4.1
Where was Rainbow Dash? Soul hadn’t seen her for a whole day and this is what she got to come back to. She had been waiting far longer for her flight buddy to arrive, so much so that most of the other kids had already arrived and departed from their own parents. No sign of Aurora, thank Celestia. That was certainly not something she wanted to come back to. Alongside that, she was more than happy to see none of the other kids even bothered with her. Nothing had happened. Just more of the evading eyes and lonesome frowns that told her that someponies were obviously not wanting to deal with her. That is what left her antsy. If Dash wasn’t here, who would I get to fly with? Who would stand by my side?

Soul held her hoof close, rubbing gingerly against her chest, sure to calm the tingles that still pressured on. Yet that hoof remained freed to the morning air with her fur clearly overlapping where the long cut had been. I just know I’ve kept her worried all this time. She hadn’t seen any way that Dash could know how she was doing, on top of being forbidden from flying all of yesterday. She couldn’t meet her. Let her know how she was. What she really wanted to do today. Get rid of that scary moment from Dash’s mind. Soul looked off when she heard the sounds of more wings, only to find another of the colts landing with his parents. Goodbye hugs and giving away of a lunch. All the more of what she was used to. Not so much like the group hug of three ponies who looked so similar to one another when Amber and Breezy joined in a hug with their mom right by the entrance to the camp wall. Both fillies stepping off upon the clouds and running with such laughter off to the lockers. Soul watched them go and listened for the sound of their mother’s wings to fall off into the sky to let her know to ignore it.

Every second made her frown grow longer. Sulking even. As long as nopony bothered her, which looked to be the case, she was fine. Fine for as well a word she could put being worried for how her flight buddy was and if they would get to play today. More and more wings flying in, more ponies for Soul to watch wander off to join with others, their own flight buddies and groups to talk and play. What little they could do before the morning activities started.

4.2
Until… there she was! Soul’s frown pretty much transformed right there when she saw the familiar rainbow tail met with the sound of wings coming in. That cyan filly dropping in right behind the others with Windy by her side. The larger mare towering tall over the filly yet they both looked so sweet together, just like being able to see Dash again. Soul was starting to get worried if she really would not be here today. Looked like Dash had been the same way. Soul was the first one she spotted. Both eye to eye from across the clouds.

That dumbstruck filly over there with her mom, paused and bewildered, but her smile came back. Baring her grin to Soul. She almost forgot to do one thing. Soul felt her own heart melt when Dash went back to hug Windy for such a long time, much longer than normal. Amid their very happy faces, so much stronger than what Soul was used to. Before they parted. Windy waving off to the filly who ran to Soul. “Have a good day, you two!” the mare called out and flew off. You two? She’s actually wishing that to me too? Soul didn’t know why, but she waved off to the mare who went into the sky. Leaving her with her flight buddy once more when Soul stood up and almost fell back. Back with widened eyes and the warmth so familiar to her when hooves went around her. Rainbow hugged her so tightly. Throwing her own mane into Soul’s face, laughing so joyously, just like Soul who returned the hug.

It took time to do just that, to realize she was actually getting a greeting hug from her flight buddy. Wow, we’re doing this? She wasn’t complaining though. She felt so much better just having the pony there to join her in the thing they shared before under worse conditions. Worse, but still so sweet. Enough for Soul to indulge in it, not caring if any other could see. Think what they want, Dash and I are flight buddies who look out for one another. Just like she did for me. I never forgot that, Dash. “Thank you, for staying with me” Soul muttered into Dash’s mane.

“What do you mean, you dork? Think I wouldn’t come?” Oh no, she didn’t understand. Or did she? A little joke in her voice. She said it anyways. “Thanks for staying with me when I got hurt. It meant a lot.” Rainbow loosened her grip, pushing away so she could look Soul in the face. “You think I would just go? After how epic you made this week? No way I’d leave my flight buddy hurt.” A lot more than I would expect. Soul admitted it, she would not have expected it from the Dash she met from the start. Now, I feel more confident with her. Not many ponies would stay with me. At least you stayed.

I’m just glad I finally got to thank her and let her know that everything was going to be okay.

4.3
Dash practically led Soul off back to the lockers, looking back so often… just to make sure I’m behind her. She’s so sweet. Though the eyes did follow and Soul felt them. Just for a moment, no need to pay attention to them. The eyes that did matter where the ones she payed attention to from the cyan filly she followed. Sticking with her to put lunches away, Dash slammed her locker shut. Almost jumping with joy. “I… am…” she turned to Soul in a start. “So glad you made it back!” So high that her raspy voice broke in a pitch Soul had never heard from her before. It made her wince.

“You gotta tell me, what did you do yesterday? Any intense training or trips you made? You and your parents do anything cool?” Haha, what does she think happened? I was injured. It was amusing to Soul. Flattered that she was so interested though her answer would likely not be what Dash wanted to hear. “Well… I tried to train but… mom yelled at me and I had to stay in bed the whole time.”

Soul giggled. Embarrassingly rubbing her hoof behind her head. “I didn’t really get to do anything except read.” “Reading?” Dash said. Raising one brow for a moment. She shrugged and went on past Soul, sliding a hoof across the filly just to tell Soul to come on with her. “Yeah… I guess it was nastier than I thought” she said and stopped Soul at the doorway. Both of them alone in here. Dash lowered her voice. “You really scared me back there, …you have no idea how cool it is that you’re okay. It uh…” the filly looked over her shoulder. “Hasn’t been the same without you.”

“Really?” Soul rubbed her cheek. Damn, Dash, why are you being so nice to me today? She must have really been worried. Another kid worried about me, this was something else. “This place is pretty sucky without you, and where’s a pony without her flight buddy?” Dash punched a hoof into Soul’s chest. Rough though Soul still smiled. I don’t think it’s much different without me, but thank you so much for thinking that way of me. Soul couldn’t express it in words. Glad that this day went like this. So happy to come back to Dash.

4.4
“How is your wing… and your leg?” Dash said, looking over Soul’s body. “My wing?” Soul flashed both of them out. Feeling as good as when she first let them both loose once more earlier this morning, so great to have them both back. Carrying her back into the sky whenever. Doing that alone made Dash shake in excitement. “It’s A-okay” Soul said.

She held her hoof up too. No way to tell thanks to her fur, but she showed it off anyways. “Cut is still there, but my leg is fine. It still hurts just a bit.” Dash was extremely happy. Bobbing her head off to the side, staring upon Soul. She stepped forward.

“As long as your wings are good, I don’t want to see you lose that dream of yours. Such awesome news!” The pony skidded over to Soul’s side, feeling her prying eyes upon her, Soul stepped over a little but didn’t lower her wings. She let Dash look over them. Shadowed in their massive feathered spans like no eagle could compare with. Feeling her satisfaction with seeing her wings both in top shape again. Soul kind of liked Dash looking at them so closely. See how well she tended to them and how strong she had made them over the years. For another Pegasus to appreciate them, she could tell. Dash was enthralled back there.

“Neither of us want these puppies hurt. I’ll be honest” Dash said. “I was so scared for you when I saw you fall. I was happy you were still okay, but… when I saw your wing, I sort of panicked.” “I understand” Soul said.

Our wings mean a lot to us. Nimbus had been right in the end, and Soul had accepted it. She needed to rest, take time off training, and focus on getting her wings back up. I’ve worked so hard on them to let them falter because I wanted to be stubborn. Even more ashamed… that I did falter all because of something so stupid in the first place. I should have never crashed. “Am… I allowed to touch them?” Dash whispered back there. What? Soul glanced back. She found Rainbow swaying left to right in a hover over Soul’s wing with her forelegs up, like she was begging or something. Her smile was so big. Cute, but… Soul shook her head. “Only pony who can touch my wings are mom.” Like how well she always tended to them when I got hurt. More than once. She only wished… wished that nopony else had ever ran a hoof over them. Maybe then… then nothing would have happened… and this tingle would go away forever. That sort of dampened Dash’s spirits. “Oh, that’s alright.” “It’s not you” Soul clarified.

Should I tell her? Sort of the truth… or… I don’t know. Rainbow Dash, should she know? I’m frightened to tell her the truth, but embarrassed to tell her the other truth. Which was better to make her feel better? “My wings have always been sensitive since I was a foal. They… really hurt when they’re touched.” Soul squeaked. Yes, I know, I’m a wimp.

4.5
“Why didn’t you say so?” Dash said. The filly lowered herself. Joining with Soul at her side. “Nothing to be ashamed of. Let me tell you, anypony that touches my wings is a dead pony.” Dash let one of her wings out, hanging it over towards Soul. For her to look upon her bright blue feathers and strong span so small compared to Soul’s. “So don’t feel bad about it, my wings hurt too when they’re touched.”

“Really?” Soul asked. Dash nodded. Bringing her wing back. Soul also lowered her wings. Staring at her flight buddy. We both have sensitive wings? Not something I normally talk about to other ponies but… I feel so comfortable talking with her. “Sorry I tried to touch them the other day…” Dash said longingly. When I fell? That was okay, I caught her just in time to keep it from happening. Didn’t need more pain than I already had. “It’s no problem. Just ask next time” Soul told her. Though the answer would likely stay no. Rainbow groaned.

“If only our wings were made of steel” she trotted back off to the doorway. “We wouldn’t have to worry about hurting them and missing out on playing together. It can happen to either of us. …Either that or…” Soul step back when Dash turned back to her with such a grin. Kind of weird to it. “Be like those pegasi whose wings feel much better when they’re touched… or stroked. If you know what I mean.” What? Soul took a moment to figure out what she was talking about and that made her gasp. Whoa, Dash was definitely different today. “You’re really gonna talk like that here? Get your mind out of the gutter. Really, what ponies do you hang out with?” Soul said. “Just one” Dash cocked her head to Soul and went off on her way. Really, she’s such a kid today. That was what Soul was loving, enjoying how happy her flight buddy now was. She followed on after her. Ready to go about with the day.

4.6
“Did you all do anything interesting yesterday?” Soul asked. Looking around the camp and the normal routine it was with so many adults floating about to push the clouds into place and form new obstacles and paths for fillies and colts alike to take. With the many kids of their group and even others she did not recognize milling about just waiting to start. Looked like more groups had joined the camp.

“Well… bet you can see the advanced activities have started up here. It was such a drag having to watch them do cool maneuvers and these intense looking speeds they flew at… while we just did some more trials and low altitude maneuvers.” Dash sounded bored explaining it. Not at all happy over it. “Probably will be the same thing today.” No doubt.

We are ‘beginners’ apparently. Dash had some problems with flying but she was no amateur. Soul had gotten that the other day. I hope she sees me as no amateur as well considering what I did the other day as well. It never should have happened.

“I got an idea” Soul said, remembering that day. “Can we go do more flying after camp today, do that sauna trip we missed out on?” Dash brightened up immediately. Really enthralled now. She almost jumped in place. “Can we? No need to ask me. I’d love to go. Need to ask your folks?” Soul shook her head. “Probably not, honestly, mom and dad said something weird on the way here.” “Huh, my mom also said something weird on the way as well” Dash chimed in. “Was it something like… telling you to…” “Have fun after camp?” Dash finished for Soul. That was it. Soul and Dash both came together with joy in their hearts. Patting a hoof to one another’s hoof. Windy did it too? What the hell? How did Nimbus and Starry have the same idea as Windy? We get to play after camp! Like a little reward for me for being cooped up in my house all day.

4.7
As happy as it was to know they would be able to do that, Soul still dreaded the sight ahead of all the other kids gathered about. The same ones she knew to not like her and, among them were ponies who really did fight so hard against everything Dash made her feel. It never left her mind, it only sat there and she knew that ponies knew what she did. If I didn’t have Dash here, this place would be a nightmare. Unlike how it is for others. Like none of those ponies had any worries. None of them had to deal with being afraid of the others and seeing the hurtful words that ponies had to say about them. Because none of them made mistakes. Mistakes so different from simply flying like a novice. Unlike me.

Soul was really stunned to see how much different this place had turned. Where I felt only fear… now I feel like I truly am alone, crushed under all the weight of this place. Oh, she could not express how happy she was that Dash had made it. This was going to be another day, as long as we stick together then nothing can go bad. Just to know you’re there with me. Soul was quite surprised to see how very different this place really was becoming to her. Forget the sight of it all, it was the ponies in particular that made her stop in stunned silence for she had no words.

“Junior Speedsters are our lives, sky-bound soars and daring dives!” Is that Amber and… Breezy? Dash stood there with her, Soul hearing her snickering at the twins who were out and about singing whatever that was aside from the other kids. Like nopony watched them. Going about doing a series of swoops and tricks that had no rhyme or reason to Soul’s eyes. Though both sisters did them in tandem. Like one pony… and so glad to do it. “Junior Speedsters, it’s our quest, to someday be the very best!” The twins cheered and found time between their dance of tricks to give one another a hug.

I have no idea what it is that just was. Soul staying quiet, she looked to Dash when she started giggling.

4.8
“Isn’t that quite a chant?” Dash said. “Apparently it’s this camp’s traditional song. Not sure why, but those two took up a habit for it yesterday.” “Looks like it makes them happier” Soul said. Admiring just how enthused the twins were even after doing such a silly dance and song. Something to it. She kind of liked that bond they were displaying. No matter what this place made Soul feel, she still saw the happiness in the eyes of those ponies who did enjoy it. From the very two who talked to her first. I remember just how nervous Amber had been, now look at her. She’s changed far faster than I have. Even got to be flight buddies with her sister and do that little dance with her of spins and loops while singing. Not one pony seemed to bother. A real display of cooperation between two flyers.

Soul glanced to Dash. The pony was more concerned with watching the twins. Didn’t look like she noticed Soul. Since Soul was a little intrigued. “Can you see us doing that?” Soul threw out there… then she blushed. I just asked that? Oh shit. Soul flipped her mane to the side and looked away from Dash. I didn’t even think right there. She bet that sounded a little weird to Dash. She didn’t seem the type of pony to do it. “Us chanting? Or dancing?” Dash asked.

Soul had no answer. Keeping her mouth shut this time. Though she tried to imagine what it would be like, what type of routine she and Dash could have. Should it be something like what the twins did or something simple. Different? Her mind raced with ideas. “I… um… don’t… am not into dancing and stuff like that…” Dash said. Really? That’s a shame. I kind of like dancing. Something about perfect moves and motions of two ponies together, it made her mind swim every time she watched it. Sometimes even flying felt like a dance to her. Like what we do in the sky together. Except for what the twins did, she wasn’t sure what kind of dance that was supposed to be. But that wasn’t the point.

“I was just asking because those two looked very… bonded in their flying.” No remark for that. Soul wasn’t sure what Dash was up to. How she reacted. Hidden behind her bangs. Is that what can happen to ponies who love flying together? Such beauty and bond in their flying that… that it makes me wonder what is truth when I fly together with Dash. How should I see that? I enjoy it so much and look forward to it all the time. This pony, admittedly less skilled than Soul was, was still the one pony she wanted to fly with. For what she did for me. How wonderful it is to fly with another pony that I feel can get me. Does she feel the same?

4.9
“I got an idea” Dash said. “What’s that?” Soul asked and answered right there when Dash waved her hoof to the twins in a move she had not seen the cyan filly do before. She called them over. “Amber! Breezy! You two wanna come join us?!” Even both of them looked just as confused as Soul was that Dash was waving them over, yet they both came over anyways. Much to Soul’s surprise. No need to run off or ignore them. They both looked to be quite alright with coming over despite the strange circumstances.

“Hi, Rainbow…” Amber said. “Hi” Breezy said from behind her older sister. Both of them didn’t do a good job at hiding that they were not so thrilled to talk with Rainbow. Soul never went at them or anything, just remembering what they said before. But are they justified? Soul didn’t think so. From what she had seen, Dash had been a good pony to be around despite the rocky start. They should have seen how her and Dash were when Soul crashed. Maybe then they would see her to not be as bad as they spun. Still unconvinced though, but they both were more uplifted to speak with Soul after quite a while.

“Soul! It’s great to see you came back” Amber said. Breezy ran past her sister. Wanting to be the one who came closest to Soul. Eager to ask. “What happened? We were worrying when we didn’t see you yesterday.” Soul laughed a little. Just to play it off as she admitted it. Holding her hoof up. “I had an accident after camp the other day. Hurt my wing and my leg. But I’m better now.” “Oh no!” Both sisters said in unison. Amber coming up to join as well. “How did you hurt yourself?” “I’d… rather not say” Soul told them. I made a lot of mistakes by allowing what happened the first day to happen, no need to let anypony else know that I crashed. No telling what they may think. Dash had taken it very well. She was the one to comfort her during it.

“I’m sorry, guess that’s personal” Amber said. “Well it’s still good to see you back. It was kind of different not being able to look forward to seeing you fly.”

4.10
“Different?” Soul asked. “Soul…” Amber stepped closer. Something about her smile. It was so warm to her, and her voice like something gentle to touch against her ears. It quieted Soul up, wanting to hear what she had to say.

“Don’t listen to what the others say. After what we saw the first day, you are something else to watch fly. Let’s say that you really did help Breezy and I feel more hopeful about ourselves. …Especially her” Amber nudged back to her little sister who was quick to show her dissatisfaction at that. “I can’t wait to see you fly again today.” Amber closed her eyes and smiled. Soul was without words. But her heart kind of trembled a little. Why are they all being so nice to me?

Did they all really miss me that much? Even after what went on every day here. I didn’t even expect me flying to do that for them, I wasn’t flying for real… except for before the end of my flight. Not even thinking anything special of it. None of these days had been anything special. Only when I got to fly with my flight buddy. I just did what I always do… save for the one time. Amber strolled away with her sister on her tail, leaving Soul to run a hoof over her blushing cheeks. Where Rainbow was in the corner of her eyes, staring at her. Sorry, I just feel so right. Like that was something I needed to hear. Not even trying to do my best, just what I feel when I fly. Escape for a little bit from the fear and worry that this place gives me every time I have to remember. See the problems I caused. Yet it’s enough to make those two feel… feel inspired. Feel hopeful. They like seeing me fly?

4.11
“Think I should ask them?” Dash whispered. “Huh?” Soul broke out of her stupor. “They like to see you fly, I think those two would be down with it.” Dash winked. That’s what she meant. Those two were the only other ponies here who made me feel more comfortable, I only regret not being around them more often. Here I thought they were like all the others. Maybe I was wrong. Soul nodded.

“Hey, guys!” Dash called after the twins before they got too far. Getting their attentions again. “Soul and I plan to hang out after camp. Do some flying and relaxing. Wanna join us?” “Really?” Amber turned around with a smile. “You want us to join you?” Soul did nothing to turn her off. She nodded with Dash, letting them both know that they were welcomed. Better ponies than she expected even after all that has changed since then. Gladly join us.

“Breezy and I need some good relaxing” Amber turned to her sister. Wanting her word for it. They would get it. All of them together at the sauna. I would love to see how well they can fly when no restrictions were in place too.

“Count us in” Breezy said. “This day can’t go fast enough.” The filly walked to go join with the group. Amber stayed behind. Just to say “We’ll meet you both at the steps when we’re all done.” She went off to join her sister. Soul more than pleased to hear their responses. That they were going to have company with them. Their own little group and with fillies so enthused for flying at that, enough to do their own chant. This should be fun. Soul didn’t need to say anything, she and Dash looked to one another and laughed. Telling one another how enthused they were for this afternoon.

4.12
“Everypony come join us. Lessons are starting!” Nimbus cried out to get every kids’ attention, all so eager to get the day started too, just like Soul. “Hope we get to do something different today” Dash commented. No telling. Nimbus didn’t even say anything to Soul about what they would be doing, she never did.

At first, Soul wanted them to sit with the twins until she saw both of them go right into the group. Beyond what she could see past yet hear them so happy to get started. Soul settled with the fact. She wouldn’t be sitting with them. They probably didn’t know. Know that she still could see it, that ponies did not like her after what had happened. Practically feeling the air go cold just by her and Dash coming to join the group. That and seeing that someponies glanced to them and were quick to look away. Almost falling silent when they had been busy chattering moments before. No way to tell them that they are all wrong about me. As long as I have some ponies to rely on, who cares?

She was used to it by now. As was Dash. Willing to sit with Soul at the back of the group. Away from everypony else. All she needed. Waiting and watching for everypony to quiet down before listening to whatever it was Nimbus had in store for them. Much to Soul’s discontent on what it turned out to be as she listened to Nimbus’ instructions to everypony. Joined by Dash in her frown.

4.13
A time trial? Individual time trial!? Soul looked with disbelief up to all the clouds hovering over the group. Hundreds of them if she could tell by how tightly packed and vast the swarm of clouds was. With so many more hanging in the back just waiting to join the rest. They had to try and bust as many as they could within a whole minute. Nothing more or less, though Soul already started seeing through it. This was some sort of trial to teach creativity. The same thing Nimbus had taught her on her own long ago. Creativity when flying in order to get out of jams. The most creative would be able to overcome most challenges from flying through foggy mountain ranges, as she recalled, or just busting clouds. Whoever did it the best.

But that wasn’t the problem. It was meant to see how each pony did it. Plain and simple, as Nimbus had said, that they were to do this solo. Making Dash and her look to one another so longingly. Saddened that this was not what they wanted, but… Soul liked that her flight buddy had the same feelings as her. She really did want to fly with me. Damn it, maybe we can do something together later in camp or… at the very least, after camp. Definitely. Though they had both been looking forward to more than that. Something to make up for the mess up that occurred the other day and ruining their chances to play together. Not a sentiment the other kids felt. They all were more than eager to get at it. Probably from the thought of destroying clouds for a lesson. Dash sighed. “Oh well…” she said unconvincingly. Clearly unhappy. “We got a whole day” Soul pointed out. “I’m not going anywhere.”

4.14
Soul didn’t really pay attention as each individual whistle blow went off and sent another little Pegasus up into the air to have at it. The cheers every now and then told her no reason to look, just thinking over it all. Still not shaking that she herself had lied about trying to be cheerful about it. She hated that she couldn’t fly with Dash for this. Oh wow… I don’t remember that.

Soul scratched her head. I used to not even think about flying with other ponies before. Now I really want to. What have you done to me, Dash? Off and off they went with nothing happening to draw Soul’s attention. Something else did.

“Not sure how well I’ll do at this, I’ll try to kick some ass” Dash said. Pretty confidently. Write herself off a little, though she let out this pride in herself. “Have you ever done anything like this before?” Soul asked. “Not often but mom makes me do time trials all the time, she always tells me how proud she is but… I don’t know. It still feels good afterwards, I always get better every time I try. …But those were always obstacle courses and timed races. Never cloud busting.” “You have any idea on how you’re gonna do this?” Soul asked.

“A little. Dad showed me a lot of cloud busting and taught me… never in a timed trial though. That was never part of being a weather pony. Kind of different from being a stunt pony too.” You want to be a Wonderbolt and a weather pony at the same time, Dash, probably should get used to these things. Find ways to combine them. I personally have no idea on how pegasi like her dad do cloud busting or any form of technique to it. Kick the cloud? At high speed and or power. That was it. Probably not as hard as me flying face first into the cloudy super-structure of Cloudsdale’s streets. No… these clouds looked a bit weaker than those. Ones she just now got glimpses of falling to pieces from each Pegasus who flew up to them. Practically assaulting them and tearing them apart. …I don’t need to be a weather Pegasus for this.

I already can see things I can do. She could only hope Dash did too, so she wouldn’t feel down, because Nimbus called out “Rainbow Dash!”

4.15
That was her cue. Soul’s flight buddy slowly got to her hooves. Hesitant to do so… Soul so sorry to see her have to go without her at her side. There to reassure her that they can do whatever it was together and pull it off. She was on her own. Just like the obstacle course. You may not be perfect, but that’s alright. I won’t see you any differently. Try your best. I’ll be right behind you.

“Kick some ass” Soul assured her. Dash nodded. Letting both her wings out and stepping forward. Away from Soul, into a clear area of the crowd where she stood center attention, waiting for the moment she needed to make her move. Tear them apart. Let’s get this day done so we can have fun together. You and me, and now, we have other ponies with us.

The fact Dash wanted to take the initiative to invite others to come, other ponies that Soul felt comfortable with, told a lot. She was certainly different. Not different enough to tell Soul she may not be nervous behind that mane of hers right now, but she didn’t shy away from it. Taking action when and only when the perfect moment came. Doing it with grace, right as the last kid landed… his wings closing, that was when Dash flapped her own wings. Perfectly. Tossing up the puffs of cloud sheared away by the force of her wings, enough to send her shooting up. Joining in the same sky that the other kids had been among, and soon, Soul would be up there too. With whatever it was she could do.

Thinking over it all, just hoping herself to pull it off well enough to be seen as good by the others. To make Dash proud. I just know I’ll be proud of her too. That pony up there who became a blur of blue light disappearing into the midst of the clouds, leaving only the sound of her flapping wings for Soul to listen for and the shadow of her path zipping across the maze that told Soul where she was. Something Nimbus was also relying on at the head of the group. That pony, holding her stopwatch in her hoof, craning her neck up to watch as well.

No doubt her perfect eyes could track everything Dash was doing up there. The eyes that only Soul could learn from. Making her smile every time she saw a cloud fall to pieces. Caught in the shredding blue light of the Pegasus who claimed the sky now and soared across it in only a way that made Soul feel happy to see and feel that same light flying next to her. The way she spiraled across the sky and dove down deep into the heart of the clouds, using only her hooves to punch right into each of them, then she did it. More than her hooves. Dash plummeted her entire body right into the clouds, changing and shifting her tactics. From front kicks, to rear bucks. Moving on with each cloud that she got rid of. That was it though, nothing more, which made Soul frown.

4.16
Something didn’t feel right watching her. Was it anything that any of the other ponies could catch on to? Even Nimbus? Maybe just Soul since she was the one who had been there every time with Dash when they flew. Enough to sense something from her, the way she flew.

Is that… Soul cocked her head. Spinning about to keep track of her flight buddy soaring fast and high and tunneling through the clouds with swift precision. Doing her utmost best to take down as many as she could. Though no cheers were thrown for her. Soul forgot to. Fixated on her. Curious as to what it was she was seeing in her flying. It was certainly different. Precise… accurate… robotic even. Like she had the entire flight set in her head and went about doing it. No obstacles or tight turns to make, no reason to worry, no need to make mistakes. Taking all her time to take down as many clouds as she could and perform this dance in the clouds that flying was all about to Soul. For it was always a dance to her, a majestic motion that she saw so capable inside of Dash. The other day.

Soul finally grunted. I am proud of her, she’s doing a good job at pulling this off and keeping herself cool, nothing flashy or intense, but there’s something she was seeing. Maybe she was just seeing things, nagging at her head. She couldn’t shake it out. Not after seeing how Dash flew with her the day before, and before she had crashed. All that joy we had doing that. Is that what it is? You really do want to fly with me. Because… this is the Rainbow Dash I remember from the first day, not the one who flew with me. You’re cold and driven in your flying. Pulling it off, unlike when we’re together.

You’re so free and open. Like a true child playing with her toy. A toy being made out of the sky. Every second that went by told her more and more that the pony up there, who did all she could to take down as many clouds as possible, was not at all satisfied with this. Oh Dash, you really do like flying with me. How happy you are when you do it, I guess it’s not an act. I’m so sorry I made you wait. But it was worth it just to see you fly like you did the other day, and to hug with you. Our own hugs… we’ve done it more… more than once. Soul shivered. Tingling down her spine.

It made her smile. Smile just as Dash went right through the patches of clouds just overhead. Taking them all down… and Soul saw her frown. In that flash of a moment. She saw it. Telling her right there. You enjoy me with you. …To think, it may have never happened if that line had not been redrawn to put us together. You really do want to be with me? I only wish we didn’t have to put up with this too. Rather it just be us together. As I learn everything about you and how you fly, and you do the same to me. Maybe I’ll be content with sharing it with you.

4.17
Soul accepted that she too would need to fly on her own, without Dash. Back to what she was used to. A sky to herself. Not sure how to feel on it. I like it, but don’t now that I have somepony else with me. Rainbow Dash landed amidst the clouds right when the whistle blew again and a number was called out.

“One hundred and forty-eight” Nimbus said. In one minute, not bad. Soul smiled… hearing some of the other ponies let out their admiration of such a number. No cheers. Nothing immense.

Soul wondered how good that was. Sounded good, no way to compare. Kind of regretting not listening to anything else, only having herself to compare to now. Though she was curious to see if she could. Who could beat the other. It made her smirk. Maybe that can make it more bearable. Don’t think on anything else. Just the goal. Like I will be flying with purpose again. It would be so when her name was called out.

Making her rise to her hooves. Spreading her own massive wings out. Both of them rearing to go after too long of bed rest. To end this gruesome time at this place and go to a better moment when she and ponies she felt truly liked being around her would be able to leave this behind for the day. Get through this. It’s just another flight on my own. I’m used to it. Didn’t mean it had no purpose to it. Something she saw in Dash’s flying just past. Show her what it’s like to fly… like I meant to do beforehand. With no need to be upset when we will be at it again soon.

“Great job” Soul made sure to say to the panting cyan filly who walked past her to take her place at the back again. Met with a nod. Sweating and tired, Dash made out a little voice. “Best of luck.” I won’t mess up. No reason to this time. Prepping her mighty wings once more for another flight. A nice return to the air after a whole day without it. This time, no holding back. She waited for that whistle. It came.

4.18
Take a breath and ignore it. That she was being watched once more as she flew. See it as nothing more than another trial to get through. That was what let her wings take her up in such a hail of power, one she felt and could tell was enough to send anypony near her in a frenzy to escape the force of her wings.

So much, she had barely any time to think. Though it was more than enough. As the clouds all shot in at her and the wind coursed around her body. Not at all able to stop her. Flying straight up into the sky, she steadied herself. Holding her forelegs out. Letting only her wings do all the work while her legs held out to guide her. More than that. Use them for the very purpose of this activity.

The wind was already howling in her ears. Piercing at her eyes and sending her mane whipping back down to earth. Not stopping her determination to home in on the target, a large set of clouds she had spotted since the start. Nopony had surprisingly gone for them. Probably because they weren’t sure what to do. Soul did. Those clouds were uneven in their stacking. Rising up to the heights of the sky and joining with the sea of clouds above, put together like some tower with plenty of space between them all. Enough room for her to fly up between them all, which is what she did. One. Two. Three strong flaps. Giving her the power she felt necessary to clear those clouds while doing this.

She kept her wings still. Held out as far they could stretch, and she felt the satisfying sensation of soft clouds warping around her wings. Her spans cleaved through them. Spotting each cloud split in two and fall to pieces in a spiral in her wake. The tips of her wings held firm. Keeping their pace and position to keep up the constant motion required to split them all. No speed lost. Nothing those clouds could do. Soul’s smile turned to laughter. Just knowing that she was doing it already. The power in her wings and the precision in her flight, nothing could stop her now. Now that she was in the air once more.

4.19
However many fell, she didn’t know. Didn’t care. She told herself that she did it perfectly. Clearing out from the fallen stack of clouds collapsed by her wings and plunging head long into the sky, past the fields of clouds and into open air so welcoming she had to do a little spin in the air. Soaring higher up. The air spinning about her. Until she held herself still, reeling her body back. High enough to do it.

She leaned back and twisted her body and wings back down, forelegs facing down at the sea of clouds she had passed, now far below. Not a problem. Under the gaze of the warm Sun and inside a sky with no hint of threat or worry. Nothing could stop her from feeling the truth in her flight. Even down there, she bet nopony could see her. Nimbus could. For sure. Maybe Dash. Whoever else, she bet it was few. As long as the ones who counted could. See the air ripple around her in that roar of the wind bursting apart behind her tail from a clap of her wings and a tear in the sky. Following behind her and she plunged back down at the clouds. Hooves held out. Going forth to spin again.

With nopony here for her to worry about, it was just her and her solo dance with the sky. Made true when the first cloud burst apart against her hooves and she went on into the field below. Into that shroud of white and blue so dense. No way anypony else could see through this maze. If they weren’t a Pegasus, that was. One who could hear her way through it. May as well close her eyes. Listen for the wind. Go forth with it. To churn the sky in her spiral. Rearing back up and down.

She cut across the swathes of clouds. She turned out of it. Headed left and shot off from the devastation behind her. So many puffs of white sent flying and mixing to fall apart again. Blasted away in a hail of wind from her wings when the filly shot off. One. Five. Ten. However many more. She felt the clouds stamp against her hooves. Till there was no more of them. Pulling back out of it. Do it with more grace. Not just a kick of her hooves, which she was sure to give to a pair of clouds she passed by and then went on to leave the swarm of clouds behind. Clearing out of them and passing below them all, into the open sky once more and free of that maze. For a moment. Just to pick up speed again with a downward dive and reel back up, her wings outstretched again and held up to cut across the bellies of the clouds and give them the same fate as the first ones.

Concentrate on the goal and pull this off without a hitch. She had no reason to rush or feel pressured. The only goal was to do this the way she always flew. To all, it would look like she was merely busting the clouds, to her, it was more of what she was used to. Simply flying. Every move she made like a quick brush across the sky even if clouds were there. Like none were there to her. None for her to feel. To care for. Letting her own flight do as it wanted of her. Pushing herself back up into the clouds, ripping through them with one fell ascent. Tiny puffs. Turned to smaller ones. None of the clouds that got in the way of her hooves could keep themselves anymore and then crushed by the waking gusts of wind following her. So many more fell. So many more for her to overcome and be nothing more than bumps in the air for her. Soul spiraled across them. Spinning in a wide arc around the funnel of clouds. Never losing sight of the open sky ahead of her. Flying towards it and maintaining a perfect spin. Her hooves kicking at every cloud she passed. Front hooves. Flipping her rear legs forward to crush them into clouds ahead of her. Chopping down at ones she passed by. She finally opened her eyes.

4.20
Wow, I really am going fast. Seeing the wind shooting past her. Like she flew through a cone invisible to all except for the pony to fly fast enough to catch it. That pathway in the sky that pegasi could see and lead them on like a road to everywhere they sought to go. For her, it went everywhere. Turning and coiling with every move she made. Those clouds were a mere after thought. Like her body did it on its own. While the filly was more focused on the here and now. Flying like she was alone. Though not alone. For she did this to impress the one pony she wanted to fly together with. To show the other ponies who she felt really did want to fly with her that she was more than welcoming to give her joyous love of the sky to any and all. A scripted and set goal for this activity to others. To her, it was another wonderful chance to spread her wings. Doubtful any other pegasi here felt the same way. Dash sure didn’t look to.

Everypony else cheered and swooned over this like some fun activity that children like them would see as playtime. This was no playtime. This was life. The life of any Pegasus. The very thing Nimbus spent years teaching her. All to see this. The sky that spun around her and reached out for infinity in its blue space. A big, open area for her to do any trick she wanted. Fly at any speed. Even more so now that she had nothing up here to worry about keeping track of. Just her and the wind. Carrying her forward. Getting rid of anything that may be in that path. Not at all certain if she was taking them down anymore, though she felt the bumps against her wings and pummeling her hooves made, shaking her body.

I can’t wait to fly like this with Dash later. Out of this camp and away from all these other ponies. They may all be watching me now, not at all sure what it is I feel about this. Not caring, as far as she could guess of them all. Because she was Soul Serenity, the pony who fooled them all and treated them like idiots. Who does whatever to get what she wants, even if it isn’t the truth. Even if it was also the truth, and those things she did backfired so badly. It really was a shame. I fly up here right now, like any other time. But I can’t be honest when I say I really enjoy it. Not until I can be free of this place and fly the way I want to, with another pony alongside me. That is when I can truly enjoy it. But every second here just reminds me of the mistakes I made and the results that hurt me so badly. They even made me crash. Enough to make her smile fade out even when flying like this.

Counting the seconds in her head and guessing the time was coming. Get it done and then sit through the rest of the group take their turns, eat lunch, do whatever else that was planned all the while worried that something may happen. Aurora was gone, but he did his job. Simply because of my mistake. I wish I could take it back and prove to all of them that I’m not a garbage flyer. That I do my best to fly and not try to trick others. I only did it the once to avoid… this very situation. Right now, …do they think I’m a bad flyer. Soul steadied her wings. Swooping back down to the thick clouds below to rejoin the others. Just in time when the whistle blew. Signaling her to come back. Come back down to all the ponies down there who had watched her. Wondered about her. Wondering about them. If they liked how I performed. If it was enough to tell them I am truthful to the flight we are given. They have their pride, but so do I.

I just can’t get it out of my head. I want to show Dash what it’s like to fly like you mean it, but I also can’t help but want to do the same for others, even if they don’t like me. The eyes watching her told otherwise. No cheers for her. None at all like the first day, the only day when they did like me. How much things have changed. Here I thought that… I did good. Soul slumped. Bowing her head and lowering herself down. …Much too fast!

4.21
Shit!

Soul couldn’t even blink. Not until the pain seared back up and one thought ran through her. She did it again. Her mind… blank. Soul closed her eyes, tumbling atop her hooves and slamming her head down against the sturdy clouds, flipping down along them. Once, twice. Before she fell on to her back with a sharp sting along the top of her head. A bump she could feel. She opened her eyes. Finding her hind legs above her. Hanging over her and her butt up to the sky, with her body curved up.

She lay there on the top of her back. Still feeling her wings flapping softly against the clouds under her. Then it stung, sending the filly to throw her legs back down and lay on her back. Gripping her leg. The same one that had been so troublesome before. Damn it, I crashed agai… Agh!

Soul held it close. Clenching her teeth. Hearing her name called out. Nimbus was out there. Soul struggled to regain herself, turning onto her side. Falling right down onto her leg again and that made her yelp. Crying out like a wounded critter. Forget it… I don’t need it. Soul used her wings to give a quick flap and got herself up that way. Kicking the wind so she could sit upright on her hind legs. Holding her foreleg close. Looking down upon it, she had opened it up again. Blood trickling down. Oh no, Nimbus will be mad. Thinking over it, sadly looking down at her leg. Hating herself for messing up right there. I should have been paying attention, come on, Soul. What is wrong with you. You never crash this often. You never… Soul’s ear drooped.

Hearing the chant rise up around her. A sound so bad. It had been such a long time, but there was a time when she last heard it. A bad time. In another place. Ponies laughing. Turning, seeing it was all the other kids. Hysterically laughing and pointing at none other than her. At the lone filly out there who held her bleeding leg, and her wings fell weak. As did her spirits.

4.22
Soul looked across all of them. Lines of all the ponies she had been grouped with since day one laughing. Mocking her with such terrible disdain on their faces. Like they really didn’t care. Laughing, some holding back. Fillies snickering under their hooves. Soul… she spotted so few who deviated from it. Seeing only the ones who did. All of them. Like her entire group was making fun of her. Singling her out, and her embarrassment hit so hard.

To crash in front of all of them. They praised me last time this happened, now I get this. This reminder… that… that I really am not liked by any of them. “Quiet down, kids!” Nimbus shouted. The mare held hoof and then rushed over to her. Soul didn’t care. Not when they kept laughing. Making her feel so small, her cheeks blushing and her eyes shimmering.

Like all the laughter came from around her. Walling her in and all the eyes that encased her. Inside this dark and sad place that just told her more and more that nopony liked her. None of them did. Enough that others hurt me… didn’t want me to fly any more. Simply because I was too good. Then I’m not good enough and it gets me laughed at. What? What is it they want? Soul held her hooves to her ears. Block it out. Ignore it. Ignore all the reminders of what happened so many times before, that made me want to leave ponies behind. Always made me cry. Soul could not stop herself from crying again. Sliding her hooves down from her ears, wiping her face. She hid herself behind them. Clenching her wings up. Shielding herself inside their feathers. But the laughter kept going. The insults and the hate that she remembered. So this is what it all leads to. I made one mistake, and now… now I have nopony here that likes me. I was foolish for thinking they all would be any different. In all her years, as far back as she could see, all there was was the ponies who didn’t like her. …Even her own mother. Please… help me, Nimbus.

4.23
A hoof touched her. Touched her shoulder and another slid under her chest. Soul lowered her hooves, seeing the cyan furred leg holding her. Cyan!

Soul looked up. Even with her teary eyes, crying so much, she still showed herself to the only pony who held her. Rubbing a hoof along her back. Who shared the same sadness as her. Rainbow Dash. Standing there as a wall between Soul and the others. The others who died down their laughter. Silent. Watching the cyan filly pull Soul up. Using her own legs to cradle Soul’s bleeding hoof. Her own strength to keep Soul up. Side to side.

Rainbow did not let go. Soul did not leave her side. Soul wanted to say her name. Held tight. Her tongue could not utter the name she wanted to say. Struggling to believe this was happening. That somepony had come for her. Other than Nimbus. She could see it in everypony else. Nimbus, who stood with both fillies, her eyes glowing in amazement down at them but she held strong and walked to them. The others who stayed quiet, their glares and shock. That another pony came to her. Amber and Breezy, both twins stepped out from the group. Coming forward… they stopped. Holding one another. Soul could see… they were so sad as well. Turning their heads away. They lowered them, unable to look Soul in the eyes with any pride. Only Dash did.

“I’m here, don’t worry, Soul” the filly said. Soul did not speak. She only cried. “You did wonderful up there.” “Of course it would be Crash that helps her” she heard a filly yell out. Soul payed attention only to Dash. Holding her closer when her flight buddy shuddered after hearing that name. But Dash did not let go of her. She said nothing. Just kept with Soul and Nimbus. “Let’s get you to the nurse” Nimbus whispered down to Soul. She didn’t fight back. “I’ll help you” Dash offered. Guiding Soul off. Away from the others. Away from all of them. Silence filled the air. Nimbus was the one pony to break it. Whispering behind Soul, like she spoke it to both fillies. “I’m sorry.” Soul wiped her tears. I’m used to it.

Two hundred and eighty-five. Congratulations, Soul.

4.24
At least the day went by fast, sitting in the bed all day. Getting herself patched up and waiting all with the sounds of laughter ringing in her head. Glad the nurse comforted her when she cried. Nimbus checking in on her and giving her food, though the mare spoke nothing of what happened. Choosing to sit across from her bed and talk to Soul about dinner plans and what to do for the weekend. Soul had nothing to say, not with her mind so filled with thought.

She barely spoke to Dash. Yet the filly still accompanied her as both of them went on their way together through the front gate. Together only, with everypony else leaving or gone. Good. Soul kept silent and away from them all. Just get out of here and do something that she could do to take her mind off things… that is if I don’t crash again.

Damn. I just can’t… Soul shook her head. Looking down at her stupid leg bandaged up again and limping on it. At least she could still walk… and still fly. Thankful she didn’t hurt her wings in her crash. Enough that she was still allowed to go play with Dash. As long as that can be done. I wonder why she isn’t saying anything. The cyan filly holding her own head down next to her. Not breaking in her steadily paced walk. I guess what happened really hurt her too. To see me do that again. I just… hope she doesn’t think I did it on purpose this time. No, she wouldn’t have helped me. But why even help me? I’m a wreck. Why even bother? She just got made fun of too. They’re so mean. You helped me, and that gets you called that horrible name. I’m the one who crashes. On purpose and by accident. Because I really am something else. Aren’t I?

Funny, I say all these things but so afraid to actually say them to her. Her silence was terrifying. Everything was. I just want to leave it behind. Fix it all. At least… Soul looked up… at least she saw the two fillies there at the steps just below the gate as they passed outside the wall to the camp. The twins sitting there atop the steps, kicking their legs. Neither of them speaking to one another. A shocker to see. I guess I will need to explain to them what happened. To all of them. But I’m so afraid to. Never mind that, the chance was there for the fillies to still have a cool time together after this debacle. Another one on this long list of crap that this camp was becoming for her. Just what she does to keep them happy, for those few moments of happiness where she didn’t need to think about how much pain she was in.

“Hi, you two” Soul muttered out. Kicking herself into gear with sounding so sad. She made her best attempt to make a smile. “We’re here.” The twins turned around. Wow, they did look pretty bummed out. Guess that was the first they got to see of what she had to go through. What her mistakes cost her. Not a bother right now. Let’s brighten things up. “How’s your leg, Soul?” Amber said with the smallest smile she could make. No way to play it out. “I’ll live. …But, hey, I can still fly. I’m raring to go. Need a good workout.” Alongside something to occupy her thoughts. Amber’s smile disappeared. She stood up. Followed closely by her sister. Breezy hug close to Amber, and Soul felt the wind rush between them all. A little howl. It sent chills down her spine. “Soul…” Amber said.

4.25
Soul stepped forward. Leaving a longing Rainbow Dash in her wake. All the tension in the air so thick. Soul could feel it. The harsh reality of what happened. “Yes?” “Soul… we, umm…” Amber fidgeted in place. Rubbing her hoof along her leg. Eyes to the clouds. Joined by her little sister. Rubbing off on Soul. She too felt saddened.

“We’re… not going with you guys.” …Is that right? Dash shook a little. Soul held her tongue. Nothing for her to feel from that. Except for one thing. “It’s… not you… it’s us” Amber and Breezy backed away. “After our last camp… we don’t want to be bullied too. We’re sorry.”

Her voice shook. The curly maned filly so distraught at saying that. So much so that a tear went down her cheek, making her run. The twins flew off. Amber’s sobs piercing the sky. Leaving them behind. With… with those words ringing in her head. Not because of me. I know… that’s a lie. So that’s what happens? Dash walked up to her. Stopping by her side. Soul didn’t bother to look. She could tell the filly was staring at her and exactly what she would say.

“I’m sorry, I’ll still go with you. Let’s have some fun.” Soul gulped. I know now. It is all a joke. That is what led to what happened to both of us. We were both made fun of. I’m so bad that other ponies are afraid to be with me. …Forget it. “No…” Soul muttered.

She had enough. Accepting that she can be made fun of. It didn’t mean others had to. If it was just so painful to be around her. To help her against this all. I’d rather not make you do anything that can hurt you to. It was right. Felt right to do, but it… it hurt so much. To see them fly away and to know that Dash was only hurt by being around her. You did tell me to watch my back. My own back. Damn it, Dash, I’m sorry. “I’m so sorry…” Soul wailed. Spreading her wings before her flight buddy even knew what happened. Casting her in the wind. Soul flew off. Getting away from it all. Going back into her sky. With tears flying off her face. “Soul!” she heard cried out behind her. Echoing away. I’m sorry. If it’s too much for you all, you don’t need to bother with me. I’ll just deal with it. It’s the right thing to do for all of you. Doesn’t make it any easier to stop crying. She could not stop it. Leaving a streak of tears behind her. Shimmering and wetting the sky. Falling to the clouds below like rain.

4.26
Soul sat there atop the sofa. Reading the same book, the same pages that her eyes skimmed over. Waiting for somepony to come home, which should be very soon. Break up this monotony. Give her something. These past few hours leaving her so reflective on what had happened. So much so that she pretty much could not remember what it was she read over. Holding the book in her hooves yet ignoring it. A monstrum that she liked to read over. This time, the words lost her. Going into her eyes and then escaping immediately as she forgot what it was she read. Not with her mind so conflicted.

She’d much rather forget all those horrible things that she had to hear and lose herself. Try to forget the words that Amber had said, and that look on Dash’s face. That I made her so upset. She probably doesn’t even want to talk to me right now. Much rather join with Amber and Breezy. Just leave her so she wouldn’t need to deal with any more of this because Soul sure didn’t expect it to get that bad. Nimbus even told them to stop. They didn’t listen. Much like another time when the mare was ignored and the pain that came to Soul could not be stopped. Endless pain.

She let out the breath she had been holding only when her ears caught wind of the wings flapping outside. She set the book back down. Perching herself atop the sofa, trying her best to look like she had composed herself with her chest pumped out and wings held strong to her sides. Though she could not fool herself that she had been crying for too long and her mind wandered so far. They couldn’t tell, when Nimbus came in through the door followed by Starry. Both stopping, staring at the filly who waited for them. Surprised to see her.

“Welcome home” Soul greeted them. Trying hard to keep her raspy throat from breaking when she spoke. Red raw from her sobbing. Confident she did a good job at cleaning herself up so she didn’t look like a wreck. “Soul?” Nimbus said. Handing her belongings over to Starry so he could put them away. She came over to Soul. “I thought you were going somewhere today.”

4.27
“I was…” Soul said. She gulped. Having to lie. Having to know everything had been ruined because of what she had done. “Dash… needed to cancel. Something came up.” Soul sold her smile. Smiling but her entire insides ached. Pounding against her. She couldn’t believe herself. Just how bad she had gotten. From making everypony hate her for her stupid decisions, they kept on going. It was too late now. No doubt, Dash doesn’t like me now. She seemed such a volatile pony with so much mystery behind everything she did. Trying to do something. She involved me in it and I proved to be a horrible pony for it. Dragging her into being made fun of and forcing her to hang out with me. Running away from her.

Why do I regret doing that? I’m such an idiot. Stop it, Soul. I can’t do this. She could already feel the tears coming back. Can’t let them run out. Not in front of Nimbus. Both of them. So much concern they both had. She saw they wanted to get to the bottom of it. Nimbus taking her seat next to Soul. Starry coming over to join. Oh no. Soul got up. Jumping from the sofa. The deck. That was it.

“I feel like doing some training” she claimed. “I can wait outside till you’re ready.” Soul did her best. Don’t concern them in this stupidity. They already sacrificed so much and did a lot to help her. If they knew… it’ll all be for nothing. I will suffer for nothing and they will too. After today, they got to see. “Soul. We want to talk with you” Starry said. The filly planted her hooves. Shaking. But I don’t want to. If they know just how much this means, they will know the truth. Then what? Everything I tried to make happen and suffer for will be for nothing.

“Soul, we are very worried about what happened back there. We want you to tell us what is going on.” Nimbus was so concerned in her voice. Soul was shaken. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I messed things up for Dash. I messed us both up. I don’t want to mess Nimbus and Starry up too. She knew exactly what would happen if they knew. Because it happened the last time a camp had gotten out of hoof.

4.28
“W-what do you mean?” Soul whispered. Her eyes shaking and voice cracked. Her mind running wild with how bad she had made things. How terrible it can all get. She felt trapped. With nothing she could do to get out of it. Rainbow liked me and I ruined it. They all liked me and I ruined it. There’s only two ponies left. The ones who gave up everything for me. Just to see me succeed with everything. The whole point of camp… was to make friends. How… how can I do that? When I messed it up? “Come here, Soul” a sweet voice whispered over her. Taking her back in those long, golden legs that crossed over her chest and pulled the filly off her hooves, back into Nimbus’ hug where she held her in her wings.

Soul lowered her head. Calmed by the soothing hushes of the pony over her. She held her tight. So tight that Soul wanted to just rest her head and fall asleep. She couldn’t. “I’m so sorry what happened back there. Just know that we are here for you. We will always be here for you.”

Soul shivered. I once had another pony there for me, but then I put her on the spot and messed it up for her. She was made fun of and suffered too. I want her to be the last. “It’s fine…” Soul said. “I’m… a tougher pony than you think. Trust me, I’m used to ponies laughing at me.” “They had no right to laugh at you. It was wrong” Nimbus pointed out. “You did nothing to deserve it.” Too bad I did.

“Come on, Nimbus. They’re kids like me. They laugh at that sort of stuff. It’s only… natural. …Can we go train?” Soul budged her way out of her hug. Going back on her way to the door. End it now. Please. “They made you cry!” Nimbus said after her. The mare got up. In a voice that she rarely used. Strong. Strong and weak at the same time. “Tell us what is going on, if something is wrong, we can help you.” I know you can, but this is not what you’re used to. This is something I am, it’s the same as last camp. Something that can not be dealt with. I feel like I’m against the world, because I am. “Of course, I hurt my leg” Soul dangled her bandaged leg up for them to see. “Sorry that it hurt so much. Sorry for crashing. Maybe if I train more I won’t crash as often.”

Soul walked off. “I want to keep training with that technique. I think I’m ready to make you proud.” Soul opened the door for herself. Happy they didn’t say any more about it. Just readying her wings for it. Thinking over how to work towards this skill Nimbus was working so hard to help her with. “You already have made us proud” the mare whispered behind her. Soul didn’t stop, but she shook inside. I know I have. I do so much to make you proud. Maybe for once, I can own up to my mistakes and not have to worry you so much like I did to Dash. I got what I deserved. I got laughed at over it. They always make fun of me… except for one. Rainbow Dash. And I ran off from her. From the one pony that I was starting to like. She’s a good pony. Too bad I’m not. So much that all those ponies abandoned her. Dash… she would not be too far off.

4.29
“I’ll help you train” Nimbus said as she stepped out behind Soul. “For a little bit, but afterwards… you should rest. I can give you a bath if you want.” Soul kept her mouth shut. Not denying it. She liked that very much. At least they could train. Her wings had been ready all day for serious flying. Something about how Nimbus walked was off though, she just went by with such disregard in her walk. Like she was bored. Her mind set on something else. Probably something Soul was well aware of. Never mind that, come on, Nimbus. Soul would prove to her that she was still that strong little Pegasus who would do all she could to improve herself. It’s simple. Really. Soul just took to the air. Hovering over the deck while Nimbus took a seat below her.

“You need to concentrate on your surroundings while not relying on your own senses. Rely on the air, its motions to tell you what things are coming. You know you need to stay focused until you can naturally tell what it is you are looking for.” I know. Just like the first time.

Soul closed her eyes. Holding her body still while only her wings slowed down to a soft pace that barely even swayed the air. So much that it all felt so still to her. Deeply breathing the air and resting her eyes. Imagine that she would be there flying in the air with the wind flowing through her feathers and gently caressing her body. Guiding her on like it always did towards a better place on that path to the one goal she sought out for, and prove to all that she was better than what she had been placed to be. When that comes, I will fly better than anypony before me and get rid of all the things that have made me feel so bad for so long. So that I know I am no failure. Not a nuisance on others. Even with… a friend by my side. Somepony who can fly alongside me in that wonderful wind so calm and gentle. That was the goal that Nimbus had put for me and it honestly sounded like a wonderful one. To fly with somepony else. Never alone. So I never needed to go through what she went through. To think that up. To see it. Soul saw her right next to her with her rainbow mane flowing in the wind and her smile piercing her soul. Her wings flittering so much that the wind grazed along Soul and rocked her. She could smile too… while her heart fell to pieces. Till Soul opened her eyes. Only after she felt the touch to her back. Knowing… she couldn’t stop it. Stop Nimbus from looking up at her with a frown.

Soul knew as well as she did that she couldn’t pull it off. Not even close. Soul was so ashamed. I did it the first time, why can’t I do it anymore? “Are you okay, Soul?” Nimbus asked. “Want to try again?” Soul quivered her lip. Shaking inside, just seeing that smile in her mind once more. Thinking of her by her side. Everything that happened. Nothing I can do. “…No… my leg hurts” Soul lied. “Come on” Nimbus whispered. She got up and took to the sky herself. Hovering next to Soul and offering her hoof for her to take.

“We can go do some mid altitude aerials instead. Something a little more calming. Then we can go give you that bath.” Soul nodded. Taking her hoof. Guided off to fly into the sky high above their house. Solemn and saddened that she was so lost on what to do. Backed into a corner. For the terrible things she brought onto herself and others. I don’t want to hurt Nimbus, not after all she has done. …Because only one thing was left that would ruin all the work they were doing. …Taking me out of camp. Like last time. Never see Dash again, because that filly would not be there for her after what she did to her. Soul’s leg did hurt, but she felt it against her chest. Rubbing her free hoof over it. My heart also hurts.

4.30
Soul had been quite unusual lately. The filly wasn’t often this open with her until lately. Asking for Nimbus to do this for her all weekend long since that Friday. End of the weekend already, the coming of another week of hard work, and Nimbus was getting to spend it giving the filly her nightly bath. Not that she had anything against it, it just really told her something was up. But that filly had been so distant from talking about it. All training. Mixed with these few moments that just came off as odd for Soul. For her to ask for them instead of the other way around.

She really did wish that Soul would just talk to her. But every time she tried, she saw the vacancy in her eyes. That something made the filly just so displaced. It was gut wrenching to watch for her. To watch her become so closed in. Certainly wasn’t helping her. Only able to look forward to watching Soul practically fall asleep like she did last night when washing her mane. The one moment of peace she could get from her. I can only hope for a better week for her. Anything to let her know that I am here for her and she can trust me with anything. So much like how stubborn she was when we first got her. Hard to watch, yet she could never shake those feelings that left her so sad all the time.

“You sure you don’t want to clean yourself?” Nimbus asked her. Soul looked up at her when she pushed the door to the bathroom open. Pausing in that threshold to the ceramic tiled room beyond. Another smile. So strong in her voice “I don’t mind. It’s really alright with me.” Nimbus accepted it. Not like she was a baby who didn’t know how to clean herself. But I’m not stupid. The way she acts when I do this for her, its calming. …I can relate. Calming for whatever was on her mind yet so scared to share.

4.31
“Alright, run the water and I’ll go get your towel” Nimbus said. Leaving Soul to go on her own. Nimbus turned back to Starry, who had been behind them. With that same look on his face, just knowing alongside Nimbus about it. That made them both stare in disbelief at this whole situation. For they both got to witness what Soul went through and both got to lay in bed together with no words to say and all the worry in the world. Yet he still did what he did before. Setting his hoof upon Nimbus’ cheek just to tell her it will all be okay. She held that hoof tight to her cheek. Nodding. Whatever it took to try and find a way to make that filly happy. They parted. Letting go of one another, and Nimbus went off to the steps once more, glancing back at him. Then her leg stopped.

Shaken, she almost tripped. Stamping out another hoof to catch herself with a loud thud. Startling her just as much as that feeling once more of falling that came over her, like her own wings had given up. Both of them outstretched as far as they could go that they touched the walls of the hallway. Damn. Nimbus grimaced… looking down at her legs and the trembles ringing through her body. Shaking her and sending the one leg that buckled into a quick spasm. Beyond that… was the stairs. That was what made her heart race. Just a couple more steps and… she didn’t even want to think about it even if her wings could have stopped it. Ugh, I just can’t predict when they’re gonna happen anymore. I got enough to worry about.

“Nimbus! Are you okay?” Starry slipped in beside her, sliding his head right under her wing and pushing himself into her. She allowed herself to lay against his side and let him help her back up. Finally, that sensation stopped running along her side. Like a flick of a wing ending it just as fast. Then Nimbus realized just how heavy she was breathing and how much… that had scared her. She felt so ashamed of that. “Let me help you down the stairs” Starry offered. Nimbus heard that clear. No. No. She freed herself out from his grasp just when she could settle her hoof back down on the ground with no problem. “It’s fine, I can…” Nimbus said as she turned to him… and saw her in the corner of her eyes.

Soul standing there in the doorway… watching. Her ears flicked down… and the filly gently slid back behind the door and out of sight. I can’t keep looking so weak in front of her… she always was supposed to be the strong one but, all this stuff that had been going on lately, Nimbus felt like the filly. Helpless and without anything to say. More and more making things so much harder on them all. “I can do it myself. Please…” Nimbus pushed Starry away to let him know she was fine.

“Can you get dinner started?” He didn’t move. Still so worried. “It’s fine” Nimbus took a hint from her still readied wings and just one flap brought her up to hover above him and gently sway her off. No need for her legs right now, just… “I’m fine.” But she sure needed to angle those wings well to keep them from constantly beating against the walls. Starry stepped under her, going down the steps and off to the kitchen while she went on to fly down the stairs.

4.32
Landing in front of the closet, pulling out a pair of towels. Fresh and warm from this humid day. She heard the water begin to run upstairs. Though she took a moment. Looking down at her legs. Holding the one up in front of her. Sadly unable to accept that it was getting so bad. Even more so, she looked back along her side. To where her wing held itself against her fur and covered her side up. It had been starting to hurt again. Picking up recently. Guess that was another thing on the list to do. Regretting she could not find time to do much of anything, now… getting time to get it checked again.

She had to smack herself to ignore it. Right now, give Soul a bath. Get her mind off of things. Just keeping that little filly relaxed, there was something relaxing to watching it. I think Starry would be fine with giving me a leg massage later. That stallion has been very giving with them lately. He has gotten good at relaxing me. Very good. Whenever Soul went to bed, then.

That was when she heard that knock at the door. Just behind her. Startling her for a moment with how loud it was and so sudden. She faced it. A visitor at this time? The Sun was going down outside the windows. “I got it!” she called out. Setting the towels down and trotting on over to the door. Hurried before another loud knock would ring out. Didn’t want to keep Soul waiting either. She opened the door up with a soft click and felt the warm air rush in and the sounds of a silent night soothing her ears.

4.33
…My, my… what is she doing here? Missing her for a moment, expecting to find somepony right in front of her on the other side of that door. Instead, it was under her. Little Rainbow Dash standing so small in her shadow. Nimbus widened her eyes. Speechless for a moment.

“Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?” More importantly, Nimbus looked up and around. She was alone. Where are her parents? “You shouldn’t be out here this late.” Dash giggled a little under her lowered eyes. The filly swiping a hoof along the cloudy surface she stood upon. Like she too was confused for a moment. Curious. Was she expecting somepony else?

“It’s alright, Mrs. Nimbus. My mom said I could stay out till bed time.” Is that so? Nimbus wasn’t sure what to believe except that Dash was certainly here for somepony and she bet she knew who. After how well those two have been with one another, now she’s coming by for house visits. Kind of cute. Nimbus wished she could know what this was like, yet… that’s just how young fillies are. Even if Dash was lying, I’m not mad. Then again, Windy and I seemed to have the same idea when it came to these two. But… Nimbus grinned. “Oh come on now, you don’t need to be so formal. Just call me Nimbus. Is there something I can help you with?” “Actually I wanted… to see if Soul was available” Dash said.

Not at all shocking. But… it struck Nimbus. Surprising her. That maybe it would have been something else, but this late? Rainbow Dash… I really wish you could have come to visit earlier. She never said a word, but all weekend long she expected the filly to arrive and want to play with Soul. Just making her worry even more. Until now. Relieved, actually. So nothing is wrong, right? But… I hate to be the one to make her feel bad.

4.34
“Well… um, Soul is taking a bath right now… and we have dinner getting made…” “Is she alright?” Dash interrupted. Breaking Nimbus from her rambling and finding a filly before her whose stare pierced right through those rainbow hairs that draped down her face and glowing in the dying light of the Sun. Deep. Troubling. Just looking at them, Nimbus was struck by it. “I just want to know if she’s doing okay” Dash said softly. Freezing the air with her chilling sentiment in the coldest of voice she uttered, so longing in its rasp. Like she was so afraid to ask it. Because… she is worried for her. Why? “She’s been alright” Nimbus said. “We’ve been flying a lot and just getting ready for the week.”

“That’s good…” Dash said so hushed. Lowering her head, …then she walked away. Nimbus was taken aback. Right as the filly let her wings out, she was leaving… but… “Wait a minute” Nimbus stopped her. “Did you… want to play with her? I’m sure she’d like to after dinner. Or maybe you can…” Nimbus put a hoof to her lip.

Would it be alright to invite her? I just don’t know how her parents would react. Eating over at another pony’s house. Would I allow Soul to do such a thing? They were both flight buddies. Close enough that Dash had come to see her… just to know how she was doing? I doubt that very much. “Soul actually has a few more hours before bed time, I can see if you two can…” “It’s alright” Dash said.

The filly looked back over her shoulder. Even saying that, she cracked a smile and a laugh. “I was just passing by and wanted to see if everything was alright. I gotta go get some things before it gets too dark anyways. Food and all.” Food, huh? Nimbus slackened her shoulders. Craning her neck to the sky and she sighed. Breathing out loudly to the warm breeze guiding over her with such a taste in the air that made her feel so uneasy. The feeling of unease indeed. It couldn’t be hidden. Right when I thought these two would always jump on the chance to hang out with one another.

4.35
“Before you go” Nimbus said right as Dash was about to take off. Stilling the air between the two of them. So much so, Nimbus could swear she could cut the air like butter. But she couldn’t allow it. If Dash wanted to go, fine, but she needs to help me. To end this.

“Soul said you had something to do on Friday that made you have to cancel. What did you have to do?” Dash held her place. Her back arched up. Got you. Neither of you can hide anything from me. I can practically feel the vibrations running down your back as you shiver. As Nimbus closed herself off from everything. With just her and Dash alone. I am not playing around anymore, and she knew it. Because we both want the same thing, and I can sense it in your voice as you speak.

“I… I… didn’t do anything” Dash said. Thought so… but it didn’t help to prevent Nimbus from lowering her ears in sadness. Being told right there… that things were not as they seemed. Soul, why would you lie to me? When we are all trying to help you. I vowed to myself that you would not go through the same things I went through. I failed last time, when I was too late to save you from that pain that made both of us cry as I was reminded of the pain to my own body. That makes me shelter myself in my wings at night. Unable to go a single night without a pony who loves me there to hold me and for me to hold as I feel so weak and defenseless. I don’t want the same fear to be with you too. I’ll do anything to help you. To keep you from it. “I see…” Nimbus muttered.

“Can you tell your daughter something for me?” Dash said. Perking Nimbus’ ears up for a moment when she said that, but she listened. “Tell her… she’s an awesome flight buddy.”

Nimbus wanted to say something when she saw that filly wipe her face behind her mane before she took off with a gust of wind billowing out behind her wings and she soared off. Leaving Nimbus with that last sound she made of a little filly crying. Just like a sound… she was so used to. Soul…

4.36
Nimbus set the towels down. Tossing them aside. More concerned with something else. Something that needed to be said. Through that door that separated her from the running water behind it. She brought her hoof down to it.

“Was somepony at the door?” the little voice said on the other side before Nimbus could even knock. Not surprised at all. I’ve had enough surprises tonight. “Rainbow Dash was here…” Nimbus said. Placing her hoof back down. She stood tall along the door. Taking all her strength just to keep herself from crying out. That long pause was dreadful to wait through. Soul… she was so silent. Right when the water stopped running, and she heard the patter of dripping water on the other side. The one sound to break out from that silence. As she waited for her to say something, because Soul needed to be the one. Does she even realize what is going on? I don’t think she does, and I can’t believe I need to be the one to let her know.

“What did she want?” Soul asked curiously. Nimbus set her hoof against the door. “Soul, why did you lie to me? Rainbow said she didn’t have anything to do on Friday. Why did you lie?” Drip. Then the sound of something moving through the water and plopping down in a splash. Do you have anything to say for yourself? Please answer me. Because I am trying my best to help you, but it’s not any easier when I don’t know what it is that is wrong. “I’m not mad at you… but… why did you decide to not play with her?” “She didn’t want to play with me in the end” Soul spoke out. “That’s not true” Nimbus stopped her. There was no point in saying that. Not after I saw the filly with my own eyes. Didn’t want to play with Soul. I can’t believe that, not when I can tell it is wrong. Not when I can see… the eyes so familiar to me of another filly so close to my heart who had the same longing to play with somepony else… when I looked in the mirror.

4.37
“I really hope you don’t think that… because it’s not true at all. You two work so well together and stick to one another. How is it possible that she doesn’t want to be with you?” Silence. Not even the sound of water. That only made Nimbus push her hoof even harder into the door, so much so that she thought she may burst it right through that wooden surface.

“Answer me, Soul.” “…I’m sorry I lied.” The filly made a noise that made Nimbus’ heart sink. She sniffled. Soul, if it hurts you so much, why? Why keep it from me, hide things from me? It is all meant to help you. Because I don’t want you to be that filly with no friends in the end. Because… “I know you’ve had it hard. But… I don’t want it to be any harder for you. Not when you have so much set before you, all you need to do is fly to it. Fly just like you always do. Towards that better place. Where you don’t have to worry about anything else that happened before. Soul, …I know it hurts…” the sound of screaming still echoing in her mind. Of her own sobs so loud that they drowned out the crying filly she held in her legs. “The past hurts, but you can’t let it hold you back. Not when you have so much you can look forward to.” So you don’t end up like I did. Like I am now, crying against a damn door remembering what it was like to go on without anypony else to rely on. You have it so lucky. Because I am here for you. “It’s why I chose you two to be flight buddies.” When I saw that same look… shared in the eyes of two very different fillies who both had… very similar problems. Ones that neither of you can see. “So you two can rely on one another. And you’ll both make it through. So what if it’ll be hard? At least you got each other.

More than what can be said for other ponies.”

4.38
Soul had nothing to say. Leaving Nimbus there to dry her eyes. Picking herself up from off the door and turning away from it. I don’t know what happened to you two and what is going through your mind, Soul. If it has anything to do with what happened on Friday. But I won’t leave you like this. I won’t let it happen.

“Rainbow Dash came by… because she wanted to play with you. But… it was too late… so she had to go.” Let that sink in, Soul. “She also wanted me to tell you something. Want to know what it was?” Soul had nothing to say in there. Nothing but more little cries muffled. I just hope you see that I’m doing this to help you.

“She said you are an awesome flight buddy.” That made Soul squeak in there. Shrouded under a light cry and splashing water. “I hope you see that… it’s not as bad as you think. You don’t need to tell me what it is that’s bothering you, but… you still have your flight buddy there for you. I don’t want you to think you are alone and that there’s no pony out there that wants to help you. Trust me, you got it good. At least you got ponies there to let you know there is more to life than being alone with yourself. You will always have a pony there for you… even if you least expect it of them.” “I just…” Soul muttered out in a soft cry that disappeared so quickly. Gone as she started up again in there, paining Nimbus’ heart to hear her let out her sadness.

This must be so hard for you. I understand. Nimbus didn’t leave her. Instead, she sat herself right down against the cloudy wall. Banging her head up against it and taking her place at the bathroom door’s side. For as long as it takes. I already know the answer to this. “Did you still want me to give you a bath?” Soul sniffed. Crying out even louder in there. Echoing in the confines of the room. She managed to speak out between it all. “I need time alone…” I know. But I’ll still be here. Nimbus would not go anywhere. You have another week ahead of you. Make the best of it. Despite anything else.

4.39
Maybe I really have been stupid, but it doesn’t make me any less afraid. Nimbus, I know you mean the best for me. You want the best for me. For Soul to not feel alone anymore. Just like on nights like this as she lay alone in her bed. Listening to the soft rustle of wind outside her window. Trying its best to drift her off to sleep. It could try its best, but just knowing that tomorrow was coming… it didn’t shake her of that feeling of being backed into that corner with no way out. Not one moment went by this weekend when she felt like she had done all this before. Having to face off against everything. Feeling so afraid while having nothing to rely on.

I can’t go to Nimbus for this. I can’t ruin her efforts. She wants me to have a friend. I want to make her proud. But I always feel like I’m alone. Left to venture out into this endless maze on her own. Always going between now… and the painful things she remembered. Back in another time when she was all alone and cornered. Fearful for herself. She had done this before. Laughed at by everypony, it was all too real for her. Quick to show that nothing had changed. That she was always meant to make other ponies upset with her and make it harder and harder for them to like her. Nothing had fixed it before. In the dark of the room, she stared out from her pillow to the corner. Seeing the flicker of shadow dancing in the moonlight cast off by her own head. The look of a pony all alone in that corner. One that looked just like her. Alone. Afraid. Even when she did nothing wrong to them, it still ended up the same. But for this one time. Soul replayed what Nimbus had said to her. For it to be true. To prove that she had indeed been so stupid. Seeing herself as that same pony she saw in the corner. There was one difference though. They were both afraid, both had no idea on what to do, both worried.

Except… that pony from before… she didn’t have something that Soul did have now. Since there was a pony out there… who really did think that she was awesome? She thinks that? I don’t know what to say except… thank you. Though I don’t think it will last long. Amber and Breezy… they both left me behind to avoid what I’m going through.

Rainbow, you hug me and tell me nice things like that. You do nice things for me. Really my only reason to look forward to every day. Yet I can’t help but feel so alone when I’m at camp. Like Dash was not really there… only afterwards. While she dealt with all these terrible things. She couldn’t help but wonder why… until she saw it. On that very day when they all laughed at her. The same reason why Amber and Breezy left, which was why she couldn’t be upset. Accepting that things were just going to be like this. With her always afraid of what was to come with nothing to look forward to until after it was all over. I’m trapped. No idea on what to do. But that’s the one thing I have different than what I’m used to. A pony with me.

I just really wish you could hold me more often like you did before. Tell Soul that all was okay. Too much to ask of her, after what she went through, Soul couldn’t ask any more of Dash. …Though, she really did want to. Anything to get rid of the terrors. Left with one small comfort. She held it tighter to her. Clasping her hooves around her other pillow. Holding its soft surface to her cheek. She sighed pleasantly. Imagining herself to not be alone. Like the one moment they shared together. Cast out in a sea of pain. One she loathed. I’m just not ready yet, but I hope you would be willing to accept my apology when I am ready. To hug you again. To keep you from leaving me too, just like Amber and Breezy did. Soul smiled.

“Dash…” she whispered. She brought all her hooves around to hug the pillow… just like we hugged except… I don’t know why I’m like this but… I can’t help it. Soul wrapped her wings around the pillow as well. Holding it tight to her chest. Keeping it warm like it did for her. “I miss your hugs.” I promise to be a stronger pony for you. I’ll keep taking it… if it means we can have each other at the end of the day. Keep taking it… a tear went down Soul’s cheek and wetted the pillow she hugged. But I really wish things were different. Even if I still… feel so lonely in the end.

Please keep me strong.

4.40
The training wasn’t getting any easier. Went about as well as expected, considering how every single day had been lately when trying to just figure this out. Holding her breath and just letting it all go for a moment exactly as she had done the first time and exactly how Nimbus taught her to do it. Just like how one flies. You need to pay attention to everything and know your surroundings. Feel the flow of wind around you and use it to your advantage. Soul never could imagine it still being this fussy with her. Unwilling to bend to her. Like it was alive. This was ridiculous.

She exhaled sharply. Opening her eyes back up and staring out at the bright and sunny day that shone over the deck. Ridiculous and weird. She now noticed her wings were still flapping, just like normal when she tried. Every time sort of like they weren’t even there until she stopped paying attention. Their noise and motion coming back to her when she opened her eyes. Weird because it was going much like the same way it did before. Ridiculous that… that was the extent of it. Gone with that ability to just be able to feel it all again. Nimbus was right, this is tough. Either that or she just wasn’t good enough. Not something she liked to imagine being true but every attempt made her feel so low.

Over and over today. No breakthrough. Leaving just a filly there to shake her head in disbelief. Nimbus entrusted this training to me because she believes I am capable of it. I know I am, I did it once. “How can I master it if I can’t do it again?!”

No answer for her. No pony with her to comment on better ways to do it or comforting words to reassure her. Only the fading words she heard each attempt before today of Nimbus doing her best for her. I am just a kid, I have plenty of years left to learn it. But I want to make her proud now. When everypony can see that she can do something so incredible to help her achieve that level of flying that so few can imagine or even work towards. More importantly, she wanted to make herself proud. Prove everypony wrong about her. Shame Nimbus wasn’t here to give her some advice. Soul scratched a hoof over her bandaged leg.

4.41
Yet does it always come down to that? Me always needing help. I hate how helpless I always am. She told me how to do it. Just do it! Soul groaned. Smacking both her hooves over her face. Fed up with it all. For now. No way she’d give up but… “I need a drink.”

Apple juice this morning would not cut it. She sure needed more of it. Settling back down to ground and trotting back through the open deck doors and into the much cooler space of her house. It still hadn’t warmed up. That’s what happens when they leave the windows open all night. Despite this rather warm day. Warming her good, though thirsty not from that. Not even thirsty, though she poured her glass to the tip and gulped it down furiously. Surprising herself that she downed half the glass at once.

Putting everything back where she found it. She looked out beyond the kitchen counters and across the empty and silent rooms of her house. Motionless. Nopony around her, so unlike what she was used to. Funny… she was so used to being alone. Not so anymore. So much has changed. To consider this weird. But this was my choice. More training in her near future. A long, long time of it just to get to that goal. I can’t give up, she couldn’t even tell if today may be the big moment she needed to realize that amazing talent. A talent so cool all thanks to Nimbus, …she bet it would lead to something amazing. Like a certain cutie mark on her flanks. She never thought of that! What if it would be something related to flying like Nimbus? When I figure out this skill? No telling what wonderful and beautiful mark may appear upon her flanks to show just what it was she was best at to all the other ponies. Return with a cutie mark… hehe. Soul rubbed her jaw, grinning. That would be cool or… maybe I’m just overthinking. Crazy even.

Besides… she bet her mark would be something even cooler than mastering this skill. Cooler than something related to flying. Whatever that could be. Very much looking forward to when she would achieve this skill and go on from there. High level training.

4.42
Soul jumped when such a loud knock rang out across her house, followed by several more. All from the door. Which took her a moment to figure out.

She stared across the room, over to where the door stood. For a moment. Another delivery? Nimbus hadn’t had one in a while. Always leaving Soul here to bring them in and always wonder what it would be until Nimbus would gladly open it up in front of her later. Last time had been a new set of torches for the deck. Of course, Soul was to be the one to get it. She moved over right when more knocks struck at it. Lighter than last time.

“Coming!” She went to a gallop. Taking to the air when she reached it, to do the normal thing. Looking outside the windows at the top of the door. Expecting to see the delivery pony. Or his daughter in training even. …Nopony floated there. Finding herself staring out at an empty porch. Nothing even there to move. Save for the few pegasi who flew across the cloudy streets beyond and the hundreds more crowding the skies further beyond. What? Soul landed. They normally stay. Maybe they had to get going. Soul reached her bandaged hoof up to the knob, pulling the door right open. Feeling the warm air once more coming in to strike her face. Alongside something else striking her ears.

4.43
“Morning, Soul!” said somepony she did not expect to find here. Somepony she couldn’t believe for a moment was in front of her. Seemed like it had been ages. Though… that wasn’t even the strangest thing about it to her. So many strange things.

Rainbow Dash smiled at her. The tiny filly leaning in across the threshold to the door just edging in to get closer to the surprised Soul. She… must have been hiding behind the door. If she is… wait? “R-Rainbow Dash?” “Surprised to see me, I bet” Dash giggled. “Well aren’t we both full of surprises. Didn’t know you had healing powers.” Dash pointed a hoof to the one that Soul used to hold onto the knob of the door. Turning it slightly, Soul let go. Hiding the hoof behind herself. No amount of fake laughs or smiles could convince the smirking rainbow maned filly otherwise of what she had seen. Guess the jig is up.

“What are you doing here?” Soul asked. “I should be the one asking questions” Dash said. “But…” she rolled her eyes. Stepping forward a little, close enough to push her hoof into Soul’s chest. “It’s good to see you. May I come in?” Huh? Soul looked over her shoulder. Dash wants to come into my house. Oh no, she didn’t know if that was allowed. Nimbus always taught her not to let other ponies in without permission… strangers. This was… Dash. The same filly she remembered from before… the one she flew off from. Who had come to her house last night. Am I even allowed to invite other ponies in? Or… well… maybe for a little bit. This was Rainbow Dash after all, I don’t think Nimbus would say no to her. Not after how well they got along. Didn’t make it any less awkward when Soul stepped aside and showed Dash in.

Watching the filly trot past her and into her very house, this same filly from before. It took a lot just to keep Soul from bowing her head. She did not meet Dash’s eyes. Closing the door behind her, turning and wondering what it was the filly wanted. Except that Dash had… she was rushing off into the kitchen. Head turning left and right with glee in her stride. “Hey, wait up!” Soul said. Flapping her wings and taking off after her. Quick to catch her. Finding that Dash had really gotten worked up. Her hooves were doing something she didn’t think possible on the filly. Dash giddily bounced in place. Excited to look all around.

4.44
“Wow, I’m in your house. This place is awesome. You even got a bar counter” the filly pointed over to the kitchen counters. “Now I need that in my future house.” Going back to looking all around. At all the décor of clouds and hanging rainbow shingles with countless little droplets of water running down the walls that made this place always have a touch of the sky with it. All split up by the Wonderbolts and Speedsters posters and portraits lined all around the house that Dash rushed off to look over. Moving faster than Soul expected a guest. Indeed, confusing her.

“Dash, wait a minute.” “Oh my gosh!” Dash slinked her hoof around the series of little pictures Nimbus had set up on one of the tables. “You have pictures of all of last year’s Equestrian flight champions. And…” she gasped. Running right over to the wall overlooking the doors to the deck where the vast portrait hung high over it. “A portrait of the last Best Flyers’ Competition.”

Rainbow took to the air, floating up to hover by it. Soul came to join her. Not to look, hoping for something else. “You even got it with Princess Celestia in it” Dash pointed out the large, white alicorn sitting atop the very tallest of stands in the crowd that overlooked the expansive stadium where it had all taken place. “How much did your parents need to pay for this stuff?” “Dash. What are you doing here?”

“Oh… sorry.” Both fillies settled back down. Dash rubbing the side of her head in embarrassment. “I got a little carried away. This is all stuff that my parents tell me stories about. I’ve never seen it before. Not what I came here for… I know.” Dash looked back down at Soul’s hoof. The one she did not attempt to hide anymore. “Guess you’re all better, right?” Soul heard it in her voice. She was joking. Well aware of what was going on here. Soul sighed. “Here I was worrying that you were still hurt” Dash said. “Nimbus told me that you stayed behind to rest your leg.” No point in hiding it now. Why Soul was home and not at camp.

4.45
“It’s… been fine for a couple days now. I just…” Soul said but Dash shrugged her shoulders. Turning tail and walking off towards the living room. Slowly this time, not running around anymore though she still looked around. “Don’t need to say” Dash said. “I know why you didn’t come in. …Friday still on your mind?” She didn’t know the half of it. Soul didn’t answer. I am still so frightened to go back, I just… I just need time. Not after what I had to go through last time. More so… Soul was even more ashamed. Ashamed that the other reason she didn’t go in today was right here in her house. The same pony she ran off from. Yet here she was. Venturing around Soul’s house.

“Awww….” Dash laughed over in the living room. Staring down at something on one of the tables. What is she… oh shit. Soul flew off after her. No! Dash was there laughing over the very thing she knew it to be. “You look so adorable as a foal” Dash laughed even harder. Still having the time of her life when Soul pushed her away with such force to throw her on her back. She stood in front of the picture of the little magenta foal… with all that damn food smothered all over her cheeks and a mess of her plate.

“Shut up” Soul said. “Bet you did the same.” “Oh come on now” Dash stood back up, calming herself down. Why did they need to put up a picture of that moment, of all the lousy moments? “I came because I wanted to make sure you were doing alright. I tried to come see you yesterday, but it was a bad time.” Soul stayed quiet.

Letting Dash say what she needed and Soul actually felt a little tingle inside. Because… was it true what Nimbus had said yesterday? It had been on her mind for so long now if it was right. Dash did come yesterday. Did she say those words though? Soul wanted to ask. Ask her if she called me awesome… Soul curled her lips. I… I gotta admit I am a little amazed she came out to see me. Just to see if I was okay.

4.46
“Even after what I did on Friday?” Soul needed to point out. “I… I’ve been regretting running off ever since. I really wish I had stayed and played with you.” You came to me yesterday, so… do you feel bad over it too? Coming today as well. This was not at all what she would have guessed to happen today. She needed to admit, she was kind of happy to see her come over. “It’s not your fault” Dash said. “I was also… pretty upset with those two for ditching us. After that day, I understand that you may have been upset” Dash said. She stepped closer and offered her hoof once more to Soul. “But I’m still here, flight buddy.”

You are. But why? After I got you made fun of and made things harder for you. After I left you. I… I was the one who ditched you. Would you not be upset with me? I don’t know why it is she is here, but I am glad she is. Even if I feel so uncomfortable with her being around and not just for seeing my foal pictures. Please… do not go into Nimbus’ room. Please, I don’t want to talk about camp or Friday. Anything about that day. I’d rather not remember that now.

I really just want to get back to training and forget that I made a total mess of that day. She didn’t know why it was she accepted Dash’s hoof in the end. Was it the feeling of it? Or just the offering of Soul’s continued commitment? “Would you like a drink?” Soul offered. Going back to finish off what was left of her juice. “Nah, I’d rather hang out if you don’t mind” Dash said. The filly turned away and continued on to look around the house under Soul’s watchful eye until she finished off her juice. Almost spitting it up when something hit her head. “Wait! How are you even here? Shouldn’t you be at camp?”

4.47
“Shouldn’t you be at camp?” Dash said. “Seriously, leaving me to fly by myself there.” “I’m sorry” Soul admitted. Having decided she was just too afraid. Let alone that Dash would make this move and come here out of the blue. “I wasn’t gonna leave you alone any longer. So… as far as everypony else knows, I came down with a cold last minute. Mom took me home and went off to work. I got till the evening before I need to get home or…”

“You’ll get in trouble?” Soul said. Met with a nod and quite a mischievous smile. Really? She’s taking quite a risk. Is she really willing to take that chance… just to hang out with me? I still don’t know why she wants to be with me right now. “Maybe you should go home, I don’t want you to get in trouble.” “No way” Dash refused. Flying up and over to the stairs. “I’m having too much fun here. Would you want to show me around a little?”

She hung by the stairs as if asking Soul if they could go up there. Soul accepted her answer. No way to convince her. As long as we remember, I’ll do my best to keep her from getting in trouble. Sure to keep an eye on the time today. “Okay, I can show you my room if you want.” “Sounds good” Dash said, following after Soul when she flew up the flight of stairs and into the long hallway above. “Just my room, mom will get mad if somepony goes into her room” Soul said. A lie. Nimbus would not get mad at all over that. Soul sure would for other reasons. Both of them getting to their hooves once more in front of Soul’s room.

“I can show you around but… afterwards, I think I need to get back to training” Soul said. “I took an off day, but don’t want to get rusty.” Thinking it over in her head while Dash widened her eyes. “Training! Seriously? Okay, I got to watch you.”

Training, yeah, but what? I suck enough at the technique, even more so with a guest here. One she was getting more and more worried about when it came to being around Soul. Hoping that Dash would have decided to leave since Soul wanted to train. The filly just so excited to be here now more than ever. Why? Not even sure what she had to gain from watching. Something Dash seemed to pick up on. “I would love to see how you fly when you’re outside of camp. Better techniques and stunts. Don’t worry, I’ll watch and you can do whatever it is you want to do. No worries.” I won’t turn her away. Not after Friday. If she wanted to watch, fine. At least I don’t need to worry. But what to train in? “Alright” Soul agreed. Pushing the door to her room open.

4.48
Letting Dash in first, the filly was eager to go around and see what she could find while Soul was more or less worried she may break something or be less careful than she would want. She found just more of the wonderfully ordained walls and décor that the rest of the house had save for that lighter shade of blue Soul liked the clouds of her room to have compared to the rest of the house, and no raindrops or streams flowing out from the walls. Many more of the beautiful portraits and paintings Nimbus and Starry had been sure to give to Soul to liven her room up. Those seemed to be the things Dash liked seeing the most before she spotted the bookshelves stacked all around the room and the many, many books set within.

“I saw these from out your window but… sheesh Soul, do you think you have enough books?” The filly ran her hoof across each of the ones that were aligned in one of the shelves. Skimming and looking so unimpressed. Much like she sounded. “I thought you may like them. They’re mostly about Cloudsdale history and flying techniques” Soul informed her. Among many other things that told Soul so much about the world outside of this mighty floating city.

Dash did end up pulling out one of them, opening it up and looking through some of it very quickly. Not at all sounding like she was dissatisfied though she put it back rather quick. “So that’s my room, probably should get going” Soul told her. Wanting to get an end to this tour. “Oh damn!” Dash rushed past her. Leaping up and making Soul shudder when she landed hard down onto her bed. So hard that she thought she may break it, instead not even making a sound. The filly sinking right into it, stretching her hooves out like she was making herself at home. Even closing her eyes, resting her head on a pillow.

“Wow, Soul” she muttered. “You got a huge bed. Damn, I love this.” Dash turned over and scurried on under the blankets. Out of sight. Oh she was making herself at home.

4.49
It was a big bed meant for two full grown ponies, as was its original use. Till it was given to her. Soul was sort of glad she had something nice to say about it. Rainbow really did seem to enjoy it. Popping her head out from under the blankets, running her mane wild. “Yeah…” Soul said. Signaling back to the door. “I think we should get going. Don’t have all day to mess around, you know?” “Please” Dash waved her hoof. “We got hours.” “Yeah, but I’m still worried they may come home and find you here… and know that… that I was lying.” “Well I’m supposed to be sick” Dash commented. “Be a dear and get me some soup.” She held her hoof up to her mouth, coughing into it. “Please…” she spoke even raspier than normal. “Before I pass out.”

“Alright, stop it” Soul said and made Dash laugh. The filly spun under the blankets back onto her belly and crawled out from under them. Laying back up on top of them. “Relax. I’ll keep an eye on the time.” “I hope so.” Soul turned away and went back to the door. Wanting Dash to follow her. No more of this time wasting. Dash could stay but they couldn’t just goof around. I took off today to train and… other reasons, but I don’t have anything against letting her stay here. “I need to get back to my training. Since my hoof is… hurt, don’t think I’ll be allowed to train later tonight.”

She heard the rustle of blankets behind her and the excited voice of a filly who came after her. “Can I still watch? I promise not to get in the way.” Soul closed the door behind them, walking off with Dash at her side, a filly with such a wide smile on her. Such enthusiasm in it. It kind of weirded Soul out. Dash was being unusually weird today. Still not even sure why she wanted to watch Soul. That sounded kind of boring. Wouldn’t she be better off doing something else instead of watching Soul fly? “I still don’t know why you want to watch me” Soul said. “Why not just go do something on your own? I bet that’ll be more fun.”

4.50
Dash set a hoof before Soul, stopping both of them at the top of the stairs. Bringing both of them to look over at one another. Dash so serious in her face. As were her words, no longer tinged in that sound of a fun-loving filly.

“All we do is fly those same boring courses at camp. Stuff you’re better than, both of us are. But… I’ll be honest.” Dash looked down, taking a deep breath. Perking Soul’s ears back up. The pause in her voice. So down. But she kept talking. “I know you need to hold back to let me keep up with you when we fly. You got lucky by having a master flyer teach you. I… I only want to get the chance to see how you fly for real when nothing is there to hold you back. Maybe…” she pressed her hoof into Soul’s fur. “It’ll inspire me.” She knew all of that?

Now Soul was truly surprised. Dash understood it all. She knows I’ve been holding back. Now she wants to see what it’s like when I don’t. I’m not even sure what it is she expects to gain from it… save for what she said. Saying it just for me? But it sounded so nice. It’s the entire reason I do all this. To inspire others. To show them what they dream for can be achieved no matter what stands against them. What stood against me, and how far I have gotten from it. What I had to overcome. Prove wrong. But it sounded too good to be true. Does Dash really want me to fly like that? I just feel like… it may not be the way she wants. That it may be something else than what I want. All my life, I’ve been disproven. Fly for her.

Soul gulped. Nodding her head. She didn’t know what to truly do, though she spoke out like it was instinct. To the one pony who, for the first time, wanted to see her skill. “Okay.”

Soul led her down the stairs. Taking her out onto the very deck where she did all her training. Out to overlook the gigantic field of clouds spanning out in every direction that made up this vast wilderness of Cloudsdale’s outer districts. A natural training ground for pegasi. Though Nimbus, Starry, and her, they were the only ponies who ever seemed to take this place just for the purpose of training. Changing today with a new pony to see something so few got to see here.

4.51
Dash gasped in amazement from the top of the deck. Walking up and leaning on the railings to look out at it all. “You guys are so lucky. You got a killer view here, and… well, it’s pretty much all yours.” It doesn’t belong to us, but we are allowed to use it for whatever we want. Expansive and empty with a constantly clear day hanging over it. So few clouds up there. With an autumn breeze coming over for the first time today. Breaking the warmth of the Sun.

“You get to train out here all the time?” Dash asked, looking back from her perch at the railing. The filly climbing up and settling in on top of it. Like she did ready herself for a show. My show. Something Soul had to run through her head ever since she agreed to do this. Whatever training she could do. But what would be enough? How much is too much? It made her so afraid. “Yeah. It’s always so lovely.” Soul stretched her wings back out. Stepping forward on her hooves and stretching her legs as far as could go till her back popped. It felt so good, readied herself for whatever it was she was supposed to do. She sighed out pleasantly. Flapping her wings a few times for good measure.

Pretend like I’m with Nimbus. But it was hard, doing the same readying routine as she did with her. Looking out at the same location they always trained in. Just one thing made this all different. Keeping her back. As her entire mind became a storm seeing the one pony she was afraid of disappointing in the same ways I have with so many others, let alone the pony I hurt so recently. Am I letting her stay just to inspire her, or is it to not abandon her like I did last time? Why did you come back? Why do you want this? “I’m not exactly sure what it is I should do. I don’t want to bother you” Soul said. “Bother me with what? …Are you still worried?” Soul nodded. Ashamed to admit it.

That settled both of them. Neither one talking. Soul staring down at the deck floor feeling Dash watching over her from across the expanse with such a cool and soft breeze flowing in over them. Soul grabbed hold of her mane, holding it in place just as the wind made it start to move. Also to hide just how much she was scared. For it was not something that Dash would understand. Not after last time I flew perfectly for anypony else. Just how badly… it hurt me. Why want it from me?

4.52
“What is wrong, Soul. Tell me. I’m your flight buddy.” Soul clenched her teeth hard. Almost grinding them. She hasn’t seen it yet. Oh, I’ll just tell her. “I’m afraid I’ll make you feel bad. I… I don’t like showing off. It… it hasn’t worked out for me before.” “It hasn’t worked out for you… huh?” Dash whispered. So soft as she said it, it made Soul lock eyes with her. Her vacant and lost eyes shimmering of magenta light. Before Dash finally blinked. “I don’t know why you think that… you fly so amazingly when you’re with me. All this time, it’s been obvious you’re better than that all. Hell, you even told me. I know you are a better flyer… yet I’m still here. I’m still wanting to see how you do fly. Is that not proof enough that I’ll be okay with seeing you perform to the best of your ability?” Yes… it does make sense, but… I just can’t shake this feeling off me. As much as I want to fly for you. Deep inside, I do. Though the pain is great along my wings. Along my fur. Practically stinging her mind. Remembering the laughs and the words spoken to her. Though not once did they come from this pony here. More than what she could ask for from this pony. Though she wished for more. So much more. Too much for her to say, too much for it to be real.

Yet she asks something of me, sincerely. She wants to see. None of the great flyers I know of have ever refused the chance. A chance to show others the greatness they can achieve. Soul nodded. “Show me some moves, Soul.” Soul let her wings rise. As did her stare. Up into the sky. So few clouds to work with. Not that she needed many. Settle on one thing. Now!

“I’ll do some mid-tier aerials and speed tests for you then” Soul conceded. “I was working with them last night so it’ll be smart to continue them.” “Blow my mind, Soul” Dash said. Giving her a grin of approval. I just hope you don’t feel that I’ve blown you away from me. Soul bent her legs. Stretching her hind legs out as far as could go to hold her tail high to the sky with both her wings split out. Flapping once and then twice. Always the third. Soul took a deep breath. Opening her eyes finally only when she felt her wings come up once more.

4.53
Hard to say she ever performed training for another’s viewing pleasure. Kind of weird to know somepony was here to watch her. Soul still managed to take off. Leaving the deck behind in a mighty flurry of wind and force set out by the final flap of her wings that sent her back up into the sky over the cloud fields. I can’t think of this as an aerial display for her. Even now, it was starting to creep in that she was essentially performing when she should be training.

Okay, none of that. Just need to imagine this was like any other night with Nimbus. Soul went over the routine last night. It was a simple and mandatory procedure that they had gone over many time before. Always changing in how she was supposed to do it but the outcome was to be the same. Just to get her comfortable with higher level flying and doing tricks and maneuvers in those settings. Also getting used to the speed that was involved in it. There as a primer for the harder stuff that would come after years of practice at this level. She didn’t have Nimbus here to guide her on what way she should do it today. That was fine. She didn’t need her here to think of how to do a procedure she was used to practicing. Just forget Dash for right now. Just forget.

Soul took a breath. Peering down at the fields under her for a brief second. Just to get a sense of the height she was getting at. She was making good time, ascending quickly to where the fields below looked to be getting smaller and her lone house on the edge of it all fell off in the background of it. So high up, she got the same view as before. Taking a moment to look out at the landscape. Looking all about at the city that went on for so far in every direction. Amazed how different things looked. At night, the massive towers and domes of the city center looming high and far in the distance were always so gorgeous to view at such high altitude. Shrouded in the light of the stars and the endlessly beaming colors of the giant rainbow that arced over the city and shone those towers in such series of reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and violets.

It’s been a very long time since last she flew this high at day. When the towers below and the coursing streets and cluttered cityscapes of Cloudsdale all cast out their whites and blues amid the flowing rivers and churning thunderclouds pouring out from the city.

So high, she saw those very clouds get left behind. In the wake of Cloudsdale itself. Left behind by the city. Left to roam and venture across the land. So beautiful. Like normal, she had no time to fawn over it. She didn’t have all day. I need to see this as another training routine. Stop worrying about everything else. Just imagine Nimbus was here with her. Flying at her side like she did last night. Giving her instructions and reminders to keep her comfortable and confident. What would she say?

4.54
Level out those wings and don’t lose any rhythm to your flaps. You need to keep your wings in tandem with the wind. Fight resistance and let go when the wind let up. Keep her wings low. Soul held them down. Flapping hard but never letting them get too high less they catch the wind. Wind that came down at her even harder the higher she got. Normal stuff. She flew up against it. Reaching the height she needed to. Where she could tuck her hind legs in and reach out her forelegs.

The air shifted. That was good. Soul knew herself to be at quite a high level. Mid altitude over the city itself. Where all the rolling hills of green grassy fields and the massive lines of mountains could be seen as far as she could look. Where all of Equestria’s beautiful landscape was hers for the viewing. Wait for the air to get to where it’s at its least calm. Keep that level. I won’t show you where it is, you need to make that judgement yourself. First time she got to this level, Nimbus was harsh. She did not play around and left Soul to deal with lots of the conditions on her own. Not out of cruelty. Though Soul was hurt by her brash nature during their first time doing this, she understood it as time went on. I can’t rely on others all the time. Flying is something you need to work on and its meant to develop under your own skills. She was lucky to have her there to teach her anyways. Otherwise, Soul had no idea how she would be at this point. Where she was now to know that right… here was where she needed to be. This was perfect.

Soul leveled out her wings and turned off to keep her distance from the horizon where the wind would get at its most brutal. Just short of it. Enough wind here to give her somewhat of a challenge, her mighty wings kept her aloft and her nimble adjustments made sure none of the changing conditions blew her off course.

4.55
The higher you go, the worse the wind and weather gets. The harder it gets for you to stay calm. It puts a lot of force and pressure on your wings. You need to know your limits and be comfortable with it. Fighting the wind will not work. But you can’t let it control you. Use it to your advantage and use your body to adjust it to your liking. Your wings let you shift the course of the airflow around you. That was what was needed to pull off those fancy moves. Wings weren’t everything when it came to this, and Soul had done this enough now to see that the wind up here was blowing diagonal across from her and churning in a way that could let her do some stellar aerials as long as she did them at the right time. As much as it was tempting, she needed to do this the way Nimbus taught her. Stay comfortable with it. Test the wind and warp it to your own speed, only then does it change to do what you want. Where you can get to the speeds you need to fly at this level.

Gotcha. Soul banked off to the right. Falling down for just a moment, letting her wings hang out motionless, waiting to catch hold of the current she needed. Then she felt it as she fell further down. To where she could stop. Straighten her flight out. One kick of her hooves and a mighty lash of her wings, she rocketed off. Holding her wings out along the course. This was it. The wind struck against her face, fighting her but helping at the same time. Like running into a wall while a fan blew against her rear.

Carried on by her wings. So few flaps she needed to do. Alright, this was it. Soul held her hooves in front of her. Looking down their lengths and onwards to what lie ahead. The open sky and the spiraling cyclone of wind that guided her. Oh boy, this was going to feel intense. She didn’t know if she hated this feeling or not, always making her stomach lurch for a moment. Yet the resulting speed… it was something else. Something she never got to do at camp… or in front of Dash. Don’t think about her. Count the bumps in the air. Wait for a break. Even her wings waited for it. Flapping gently but their push was hard. Let the air guide you. Wait for its flow to stop and then pounce on it.

I know what to do, Nimbus. I’ve done it plenty of times. Though… when will I get used to this feeling. Soul shook her head when her stomach started to reel when she arced her body down and angled herself for a small descent. Worst was yet to come and then the best. It broke. Soul kicked her wings into high gear. Making her want to gag on the force of her power. Sometimes forgetting how strong her wings were. Strong enough to do this.

4.56
Soul’s head almost split when her ears rang from the sound of thunder cracking out across the sky. A near cloudless day up here. Not from any storm. It was her. Rippling out behind her in a sound so familiar to her. Where her wings cut the air away from them and churned it out on their own. The sky is mine now. Soul flew off. Striking her wings hard. Sent off in a blaze of air that near boiled around her from the force of her strikes and then calming into true bliss with the power of the thunderous shock she sent out being left in her dust. Leaving everything in her dust. At a speed none of the other kids had reached or seen from her.

Soul shot down through the sky.

How fast? How far have I travelled? Three seconds. I need to bank up soon. Cloudsdale came up at her quickly. Reaching up to that streaking light she left behind her to cut a swathe across the sky and paint it anew. Before that light died away from her. Dying with the last sounds of thunder echoing across the sky. Soul pulled up. A hard hit of her wings catching the wind once more and sending her back on course with such incredible speed, her mane blew out from her face and that same feeling that her tail may be ripped off behind her. Gliding into the wind once more. Far, far faster than usual. Shame there were no clouds around to really work with. One over there. One down there. Maybe I can use them. Not like those ones that saturated this sky for her to use as obstacles or proof of her control in this situation. She could still do it. Let’s just imagine it.

Soul closed her eyes for a moment. Try to make Nimbus proud. Like she is here. I’m going pretty damn fast. Pull some stuff off that would be so… so hard for others to do like this. Get a feel for it. Let it become natural.

4.57
Camp maneuvers? Pathetic. How about this?

Soul curved her body left. Falling off from her straight path into a dazzling sideways dive where her wings reached out to the ground below and the sky above. The stuff Nimbus would not train any of them at camp. Only me. For me to feel comfortable doing it. Keep falling. Soul did not let up at this speed and this sideways dive. Falling so far. Keep a hold on it. Her wings did not let up. Gliding her downwards. Pushing her forwards. One bump in the air. A second.

Soul kicked her wings back into it. Sending out another thunderous crack, pushing her forward even faster and then down she went. Spinning into a backflip that spiraled her down into a plummet. Another fall towards the ground. That was what made her heart race. Yes, I’m starting to feel it.

Soul smiled so wide. Glaring down at the ground. Confident in herself to do this. Every bursting sound of rippling air she let out kept telling her just what she could do when nopony was there. I’ll make you proud, Nimbus. Her descent coupled with a quick spin and a kick of her wings. Such a hard kick. So much that all that speed made Soul’s head whip. Not even her tail had time to flip forward with the impact of her sudden stop. Her speed keeping her up, letting Soul turn off back up to where she came… with her belly to the ground. It all spinning around her. Soul circled back up, recovering so fast from her stop. Sometimes, I even forget that I stop. The transition so clean. Going so fast one second, stopping and then shooting back off at the same speed. Like it never happened.

Can they do that? Those ponies that make fun of me. Have they trained all their lives to achieve this? Soul circled up and spun around the air. Looping up and over and falling back out into her descent to the ground once more. Soul laughed. More! She did it again. Another massive loop she made in the sky. Turning up in that loop and waiting till she faced the sky. Pulling out. She flew off. Straight ahead. Leveled once more with the wind in such a violent and dangerous force of impact her wings made that it scared her so much the first time she shot out from a loop like that. This is just the beginning. This is not what I want. Soul spun her body in a cyclone, never leaving her straight path shooting across the sky. Eyeing that first cloud. One day… Soul arced herself up. Her wings screaming in the wind. Howling. Like her body was the one that made all the breeze in the world. One day I’ll prove all the ponies wrong. That I can pull it all off. Achieve skills so few can get.

This is… Soul flew past the cloud. Looking past. Waiting. In the echo of the rippling sky, she watched that cloud get blown away in a quick swoop of wind behind her.

This is the start.

4.58
Soul looked forward once more. She did it, there was the next cloud right ahead. I’ve been taught control so many times. I can master it. I feel so confident. To when I can achieve the highest skills and pull off any maneuver. Even the Wonderbolts will be put to shame when they see what a pony who had nothing can do after doing all she can to achieve that for the ones she wants to make happy. Every other Pegasus out there who feels like they aren’t good enough. Look at me.

Soul leaned her belly at the oncoming cloud. Holding all four of her hooves to it. I’m no weather Pegasus, but I know how to use my wings, and I can use them like this. Soul beat them harder than ever before. Blasting out immense gusts of wind. You just need to control your environment. I can’t wait for when I can read it too. Every skill that I am taught will be used to achieve what I want. No matter how many months it takes. Years even. It took me four months for this. Soul didn’t even close her eyes when the cloud came in at her. So close to slamming into her coming hooves.

She did not relent. Her wings kept going. Pushing against the wind. Slowing her down just enough for, when her hooves touched the cloud, she did not even go through. Like she stood on solid ground. Her head hanging down. Her tail flipped back and dangling down her back as the filly stood on the side of the cloud. For less than a second. Soul kicked off it. One burst of her wings, the cloud served as nothing but a springboard for her to backflip off it. Pushing herself back, falling into the sky once more.

4.59
Soul fell through the sky. Eyes set on her target. It came at her so quickly. I was so high above the city, I can’t believe how fast I’m going. To think there are levels beyond this. It took all her concentration to pull out from her dive and fly at the level she wanted. Falling so fast, now… now her belly was just a mere leg’s reach from the cloudy surface of the fields that surrounded her house. Closer and closer, Soul looked all around at the clouds. Reaching up at her. Like little pillars that tried to stand in her way. She dodged and weaved around them. Keeping to the open spaces, flying straight over them. Wings like a chorus. Never letting up.

Are you watching me, Nimbus? Are you? It’s like nothing can stop me. This is what you want from me. Clear the sky for me and watch your little champ pull this off without flaw. For all the years it’s taken you to get me comfortable with this speed. I love it so much! Soul blinked. In that instant, the house barreled in on her. Coming in at its side. At the deck itself.

Oh I never tried this before. It should be no different than dodging through clouds. I can see them. The legs of the deck and the little spaces in between them. Alright… and… now! Soul turned onto her side. Flying sideways once more so she was at her thinnest. So her wings did not clip anything, and she passed by the first leg that held the deck up. Another passing behind her, and Soul careened through the underside of the deck so fast that it wailed violently down in that narrow space from the power of her speed. Another set of legs cleared and then… Soul flew out from the darkness of the deck’s underside. Back out into the sky once more.

She soared high into it. Carried on by her momentum. It pushed her on. Like she no longer needed her wings. She did not relent. I bet I can pull of so many more moves. Such speed like this. I want more. Soul sent herself flying up. Kicking up the rate her wings beat the air, and back up into the wind once more.

4.60
No need to be careful not with how fast she was now. Now… now she was the one who cleaved a path through the sky. Rising without any alteration in her speed. The ground below her. She closed her eyes and laughed. Cheering with glee. Overcome by the roaring wind and billowing cries of a violent sky that could not stop her. So short of flying through a storm. Soul did not give up. She kept going. Enthralled. Like this was her true calling. I can say it… I really do hope my cutie mark involves flying. This is my passion. This is what I’m good at. How far I have gotten. It all flashing before her like it did so often. Dreaming about doing this when all I had left were the words that made me cry. Crying tears that got lost in the rain while left all alone. That I could never come to something that was worth anything. That I was a failure. I hate feeling that way. I hate remembering it. But times like this, they make me spit at those words.

No matter how long it takes, I will get to something that few can dream of. Wherever it takes me. To the Wonderbolts, to Canterlot, to the heavens. Wherever. She had no clue on what it was. Just that it was true euphoria. Running through her body. Soul opened her eyes. Looking out upon a darkened sky and a loose grip upon her wings. The wings that flapped gently as she flipped back softly and looked out at the world below. That disc of Cloudsdale, a ring of clouds, so tiny down there. Amidst the mountains and the grasslands. From where she saw that gleaming white and yellow castle city looming out from the side of those mountains so far away. A land split by a massive river churning through towns and forests. One that was nothing compared to her now. For she was above it all. How high… even am I? She did not care. …It felt great to be this free in the sky. And I want it to last. For when I go beyond what I’m used to. Indeed, Soul was not used to this. Though she did it anyways. Soul looked down upon it all, reaching her forelegs back down to it. Ready to return to it all. Leave this sky of violet where the wind chilled her fur. So high up. I love it.

4.61
Soul… Serenity. Dash blinked. I still can’t believe what I’m seeing. There you were claiming to be at something more than what I claimed. I cannot believe… you are better than even that. So much… I can’t even feel bad. I can only feel like you are worth being showered in that love you don’t get at camp. Because none of them have ever seen you like this. Neither have I.

As she hung up there. That dot that was the magenta filly that streaked down from the sky so high, where the clouds flew away from her in a blast of power that sent shockwaves across the sky. Silent. No sound of thunder. As I watch you, I can’t help but think… how far you are ahead. Your technique and skill. Your control.

So… this is how you fly when nothing is bothering you. When you are truly free. Rainbow had seen her, when she flew past. There was a look on her face so much different than when she had taken off. Like she was alone. Confident. Not gripped by anything that held her back. To where she even cleared the deck at that speed. Dash was actually kind of scared for a moment, how fast can she get when… when she’s an adult? How skilled will she get? She makes mistakes now, even now… she’s not perfect. But Dash had to be in awe of her. Astonished. Scary how she could turn out to be. Though that didn’t stop Dash from smiling. From praising Soul under her breath. So happy to see her coming down from the sky at such speeds. Churning the sky behind her.

She had to admit it… more than once… she felt something from that flying. Like this was the flying of somepony who wanted to achieve everything when it came to the gift pegasi have been granted. To where she thought… she may perform a move out of legend. Can she do it? Why do I want her to? Her technique… it’s perfect. Perfect enough to go even further beyond to something that somepony else had her eyes set on. M-maybe… I should ask her. See just for sure what it is… that I can expect from her. If she is different from all the rest. To where I don’t feel any pain. Just relief for when they both would fly together.

4.62
Okay. Okay! I’m going a bit too fast. Soul held out her wings as far as could stretch. Careening in on the deck far below. This was going to take a lot of effort and surely it was starting to feel strong on her wings. All the wind pushing against them, trying so hard to stop her in her descent. Never even realizing just how fast she had truly been going. So very fast. Unlike anything before.

I got way too into it but… it was so worth it. Soul could not lose that smile on her face, her lips flapping from the force slamming against her face. That wind going all over her. Slicking her mane all the way back, her ears could not stay up no matter how hard she tried. Yet her wings were the only things that kept themselves composed. Fighting hard. Clenching her muscles and feeling that exhilaration of flying… this… fast!

Haha, this is just like when Nimbus first let me do mid-level flying. This adrenaline. This speed. Celestia, it feels wonderful. Like a shock going all along her body. Numbing her to the threat that barreled in at her in the form of the wooden flooring of the deck. Such a short stretch of landing to work with. But I can do it. This is no different than last time, except I’m going way faster than before. Proof that she had gotten too carried away. Too gripped by all this. This had turned from training into something else. Something so wonderful she did not want the feeling to stop. Stop blinding her from the reality that she was doing something for the first time. She was going faster than ever before, and that alone let her know that… that she truly was achieving more than what was expected of her. More than she could care to be worried over.

I crashed the first time I did mid-level. But that was long ago. Soul knew she was far more experienced now. Far more stronger. Her wings did not even dare to buckle from the attempt to slow herself down. Closer and closer she got, she held true. Confident in herself. The speed rushing over her. So fantastic. So invigorating. This is what it’s like to fly for real.

4.63
I know I can do this. Perfect it. Fly with grace and with strength. Unlike what they all see me for. I am better than what has been set for me. This is all I need to see that. This feeling. One that made her laugh. Laugh at the incoming deck. It came in at her too fast. I got this. Soul reeled her hind legs forward. Angling her body, ready to land on her hooves. Curling her wings up even further. Cupping the wind. All that wind slipping out from the cracks in her wings, sending her feathers to flip and fly wildly in their sockets. Not a single magenta feather came off. Not a single shred of determination left her. I pulled this all off so wonderfully, I can finish it. I can do it.

Do you see, Nimbus? I can do anything just like you want. Someday… I will achieve everything you want me to do. Become that masterful flyer I want to be. Hold those wings. Wait for it. This kind of speed was nothing to joke about, she bet none of the other kids could do this. None of them. None of them to know to do this.

Soul flapped her wings forward. Kicking back against the wind that came in to stop her. Blowing against it with all her strength. Right when the browns of her deck filled her vision. …Then they stopped. Soul breathed. Hard. Strong inhale, strong exhale set out in near harmony with the paced flaps of her wings to her sides. Eyes wide at seeing just how much power she had behind her. How dust and dirt flew off in a blizzard across the deck. Smacking up against the wall of the house… with furniture alike. Chairs and the table itself. The umbrellas sent off to hit the wall. Caught in the wind that came in behind her. Roaring like an angry animal. The wind left to twirl about the deck… making the dust dance and the deck door rustle. Till all went quiet and still. Till only Soul’s heavy breathing filled the air. Then a thud. As Soul let go, and fell onto the deck. Face first.

Ow, that kind of hurt. Soul lifted her face off the floor, rubbing her hoof over it… amazed that she just now started to feel even a little stress over her body. A little pain on her face. Feeling her wings trembling at her sides. She looked over at them. Wow, no wonder they couldn’t hold her up anymore. They were sent into a spasm. Slight tremors and she felt the jerky motion under her skin of her muscles freaking out. She really did push her wings to the limit.

A pretty bad landing. Soul knew that, all the while stepping back up onto all four hooves. Brushing herself off. Looking over the mess she had made. The mess her power had made. This is the speed I can do?! Forget the bad landing… that didn’t matter. Soul was thrilled. Her smile still had not even left her, even after falling on her face. It made her laugh. Laugh with such joy. No way! I did that. I flew so great. I did it for you, Nimbus… and for myself. Soul looked down at her trembling wings laying out over the floor. Holy crap, I don’t care what the result was… this feels amazing. Like a tingle running all down her spine. Electrifying her tail and making her shiver. Making her laugh.

4.64
“Soul…” a voice broke her from her laughter. Turning to see that cyan filly gripping the edge of the post she sat atop with such vigor and so much splendor in her eyes baring down on Soul. Dash? Oh… crap. I… I completely forgot. She… Soul lifted a hoof. Just as her smile began to shrink. That’s right. She was here to watch me. She saw all I just did. But that means… “That was… so… freakin awesome!” Dash yelled out. Not how loud she yelled that, it was what she yelled that surprised Soul and made her leap from the shock. The idea that she must have heard that wrong. No way… Dash liked it.

Soul felt that electricity running through her body once more. It made her shake again. Let out a spastic sigh from it. Sheesh… wait… I still haven’t recovered yet. She had to take a minute to breath. Figure this out. Dash saw me fly like that and now… “Soul, where the hell have you been hiding this?!” Dash said, she leapt down from her perch. Running back to join with Soul. Soul tried to back away. Shrieking when she saw Dash’s hooves go in to try and pick up the very wings that had flown her moments ago. Reminding Dash not to do what she wanted to, just marvel at them instead. Standing so close to Soul, starry eyed.

“I knew you were good, but this good… I don’t know many fillies who can fly like this already. Or even close.” Soul backed away. Giggling a little, more amused that Dash was actually freaking out. She was legitimately freaking out in front of her. No. She… she’s gushing over me. The glimmer in Dash’s eyes as she stared at Soul. This is the biggest she’s smiled. Why? I only flew… like that… “Th-thanks…” Soul muttered. “It was nothing special.”

“That’s crap. You were all like this, and then that and that.” Dash flung her hooves around, leaping into the sky and flying about her. Twirling and spinning all about the deck. Going on and on about what Soul had just done. While one thing sparked in Soul at seeing her like this. This was not the usual reception she got. This was something else. This… this was a Pegasus who loved her flying. It was her flight buddy, of all ponies. She likes it?

4.65
“I’m not kidding” Dash zipped back into Soul’s face. “You flew just as high as your mom did the other day.” Wait. Soul craned her neck. Looking up at the sky. As high as… she did? On that day when I stood up for this pony. I… there’s no way. I didn’t even know how high up I got. Until… I was so cold up there. I barely felt it. Barely noticed it but it was there. Looking down at a land so tiny.

Is she exaggerating? Is this real? Soul could not recount what she did. She flew so fast, so high. It had been scary and, at the same time, a blast. She had flown like that. “I… did…” Soul said. Looking back down at Dash. Her mouth wanted to fall to the floor. Shutting herself up with another shock of energy going down her spine.

“Alright, now I’m glad I came over. It’s not often I get to see another kid pull off that sort of stuff. Really… is this the stuff your mom teaches you all the time?” Dash was really determined to know. Soul didn’t feel threatened. There was no threat. Just a very enthralled Pegasus who was admiring her. Somepony admiring me. Soul had to laugh a little. “More or less” Soul admitted. “It can be kind of stressful and hard though.” “And you still do it, you’re like a prodigy!”

That was uncomfortable to hear that. Dash was mistaken. No, she can’t let her think that. “No, no. I’m no prodigy. It took a ton of training to get this stuff down.” A whole ton. Dash had no idea just where I was years ago. I was not the Pegasus I am now. Though she didn’t need to know. “Either way…” Dash said in a tone that grew softer. She settled herself down, landing back on the floor. “You sure can do a lot. I’m surprised you don’t fly like that often. …I would love to see you fly like that all the time.”

4.66
You really do want to? Soul felt her heart skip a beat. She likes how I fly. By how Dash looked, it was no joke. Her eyes glued to Soul under lowered lashes. A look she never got when she flew. Like… like there was a pony who was completely… in love with her ability. That was the sense she got from this. Dash liked how she flew. The same flying that hurt me so much in the past. This is a pony who got to see it first hoof. Something none of the other campers would get. “You really want to?” Soul whispered. She hated it. She was blushing. I… I don’t hear compliments like that. Damn, I must look so stupid now. Dash had no idea just how much that meant.

“I gotta say something” Dash said. “Stop me if it’s too much. Seeing how you fly all the time, I’m… kind of hoping to be like that someday. It’s been rough for me, learning how to fly and all. Seeing that you can do stuff like this. It’s inspiring.” Inspiring? “I want to be as good as you because… shit… wanna know a secret?” Soul did not dare interrupt her. Her ears so perked at listening to everything she was saying and she did feel her cheeks get hotter. Making her pull her mane straight down over her face. Whispering out from behind her bangs. “Yes?” “I want both of us to become something amazing so we can both do what we dream of. I want us to make that dream happen together. …Do… do you want that too?”

Soul peered out from under her mane, finding the filly shuffling her hooves across the floor. Not even able to look Soul in the eye when she said that, staring down at the ground. Smiling so hard. I can read her too… Soul noticed her little wings fluttering at her sides. She’s nervous. Why be nervous when I’m the one who should be? Dash just admitted to her, of all ponies else, that she wants to be there with her. To reach a dream that sounded too good to be true. Even after I ditched her. After all they had to go through. Their rough start. They have gotten to this. Soul didn’t know what to say. Except see that she felt true sincerity out of her flight buddy. She wants to be the best too. She wants Soul at her side. To reach a goal so far away but so sweet to taste. Soul could see it in her. She wanted it so much too. Both of them wanted it.

I… I have an idea. But… Soul looked up. “Dash, can I ask you something?” “Sure.” They both had a hard time looking at one another. Much time passed. Neither could stop smiling. Neither gave up to get the courage to look at one another as Soul spoke the words she wanted. “Did you say something to my mom last night when you visited?” Soul asked. I need to know now. Was it a lie? Dash’s smile grew wider. “I said you’re an awesome flight buddy.” Those were the words. Nimbus was not lying. You do think that. You proved it to me. Things may be hard between us but… I feel like I can do this for you. “I have an idea…” Soul said. “Wanna head out to the sauna?” Didn’t need to be asked twice. Dash nodded. “Do I? Let’s go!” “After…” Soul spat out and stopped the filly from running off with her wings all ready to take off. Dash looked back to find Soul was presenting the deck to her. “Could you help me clean this all up first?”

4.67
Looked like the sauna just always had this relaxing feel to it with how warm it always was. Soul stepped through the cloudy embrace of the doorway once more and stepped out into that beautiful scene from before. Greeted by the sound of running water roaring so loud from the many waterfalls dotting the ceiling and pummeling the shallow lake. Billowing of steam and lukewarm water droplets coming down to soak her. Not even stepped into the lake yet and she was already having to squeeze her mane out and flip it over her head. Shaking her body down just to keep it from getting too damp, much like her feathers were getting. Her poor wings felt pretty heavy. No matter.

Soul still loved this place. A huge refresher from the slight chill that was coming over the land outside. Rainbow also loved it. The filly rushing on ahead, not hesitating to leap into the lake. Landing in it at belly height and off to run about in the water. Thrilled to be here. Soul loved it. Like a huge weight was coming off them. Even more, she was excited.

Dash was not even close to as excited as Soul was. Her cyan flight buddy came here, the whole trip going on about the fun times they would have relaxing and playing in the water. Soul kept it all a secret from her. Should I tell her? Soul giggled into her hoof. She’s going to be so surprised. But after coming to me out of the blue and turning this dull day into something… more magical with words that Soul had never thought she’d hear from her flight buddy. Forget what she felt about Dash, anything that happened before.

Right now, she saw something so reminiscent in the eyes of that playful pony who said she wanted something that sounded… admittedly beautiful to Soul.

4.68
Soul looked about the vast and empty space of the cloud room. Loving the large areas they had to work with and… she sniffed the air. Smells and feels so nice. Literally everything about this place. Like something magical was to it. A little sanctuary that Dash had no idea about what Soul truly was thinking about it. “You gonna come in the water?” Dash called for her. Soul didn’t answer. Just excited. This is going to be fun. Soul unfolded her wings. Testing the air. Oh yes, this feels nice. A good shot of warm air running under her wings and doing nothing to her to say that she couldn’t do this here. She took off. Over to the lake. Where Dash ran off once more. Does she think I plan to jump on her or something? No way. I got something more special in mind.

“I’m not swimming, Dash” Soul told her from above. The filly down in the water just as perplexed as what Soul was saying. “You’re not?” “Not what I came here for” Soul said. A little harsh to say. Dash must feel weird for going along with this and not knowing what this was all about. All part of the surprise that she deserved. We may not see eye to eye that often and I know we have had a rough time since we first met. Hell, when we first did, I didn’t think we’d ever get to this point. You were interesting. You had this charm to you. Rough and so closed in. Yet Dash opened up to her. Slowly. Even if things still hurt, Soul needed to see this for what it was.

There was a pony here that she could honestly say wanted the same thing as Soul. Who was working so hard at it. She wants to be just like Soul just from watching her fly. Soul couldn’t help it. She felt her to be admirable in her goals. Just as she thought. This filly, Rainbow Dash, she can be a great flyer. She can be something and… she has blown me away. Better than what I would expect of another pony. Soul needed to fawn over her ambition. Her genuine determination to be that wonderful flyer.

I’m not sure if that’s why she’s sticking with me, but it was sweet of her to come visit me. Even if it was mostly spent watching Soul fly. As a good flight buddy, I can’t leave her alone in what she wants.

4.69
“There’s something else I wanted to do with you. After what you said… it got me thinking.” “Thinking about what?” Dash whispered. She stepped through the water. Coming closer to where Soul hovered. Eager to hear. Confused. “Dash, I know you want to fly even better than what we got to do at camp and that… you want to be this amazing flyer. Truth is… I think you can do it.” “You really think so?” Dash said, her spirits lifted. “I know so, in fact… I can tell you’ll become something great. I have no doubt in my mind that you will become the Wonderbolt you dream of.” “That… means a lot coming from you” Dash said. “After what I saw from you, you remind me of… of what it is I want.” “Tell me though” Soul said. “You really want to become a Wonderbolt?”

Dash sighed. She let her wings fall out from her sides and she fell back. Closing her eyes. She looked so serene right now. Happy and sitting in the warm water looking into the darkness of her eyes. Something that made her smile. I wonder what she sees.

“When I was six, my mom took me to my first Wonderbolts showing. At that same arena we both went to. The same one you got in that picture over your door. I was there! And… it was a moment that changed my life. Before… I had no idea what to do with myself. My flying was bad, and all I wanted to do was play. Honestly, I was a troublemaker back then.” You saying you still aren’t? “But then I saw them. The best flyers in all of Equestria. At that very showing. Wearing their bright blue uniforms and pulling off some of the most amazing moves I’ve ever seen without even trying. Stuff I could only dream of. Like I could never do them… until then. When I saw them all pull off their speeds and daring stunts, I told myself… why can’t I do that? Because I wasn’t like them. I wasn’t trying my hardest. Now look at me… no matter how hard it is on them, my parents stuck with me and now… now I can fly better than I ever could before. All because of the Wonderbolts. That’s when I knew it. I wanted to be like them. And nothing will stop me. I’ve been at it for three years, should tell you that it’s something I want.” Three years!? No way.

“You’re nine years old?” Soul asked. To which the filly proudly nodded.

4.70
Soul had to smile. “Rainbow, you’re the same age I am.” “You’re…” Dash paused. Slapping a hoof to her cheek. “Oh wow, I didn’t even know. And here I thought you were older than me.” “Nope, same age” Soul smiled.

Rainbow groaned. Slumping her head. Confusing Soul with how quick she was to change. “You’re the same age as me. Yet you’re far better than me.” “Hey now…” Soul tried to stop her. Stop her from thinking it was that bad. It wasn’t what she had been trying to get at.

“I don’t get it” Dash said. “Why are you so much better than me and…” Dash raised her forelegs. Holding her hooves up to her chest. Saddened. She whimpered a little behind those hooves. Rainbow Dash? “Why even bother flying with me… if I’m so much worse than you? I take it… you’ll want to leave me now that you know how bad I am at flying.” She got this way wrong. But, Soul hung speechless, she’s saying stuff like this. Rainbow, I’ve never heard her so down before. Just because she found out my age. After all we went through, no way she would leave her just because of that. I’m not like those jerk ponies. I’m not one to judge another on their ability. So long as they genuinely have the will to reach a goal. Just like Dash does. If you had told me a week ago that I would feel this way for you, I would have smacked you. But now, I can’t help it.

I do think you need me there for you. For me to offer that hoof to you. A hoof that Soul held out for her. For her to look up at and find the magenta Pegasus still there. Throwing out those stupid claims she had made.

4.71
“If you really want to get better, I’m the girl for you.” “What?” Dash said. Looking between Soul and her hoof. “I’m offering you something” Soul said. “Something super special that I think you can use to reach your goal. Because I want to be there for ponies who want to prove that they are more.” Just like how I will prove to all others. Wherever she is out there. Watching to see me pull off what she thought I couldn’t. “How well you fly is up to your parents, they’ve been there to teach you all this time and they will be there to support you. Just like mine.” “Yeah” Dash said. Crossing her forelegs together. “They’ve been wonderful to me. I just wish I could keep up with what they teach me.” “You’ll get there, but it doesn’t mean you need to do it alone.”

Soul let her hoof come closer to Dash. Confident when she saw Dash’s hoof shake and slowly come out. Edging for Soul’s. All she needed to see the determination she had. That she can trust me. “I can teach you something… something that can help you be the very best you can be.” Both their hooves touched. Soul joined by Dash who flew up with her, never letting go. “What… do you mean?” Soul smiled. “Think about it. I came here with you to a nice and secluded place where you can relax and not have to worry about anything outside.” “You mean… you’re going to show me…” “I’ll teach you a move” Soul said, and silence feel between them.

4.72
“My mom says this is something that separates the pegasi from the masters. Something that even the Wonderbolts themselves don’t use” Soul said to Dash, both of them sitting face to face at the edge of the lake. Looking upon the wide-eyed filly who listened. Nothing to even say. She could see in Dash’s face that she was astonished. As amazed as she was when she first heard of this. “We rely on our ears, noses, and eyes to keep aware of everything when we fly. But sometimes… that stuff doesn’t work. Remember when we were flying together for the first time and we had all those clouds coming in at us?” Dash nodded. “I was having a hard time keeping track of all of those. Not something we can deal with when we fly for real. There’s so many things that happen in the sky and around us when we fly that it’s hard to keep up with it all and be able to work around them.”

“Reading the air?” Dash whispered what it was that Soul had spoke to her of. Soul nodded. “How can that be possible? Sounds just like magic.” “You sound just like me when I first heard of it” Soul said. “But trust me, it’s real. You can tell what will happen in the air around you before it happens, you can judge the conditions without even thinking on it, see everything around you and learn anything you need to know to keep up your flight.” “I’ve never even heard of it” Dash said. “Yup, it’s rare. My mom can fly as well as she does because of it, but it took her years to master. As far as I know, the only other Pegasus who knew it was her father, one of the greatest Wonderbolts of all time.”

Soul reached her hoof out, holding it to sway through the very air that kept them warm. Feeling the density in it and how humid it was touching against her fur. Like her hoof swatted the water out the air and drenched her fur. But there was more to it. Something she learned all thanks to Nimbus. Something she knew was real.

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“The air around us is always moving and changes when anything touches it. Even the slightest movement sends out a signal in it, and a Pegasus like us can sense it and know where it is we need to look. To where it is we can use to tell what is about to happen. It’s so hard that even I am having such a hard time figuring it out.” “You mean you haven’t even pulled it off?” Dash said. “I came close once on the first go. But it didn’t work out. I’ve been trying and trying since, it’s not easy… but I know it can be done. The very first time I did it… I felt something so strange. Like the entire world was still around me. Like the air was actually there as something I can touch. This weird sensation. Even thinking about it… I get chills.”

Even her feathers were starting to shiver in response. That creeping feeling. Something that told her there was more to it than a rare ability that sounded so close to being impossible. I remember how it felt. How it played out.

“I came so close, but I didn’t pull it off.” Dash asked the big question with that one. “How can you teach me it then?” No mockery or insult in her voice. The filly looked concerned. Understandable. But… “I know what you need to do to reach it. But it’s very hard and… it takes so much practice. My mom said you need to stay entirely focused on your flying and then it becomes natural to you.” “That sounds a little easy” Dash commented. “But it will take many years of practice before you get to that point when you can use it without even thinking. To where you will be beyond other pegasi who rely on their ears and eyes.” “How long did it take her to master it?” “She was taught when she was a kid too, it wasn’t till she was a mare before it was with her” Soul said. “And now she’s passing it on to me.”

“And you want to pass it to me too?” Dash said. Soul nodded her approval.

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“Oh, I don’t think I should” Dash leaned back. “I mean, you haven’t known me for that long and… and you don’t need to teach me of all ponies.” Dash giggled under her breath though she frowned. “You should be the only one who has your mom’s gift.”

Nimbus never said what I could do with it, and I feel it’s the right thing to do. Rainbow Dash is the first pony to take me serious. The first pony my age, one that I can truly see myself being able to play with all the time just like those kids on the streets and the first time we splashed around together in here. You’re not perfect, but you are more than what I can expect. You’ve made me smile among the endless sadness.

Besides that, “Deep down… I can see you are a lot like me” Soul said. “You do?” “Yes, you and I have such great goals for ourselves. Goals that make us so happy inside and drive us. A goal you shared to me. To me! You actually want me to be a part of it and I want you to be a part of my goal too. It’s been very hard for us, but we can still be there to help one another out. I want to help you with this. Because I want to see if you can become that Wonderbolt.”

Rainbow Dash gulped. Flicker in her eyes so shiny that it almost blistered out in its own shine of radiant light. Amazed and moved, astonished she was. No doubt something she didn’t think to hear from Soul. It made her nod and accept it. “No matter how long it takes, I’ll learn what you want to teach me. And don’t you ever doubt that I will become that Wonderbolt.” All Soul needed to hear.

“I’ll show you, the rest will be up to you.” Soul waved her hoof up to the air above them and Dash did as she was told. Flying up there and, joined by Soul, set in a low hover above the lake. She was ready. She wants to do this.

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Rainbow took her spot right where she was supposed to, in front of Soul. A steady hover and her hooves held up like some timid animal not sure what to expect. She had to show her exactly as Nimbus had. The only problem would be if she actually is worried or even intimidated by this. That won’t do.

“Calm down, I’m not gonna make it hard on you. It’s kind of easy to figure out what you need to do. Just… it’s all about how well you can control yourself.” “Right…” Dash said. “But what you’re doing is right” Soul said. “The best way to practice this is to stay completely still and the only way to read the air is when you’re entirely surrounded by it. When you’re flying. No way you can do it when your hooves are on the ground.”

Soul flew in closer to Dash. Looking over her. Left and right. Soul skimmed along her, Dash seemed to get that she was supposed to stay still. Not even turning, though she did look with a curious eye at Soul. Dash looks a bit tensed. Her wing muscles stiff on her softly swaying spans and a slight kick in her hooves… and her wagging tail. Ha, she reminds me a lot of myself. Trusting me just like I trusted Nimbus when she first taught me this. I am giving her this after all, the least she could do is cooperate as she did.

Soul flew around Dash’s back and took her position again to her right. “As the air goes around your body, it touches every bit of you and sends a sensation across your skin.” Soul did her best to explain how it felt to her. “Like somepony touching your fur and feathers and you react to it. Lets you know where things are that make motion in the air alongside you. Even things that aren’t even moving, things that block the air. You can sense it all. What I’m gonna do is position myself near you and you need to find me.” “Sounds easy enough” Dash said. “Eyes closed and no listening, only rely on feeling the air to find me.” That was enough to make Dash’s already risen confidence fall flat. Her face drooped. I think I can reenact what Nimbus did with me. A simple change in how you move your wings. Soul already started practicing it right on the spot and listened to find her very wings started to sound so much like they weren’t even moving anymore. “What you need to do… is simply to concentrate on the air around you. Don’t focus on anything else and only the motion that moves over your body. It will shift and change with every motion that happens and that’s what you need to look out for.” “How will I know what it feels like?” Dash asked.

That… was super hard to explain for Soul, even she couldn’t describe it. How it was when it first happened. Something magnificent. Something that made her heart soar and chills run all over her. Like something was trying to seep into her very body from the outside. “It’s when you know that you can sense something is different with you. I found it weird and… and exhilarating. As if it was pulling me to where it was I needed to go. Trust me, you’ll know it when it happens.”

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Dash didn’t say anymore. She took a deep breath. Sighing softly, she opened her eyes up and peered at Soul under lowered lashes. Nodding her approval. Soul came in one last time. Dash did not fight back when Soul set her hoof upon Dash’s raised hooves. Doing as she did, Soul pushed down and Dash lowered them.

“Relax yourself” Soul advised. Pushing her hooves down to her sides. A quick tap to her spread hind legs to close them and, as if in repeat, she gave Dash’s long rainbow tail a tug. “Keep yourself still.” Dash stopped her tail from moving anymore. Alright, she looks ready. On the outside that is. It’s all up to her on the inside. Soul backed off once more. Giving her a wink. Letting Dash know she was ready. That was what made the cyan filly close her eyes once more, and she held them like that. This must be what it was like when Nimbus did this with me. Staring at a silent and attentive filly ready to learn what it was she had to offer. Another offering, but it felt right to do. Soul kept going with it. She wants to be an amazing flyer like me. She tries so hard. I have to pity her for all she does to do it, all her effort. Even if I never feel the same. I hope you appreciate this. I’ll do what I can for you.

Soul noticed it. “No ears either, stop relying on your hearing.” Dash groaned. “Come on now, not like I was using them.” “Don’t care” Soul said as she started to softly shift her position. Swaying sideways across from Dash. Finding a good spot to stay at and see if Rainbow could find her. Speaking to her as she went over there. “The point is to rely on your feelings. Like a sixth sense sort of thing. My wings make a motion in the air that changes it and your body can sense it if you just pay close attention to everything around you. Ignore everything else, only your environment.”

Soul found her spot. Just as Dash made another deep breath. I’ll let her try this, …I feel like… some part of me believes she will get this. I wonder how I will feel if she gets it. Would I be upset? I don’t know… I’m not upset right now. Anticipating her pulling it off. Because she’s not like me… always like this. Always messing up and afraid. I keep trying but I just can’t do it. I bet you can, Dash, since you’re perfect with nothing to keep you down.

4.77
Indeed, she started. Soul listened and knew her wings were silent. Oh yes, I’m a ghost now. Even if Dash relied on her ears, it’ll likely be the same result as when Soul attempted this for the first time. Like nothing was even there. All she had was the soft motions Soul made with her wings in the air. Gentle enough to make no noise yet enough to keep her aloft. She might have a harder time hearing anyways. Soul’s wings were not as big as Nimbus’… yet. So she has to rely on her feelings. Whatever it was… Soul was wondrous over the filly across from her with so much space between them. Enough space for a filly to shoot across and try to grab her once Soul had been found. If she will be found, but she needed to be patient. No idea how long it took her to locate Nimbus the first time. Felt like seconds, could have been minutes. Or even… hours? I hope not. Soul was a little discomforted at that thought. She got herself into this. Got to see it through at least until it was time to go.

But Rainbow did nothing to show something may be happening. Surprisingly… nothing at all. She didn’t even make a move. Only her wings did. Wow. So this is what it’s like to look at somepony who is concentrating. Was this how I was too? Soul had expected her to try and take a peek but Dash’s lids kept still and shut over her eyes. Sealed tight with no motion at all. Her ears left drooping on the sides of her head and no shift or turn of them to search for anything worth listening to. No part of her moved. That’s the way, Dash. Keep focused on your surroundings. Soul lowered her breaths. Slow and to a crawl. Nothing to disturb the sounds or motions of this place. Only the roaring sounds of waterfalls and dripping water to fill the air. Soul may as well fall asleep in here with how peaceful it had become. How serene and silent everything seemed to be. How gentle Dash looked over there no matter how much time passed.

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I hope this is going okay for her. Dash still was pretty quiet and motionless. Long enough for Soul to watch the water dripping from her mane and in front of her eyes hundreds of times now. Glancing to it and then back to Dash. The cyan filly was getting really damn soaked under that perpetual rainfall. Though she still didn’t move. Not even when her wet mane fell down against her face and its hairs slithered across. Dampening her feathers. Nothing broke her concentration.

Amazing! She really is determined. Perhaps she was taking this serious. Serious with her claims too. Only a pony who did want to be something amazing would put in this much effort without pause. This much unceasing focus on her goal. This is just like Nimbus, isn’t it? Teaching me? You bring back a lot of memories, Dash. Of happier times when I could train without much worry or fear on my mind. Seeing your face now, I really was quite the calm and determined Pegasus. I’m still determined. I still am. Though even with you, I don’t feel like I can be like how you are. Not at all. Which is why you will get this. You will dart across the room and find me. Grab hold of me with a laugh as you become victorious. Victorious in overcoming my ability. As I get left behind with all my worries.

Strange. …I don’t usually get this way. Soul looked down at her hooves. Left dripping in water. Held tight to her chest. She looked back at Dash. What is wrong with me? Jealous of Dash, worried that I may be left behind. Maybe because she had not pulled this off. She could not get it. Not with how very much it hurt her to endure everything. Endure it while I watch you succeed. After all my efforts. No… Dash put in as much work as I have. She’s trying too. But it still hurt. To see how far behind she was getting all because of what had to start this fall. When she went to camp and now… now hanging out with this filly.

Who’s to say… she won’t be like all the rest. Even if she did like Soul’s flying. What is keeping her from running away too? Turning on her. Soul could not believe the thoughts going through her head. When she should be staying calm. She should be. I hate that I can’t stay calm. Don’t be mad at yourself.

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Hard not to. I used to be so much better. Seeing Dash like this, it reminds me so much of how I used to be. How ambitious I was. Now look at me, hiding away and afraid so much that it keeps me back. Keeps me up at night. Makes me shake when around others. So much that… it made her wing tingle. Over the span where she could still hear that sickening sound from so long ago. Rainbow Dash has it easy. I was mean to her. It wouldn’t surprise me if she did leave eventually. Leave like all the others. Or maybe… maybe I’m just too nice. Too much for my own good. Soul forfeited herself to it. She made the decision. As she stared upon a filly so much like her. Reminding her truly of a pony who wanted to do her very best, she needed to sympathize. With a perfectly content pony. So unlike her.

Dash’s eyelids wrinkled. What? Soul watched. Waiting. Did she…? Her eyes widened, anticipating something. Anything that may show her that her expectations were true. A shout of victory. It was a shout. Rainbow shouted and gasped. Making Soul’s heart waver and writhe hearing it. She flew still like a stump.

Dash backed off, broken from her concentration. Completely broken. Holding herself with her hooves and her wings flapping harder. Then she coughed. That was what made Soul fly back over to her, getting Dash’s attention again. Watching her wide magenta eyes and mouth gasping for breath, though Dash had no idea how it was Soul felt right now. She hid it. Asking “what’s wrong? Did you feel it?” Dash coughed again. Looking down upon her hooves and… she shook her head. Short of breath. Soul just watched. Waited.

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“I… I don’t know” Dash said with a bit of spit flying out. “It was like my entire body was being stung or something. It gave me so many chills.” The filly even ran her hooves up and down her body and shivered. Either warming herself or checking, her eyes going along her fur. Sounds… like something familiar. Soul rose a brow.

“I don’t know what it was but… it was intense. I couldn’t keep it up any longer.” So looks like you couldn’t get it on the first go. Strangely, I feel like I want to keep teaching you. Keep letting you try. Good. Maybe because I feel a little better. Even if you are fine, with nothing to worry about. Reassuring Soul. Thank goodness. That must mean this technique is much harder than I thought. I’m not the only one who has trouble with it. Soul smiled, laying her hoof upon Dash’s shoulder to calm her. At least you won’t leave me now. “Told you it wasn’t easy. Takes lots of practice.”

Dash nodded. Coughing once more. But she accepted the truth. This was going to be something that will take a lot of time to get down perfectly. A lot of time we have. I just hope it will last long. To prevent tomorrow from coming any sooner. As Soul felt the tingle going over her injured hoof. What it told her about tomorrow. When I get to deal with it again. When I do. As everypony leaves me. Save for Dash. Only if she wants though. Only if she wants.

“We can try again if you want” Soul offered. “I’ll find a new position and give you some more advice based off what I learned.” Wow, no pause. Dash nodded again. Ready to give it a try. Kicking herself back into form. Not giving up from that. Great! She does remind me of somepony. Soul backed off from her. We can keep going till it was time to go. Maybe I’ll learn something from her. Something to help me figure this out. Something to keep tomorrow from coming any sooner. But… “Hey Dash” Soul said as she looked back at her. Meeting her eyes. Though Soul hid everything. Hid how she felt and how much it was starting to hurt her just to think the words she wanted to say. “Yes?” “I’m still sorry for what happened on Friday. It was wrong of me to leave you. I hope you do forgive me” Soul said. Anything to make sure Dash knew. The cyan filly seemed surprised at first, quick to wave a hoof at her and write it off. “Oh Soul, I’m not upset.” “You aren’t?” “Of course not, we are flight buddies after all. Damn good ones” Dash said. “One little thing like that won’t change it. Especially with how awesome you have been to me. Always helping me out and... and now! Now you’re my teacher!”

Soul smirked, looking away from Dash and… she looked down at the ground below. Not at all happy inside after hearing the thing Dash had said… before that. “Thank you” she muttered. “It was a hard day and I know what Amber did upset you. It… it was a scary day” Dash said from behind her. “I understand why you left. Trust me. But… I won’t let that drive us apart. You can be sure of that.” She sounded so confident in that. Determined. Like it meant something. Soul was glad she wasn’t going to leave, truly she was. She had to thank her again. “Thanks, I’ll still love to be your flight buddy.” Flying off to a new position. I’ll be your flight buddy… but…

I wish you would be mine and do more to help… me.

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