should I expect Dash to do the same when she is such a sad, little filly? Everypony else talks badly about her and I’ve not seen anypony be nice to her. She’s just been trying her best. I guess… I see why it is she wants to hang out with me. I was the first one to give her a chance, wasn’t I? She gave me a chance too.

2.77
Rainbow Dash sat down with a loud plop right next to Soul and handed something over to her, held inside of the firm grip of her wing. She didn’t look at her, Dash just pushed the thing to Soul. Wanting her to receive it. “I messed up with the show so… I could at least get you this.”

She held an ice cream cone topped in many scoops crowned with… none other than a strawberry. Handing it right on over to Soul. Soul held her hooves and wings still. Staring at it. This gift to her. “You did a lot for me. You made the training easier for me and you still flew with me. You made it pretty fun. This is the least I can do after all I did” Dash said. “I know I sound like some sort of idiot but… I really did enjoy flying with you and I hoped I could have proven that I loved it. So we could still see each other. And… maybe…” Soul squinted her eyes to the ground till they closed. She couldn’t believe this. Believe all of this. So amazed how this turned out.

I… I don’t know if she’s serious but… I can’t help but feel so sorry for the pony that sounds so much like me. So afraid of what would happen to her if she made the wrong choice and so desperate for somepony else to be there with her. She wants me. Me to hang out with her. Am I stupid or is she? I don’t know. Soul Serenity sat down next to her. “Maybe we can still be flight buddies?” Rainbow asked.

“You gonna look at me?” Soul muttered as she brought her attention to Dash. Both ponies closing the gap between them, in their lonesomeness together, with their gazes. Under the cries of a cheering crowd and the lights that represented something that they failed to achieve for tonight, Soul still hoped they achieved something in the end. Now that she got Dash to look at her and to shut up. Soul accepted the ice cream in her wing.

2.78
“I’ll be your flight buddy.” Soul licked away at her gift. Happy with herself to give Dash that admission that even made Soul feel inside that she just said something so beautiful that must have truly made another pony happy. I just hope she will make me happy like she did today before all that mess. Soul did notice movement. Rainbow Dash scooched a little closer to her. She kept to her ice cream, she smiled underneath. Yelling at herself inside. Should I be happy or afraid? Afraid of the pony who turned against me. Or happy with the pony that flew with me and brought me that rare joy of having another with me to truly enjoy that freedom.

“Thank you” Rainbow whispered. Soul nodded. Not wanting to look away from her ice cream. Unable to summon the courage to look the pony in the eyes again. For what would she see? She did not want to know. Because I don’t know what I can look forward to anymore. Like how I didn’t expect for Nimbus to still want me and to train with me… for there to be a Wonderbolts event tonight. For me to sit together with Rainbow Dash again. I just don’t know anymore. “You still not coming back to camp?” Dash asked softly. That was something Soul did know the answer to. “No.”

I don’t think it will be worth it. That any of it was worth it. Yet Rainbow Dash accepted it. Not budging away from sitting with Soul or the small joy in her voice.

“I understand, and I’m still sorry I ruined it for you. But… it’s awesome we get to be flight buddies still. I… didn’t expect you to want to do anything with me again.” “I guess I’m just too nice” Soul said. Not entirely proud of herself for that. “…And…” Soul said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like flying with you.” “I liked flying with you too” Dash said. “And it’s not bad you’re nice. Not a lot of ponies would give me this chance. There’s a lot of jerks out there.” Yeah, and I saw you as one. Not sure if I still should. “But I’ll still love flying with you whenever you get the chance” Dash said. I guess… I can too. Soul nodded with a smile. Then she couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

2.78
“This is the first time we actually sat down and talked a bunch” Soul pointed out the thing that just came to her head. A lot of yelling and apologizing but they still spent more time talking here than any other time before. Enough for Soul to say they were actually having a real conversation. To which Dash agreed with. “I’d say tonight was different” Soul said.

Looking up at the Moon and wondering how much time had passed. She was starting to get a little sleepy again. Trying her best to finish her ice cream but she wanted it to last a little longer. Yeah, tonight had mostly been them arguing, well… Soul yelling at her. A little pleased that they ended up getting to this point. “I got a few more minutes” Soul told her, expecting them to be done when she finished her ice cream. “Anything you want to talk about?” Soul asked her.

Dash seemed so much more elated than she had been moments before. Like a better pony all of a sudden. Soul was more than comfortable spending some time to talk with her or whatever. “I was wondering” Dash started. Something was on her mind. “If you’re not gonna go to camp, how will you learn to fly?” I didn’t exactly need camp to learn to fly, more like… the reason that Nimbus had given her and she had gotten so close to that goal if not for her messing up. Or so it seemed. Soul had to admit, tonight was unexpected. Is it all because I decided to do it in the first place? Soul had no reason to lie about how she planned to learn since Dash knew a lot already. “Nimbus and Starry will be teaching me after they get back from camp. Those two have always been there to teach me for as long as I can remember. Everything I know is from them.”

“You… learn just like me?” Soul looked to Dash. Not sure what she meant by that. Dash answered for her. “My dad teaches me how to be a weather Pegasus but my mom has been teaching me all she knows about flying. She’s… not as skilled as Nimbus but… I think she does a good job at it.” Rainbow sighed. “They enroll me in these camps to teach me things that they can’t… which is a lot.” Rainbow giggled. “But no matter what, they’re always there… supporting me and telling me that I can be something great no matter what happens.” “What is it you want to become?” Soul asked. Intrigued by the filly. Not at all expecting to hear this stuff come from her mouth. How longing and loving Dash was as she spoke of those ponies. A little shine in her eyes.

2.79
“I did want to be a weather Pegasus, I still do… but then they took me to one of these” Rainbow pointed over her shoulder to the coliseum where the sounds of spectacle resounded. “I want to be more than just a weather Pegasus” Dash paused. She held a hoof to her chest. Proud in her look. “And my parents support me in my decision to be just like those ponies.” She looked over to Soul. Happy as could be. “I wanna be a Wonderbolt.”

Wow, after all I saw of her these past couple days… I never expected her to want to be just like those masterful flyers of which Nimbus was stock quality of. Even Nimbus’ father. I never met him but I can tell he was one of the best flyers to ever be among that group. All those wonderful heroes of Cloudsdale in their bright blue suits and blazing gold lightning bolts. To see Dash dressed up as one of them. To become one of them. I would say it was insane before… but… I see a fire in her eyes. A passion.

She’s so timid and mysterious, but I can tell she means it. That she is working hard at it. Is it that same desire I felt in her… the moment I first laid eyes upon her? Soul was speechless for the longest time. Proud to admit it when she could that “I’m sure you’ll make it. If your parents support you and you never give up, I know you can be one.” “Thank you so much!” Dash grinned. “What do you want to be?” Throwing that out there even with Soul still numbed by the idea of Rainbow Dash becoming a Wonderbolt. That she was sitting with a filly who wanted to do something so difficult and daring and… sounding so much like a fool’s dream, but she had to admit that there was something to it much like how Soul felt deep inside her when it came to her answer for Dash. “I always got to hear lots of stories about the greatness of ponies who flew in ways that earned them so much respect and fame. Where entire parties are thrown for them and they are loved by so many.” Envisioning the sight of such great flyers who wore that true blue suit to storm across the clouds. But there was always something different about them that Soul noticed. It was different, but so common. Not as common as the thing that made her eyes widen when listening to stories from Nimbus and seeing her cherished teacher in action. They were always so powerful in their flying and so skilled that they could perform perfectly for anypony else.

Indeed, I love Nimbus’ father in how he became a Wonderbolt and performed for thousands. But he… he did it for a reason so foreign to Soul and so intoxicating unlike anything she had imagined. A concept that made her forget for just moments that she had been so different from him… and failed to live up to the expectations of others. Until Soul tossed that aside. Listening to those feats from Nimbus. I may have been a foal naively drawn by those stories but I loved them. They drove me. I want to do the same for others. To prove to them all that you can fly the way they did and show them that there is so much more to flying than the glorified crap they put in papers. I want them all to see something so much higher and different. What it’s like to fly without anything to hold you back. To show just how it is a pony can rise over the harshness of life and truly be free. No matter how hard it is. I want to show that to them. “…Until you realize just how noble those ponies were trying their best to make others see that they can do anything.” Soul smiled. Just like the very pony who trains me.

“I want to be like them. I want to fly at a level so few can and inspire many to follow in that path. To chase after their dreams even when it’s tough. That freedom and joy that so few pegasi can feel. I want to be one of the best flyers of all…” and prove that I am not worthless. That I can be something so much more than what I was left behind all by myself with on that stormy night with nothing but the painful yells of a pony I no longer remember ringing in my head.

2.80
Soul held her hoof out, expecting to catch one of those raindrops again. It never came. Gone with that painful memory and replaced with her desire to toss it all away. So no other would need to feel that way again.

I’ll show them all that they can be anything. “Maybe someday… I hope to be able to fly for the princesses… for Luna. When she comes back.” Just to see that proof. When she will come back. A lot more than what this little filly was thrown aside with the expectations on what she would be able to do. Soul wasn’t angry, she wasn’t happy. Held in her thoughts.

“That sounds insane” Dash whispered. “But… you seem to have the right teacher for it. I was kind of jealous to learn you live with Nimbus and Starry. Tell me… are they…” Soul didn’t need her to finish. She had to answer this sooner or later. I can’t admit it. Rainbow Dash does not need to know. Nopony needs to know how it is. “They’re my parents.” Soul cringed saying that. Parents. My parents. Ones I could never call that with a straight face. Because it always hurt to say it. To know how things are. To always be reminded.

“Lucky…” Dash said. “Your mom is an awesome flyer.” “…Yeah, she is…” Soul agreed. Pained to hear somepony say that. Pained and envious because it never felt that way where I could actually call Nimbus my mom. My own mommy. Though I wish I could. For me to really have a family. Ones that I truly feel are my family. Nimbus, I wish you were my mom. Starry, I wish you were my dad. Because you two have given so much for me and tonight was no exception now that I know a Wonderbolts event happened. Rainbow didn’t even seem to know how much it hurt her inside. She stood up, letting her wings out. Clearly ready to go. “I don’t want to keep you out much longer. Let me take you home?” Soul nodded. Joining with Dash once she took the final bite of her ice cream. She ignored her ignorance. Soul appreciated this night even so. “Thank you so much for the ice cream and… for talking with me” Soul said. Rainbow Dash was more than pleased to hear that.

She did something so shocking. She touched a hoof to Soul’s shoulder. Stunning. Soul felt eased when she ran that hoof down her leg and let go. Turning off and glancing to her. “Would you still like to hang out with me tomorrow?” Dash asked. “Sure. After you get back from camp?” Soul said. She got her confirmation. Tomorrow afternoon then. After camp where Dash would get to deal with that crap. Soul admitted it, she hated it. But she remained silent. Flying off after the pony who took her home. Where they crossed over the factories once more and flew along the vast and empty fields shrinking under the glossy and great expanse of the mighty cloud city ahead. Right where Soul’s house lay before it all. Lonesome and dark. Still inviting the fillies to reunite with it. Neither of them said anymore words to one another. Soul still felt that there was something there connecting them… maybe from how close they flew together this time. She didn’t know. But she was more than happy to be with Dash for right now and she felt it may be mutual. Reassuring. She was able to sincerely wish her the words when they landed together “Good night, Dash. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “See you then” Dash said back to the pony who went on her way to the door that they had argued at before. How things changed. Now Soul looked back at her from the door and smiled. Waving Dash off. Hoping she could sleep a little better now.

I don’t know what it is about her, but she fascinates me. Soul creaked the door open.

2.81
Stepping back into her dark and silent house. Nothing there to tell her anything had changed since she left, though she looked around briefly to be sure before she stepped inside and closed the door with a small clank behind her. Rainbow Dash… what is it about you? Like something really is drawing me to you. I can’t even yell at you right now. Even when you do bad things to me, you still come back and manage to make me feel a little happier. Can’t say for sure if she was happy to have met her or regretful. One thing stood, she was excited to see her tomorrow. I only hope we get to fly together much like we did today. Keep flying. Soul wouldn’t be happier seeing that pony reach her dream of being a Wonderbolt. She doesn’t seem like she has the skill for one, but that was it, she had the spirit. The drive.

Reminds me of somepony else who once doubted her worth and she still does sometimes. Is that pony worth it enough to make Rainbow Dash happy? Soul questioned it all.

She stepped past the couches and across the carpet that softened her steps over the clouds. Following the moonlight that guided her on. Shown a bright light over any and all for her to see and to shimmer along the table. Soul stopped. Watching that shimmer. Heading over to the table between the sofas. This is… Soul set her hoof upon the stacks of papers set out under the metal clip holding them in where the Moon reflected off of it.

Nimbus’ clipboard. It held her attention. Not even daring to move it. So entranced by it. Curious by it. She had seen it so many times before but… it drew her so hard tonight. Because of how different it was. How different was the thing left out at the very top of the stack. Where the Moon shone brighter than anywhere else. Soul held her breath and any regrets turned to acceptance when she saw that Nimbus had done such a good job at displaying what it was this paper showed. The mare had drawn the faces of every child in the group. There was Spitfire. Amber. Breezy. Aurora. …Me. She even got my bangs down pretty well. Soul backed up a little because she was not entirely sure how to react to what she saw… with the lines that connected the faces together. …I have two lines.

2.82
Nimbus… she wanted to pair me up with… with Amber.

A line from Soul’s face to… to Amber’s face. Except for one thing. That had been crossed out. To form a new line. She… she changed her mind… seeing that line go to another face. Rainbow Dash.

After what Nimbus said… why pair me with her over Amber? Soul was so confused. So lost for words, but she wasn’t unhappy. I don’t think any other pony could have given me so much to think about than Dash had. I can’t say I despise her or even oppose her. She is truly a mysterious one. Why did you pair me with her? Soul set her hoof back on the drawings, running it along the lines between her face and Dash’s. Feeling along and then her hoof bumped over something. Something under the paper. Soul cocked her head. Lifting it up to see. More papers and… her eyes glowed.

I knew it. But why? Three of them. Nimbus had hidden them, and never touched them again. Never bothered. Three tickets… to the Wonderbolts. Soul’s eyes widened. She stepped back from it all. Leaving those papers where she found them. S-she had tickets all along, so… she did know about this. Why didn’t… we go? Soul’s heart beat so fast. She couldn’t bear to be among this anymore. Nimbus… what were you thinking? With all of this. Soul questioned everything. Nothing made sense anymore, and she had nopony there for her.

She went back up the stairs. Leaving those papers behind. Not even tired at all… just worried. Worried as to what it was that was going on. Soul stepped up and crept back over to her door. But she did have that desire in her to go to the next door down. So much to wonder about. I just don’t know. Soul pushed her door open.

2.83
“Welcome back.”

Soul nearly yelped in a startle but calmed down, only for her to be filled with fear when she saw that Nimbus herself was there reclining on Soul’s bed. Facing her… not at all pleased in her looks that broke out in the moonlight. “I was just about to go out and get you” Nimbus muttered. “It has been… over an hour unlike what you were saying how long it would take.”

What? She overheard us? Damn it all. I should have guessed she would be woken up by all that noise earlier. So stupid of me to think otherwise. So… now I’m in trouble. Soul well aware she had snuck out without permission. Nimbus did not look pleased. “I’m… sorry.” Soul prepared herself for whatever came. I need to explain myself. “Rainbow Dash woke me up and wanted to take me to see the Wonderbolts with her but… we were too late so we talked for a bit.”

“I hope you both had a good time.” Nimbus sat up on her bed. Stretching her forelegs up to the ceiling and letting out her big wings in tandem. Satisfied to stretch out. How long has she been waiting? Oh man. “But it was stupid of you to go out without telling me, especially at night” Nimbus said. “I was starting to get worried. Good thing Dash was with you.” “I’m so sorry” Soul admitted again. Sulking where she stood. Nimbus had nothing to say for that. The mare slid off the bed and proceeded to pull back the blankets and fluff up a pillow. She yawned so loudly.

2.84
“It’s late, we’ll talk about it in the morning but you need to get some sleep.” Soul couldn’t agree more. Nimbus’ yawn spoke volumes to her. I didn’t know I would keep her up waiting for me, I guess we both won’t be getting a lot of sleep tonight. …I’m not sure if I should sleep in. Soul so conflicted on what to think after all that she went through tonight.

Should I be worried or thankful? All I know is I’m in trouble later for this. Great. Thank you, Dash. She wasn’t mad at her. More upset at herself for keeping Nimbus up thinking about her. Soul accepted Nimbus’ invitation. Jumping back into bed and laying her sleepy head upon the pillow once more. Gladly accepting the blanket Nimbus pulled up for her. She settled in. Looking up at the mare. No matter how much she was worried, Soul still admired her.

I got to admit, it feels good that she waited for me. Even better that Nimbus spread the blankets out over her. Also ready to head back to bed with her drowsy face. “Sweet dreams” Nimbus whispered. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Soul hated to do this, but so many questions hung on her mind. “Wait.” Soul stopped her from leaving out the door. “The Wonderbolts… why didn’t we go.” That made Nimbus halt in her path. Shocked even.

“We had tickets, right?” No reason to lie to me. I saw them so why did we not go? Especially since you love the Wonderbolts so much and really want to take me to see them. It just isn’t something you would do to ignore them. “Why did you change your mind?” Nimbus was well aware of what she was talking about and she grimaced to the floor. Shaking in her hooves, the mare peered at her through her bedridden mane with locks so long to nearly blot out her eyes but not blot out the sincerity in her look. “I felt it was more important to spend time with you and only you. I just wanted to spend time with you.”

Soul shut herself up. Letting Nimbus go with another “sweet dreams.” The Pegasus softly shut the door behind her and left Soul to sleep. The filly lay her head back down, staring up at the ceiling. She gave up the Wonderbolts to spend time with me. What made today different except for… for the thing that made me cry. Nimbus… Soul’s mouth quivered. Shaken in the words she whispered. The feeling she had to be given such a lovely night turned from a bad day.

“Thank you.” Thank you for tonight and for… Soul needed to admit it because she wasn’t at all regretful anymore. For Rainbow Dash. I’m glad I get to spend time with her tomorrow.

…Perhaps… more time than that.

Sweet dreams.

Yes, sweet dreams knowing I have something to be happy about.

It will all be okay.

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