7.1
Dash played her part, now it was Soul’s turn. As spectacular as she could have hoped. Here she was ready to prove herself the same to Dash. With determination in her face, Soul flew off. Spinning her way down the along the wall of the thunderhead and plummeting down to where it was she needed to go. Wind soaring, the skies roiling. She blitzed forth with all her might. Leveling out off towards the great and vast race course beyond.

Rows upon rows of arranged clouds all set out into a neat and tightly packed course that spanned all across most of the camp. Where all the more advanced groups would train, now it was her turn to use it. All of it like a maze built into the sky with so many checkpoints made out of circular clouds for pegasi to fly right through them. Set up to lead right back down the entire height of the thunderhead and then to the finish line beyond. Somewhere down there, Soul was eager to reach it. Under all these layers of clouds and harsh winds. Ripping off from the mighty thunderhead looming high over her. With only those checkpoints to guide her. Those little breaks in all the clouds beneath this beautiful day above her.

I won’t fail this. Soul was not intimidated at all. Obstacles like this were nothing. Gladly coming right in at the first checkpoint with so much speed that the wind broke into echoing blasts all around her that nearly split her ears. Could have even torn apart all the clouds surrounding the first checkpoint as she zipped right through it and into the world inside of it. Thank you, Dash, for giving me a head start.

Soul glanced back for not even a second and saw him filling her vision. Fierce and strong. His wings flapping so hard with his own flag tight in his teeth. I really do owe you and thank you for being the one to be my teammate in this.

7.2
The only thing about this was keeping track of all the checkpoints. Soul spotted the next one far below where the clouds barely broke under the rays of the Sun to expose it. She turned hard right, spinning down and going right at it. All the clouds filling her vision. Just like I practice all the time.

Soul dodged left and corkscrewed herself around the next sets of clouds. Spiraling with such power along their sides and letting them pass faster than she could blink. I wonder how Dash performed in these conditions. Hope they weren’t as bad as this. This being the blankets and blankets of clouds in her way along the path of the course. Coming in at her with such quick ferocity. Her speed was incredible. Almost too hard to control and, somehow, Aurora stayed on her tail.

He is quick. Well then.

Soul banked hard left and went around the first layers of clouds. Such a tough series of dodges and spins to get around all of them. She couldn’t blink at this point. Her eyes darting to keep track of all. Watch them all pass by her in an instant then having to quickly readjust for the next ones that came in. Such small breaks in these clouds and she took advantage of all of them. Only one thing stood out. Soul didn’t hear him. Those flaps of wings behind her. But… she took a quick look. Past all the many clouds she flew past. He was there.

Aurora plummeted down with her at the other side of all the clouds. Seeing his long mane flow behind him with every tiny break between the walls of clouds. Neck and neck. Oh no. Soul took to watching in front of her again. Gotta keep my speed up. Another big cloud came in. Just like I practiced. One!

Soul reeled her wings forward, reaching out with her hooves to land hard against the surface of the cloud. Listening close behind her. Here it comes. Two!

The cloud spun about under her weight, so big but it couldn’t resist. Not with all this power on it. Forcing it to rotate and then… three.

The wind came in. Carried in by all the speed Soul had put out and roaring to catch up with the one who made it.

7.3
Soul shot off from the cloud. Zipping right past where she saw Aurora. That’s more like it! Soul laughed. Her voice shrouded by the howl of wind coming over her. All of it soaring over her body, coursing through her wings. Like tender streams of cool water dripping between her feathers and feeling so very nice to enjoy once more. The wind along her ears and the air breaking before her. A blaze of bluish white opening before her.

She flew right through it all. Kicking her wings to flap hard once more and thunder ripped out from behind her. Breaking past the layers of clouds and she flew through the next checkpoint. Her wings came back up, turning and she spun herself upright. Flying off into the sky once more in time to avoid the clouds that were in her way.

Aurora came into sight. Flying off straight from the checkpoint and his fiery eyes came in at her. Joining with her. A mad dash along the straight and narrow path through the clouds. Where the rays of sunlight pierced through the top and warmed their backs. Wind rushing across and between all the clouds they both flew past. He is fast, but I’m not upset. Not upset at all. Soul passed by. Keeping her little lead ahead of him. Hearing the cheers of other ponies so quick before they both passed them in an instant. Soul couldn’t even take time to catch sight of them, though she grinned. Hope they enjoy this.

The next checkpoint was up ahead. Off where she saw many more kids floating about along the sides of the cloudy walls they both flew between. Peering down at both of them rocketing off so fast that Soul did not hear anything they said. Any noise they made. Only the sound of the wind in her ears. “You’re not holding back, I see!” Aurora yelled out behind her.

“Never will!” Soul said. She tilted her wings and arced herself so she flew sideways to dodge an incoming cloud. Aurora passing by the same way at the other side of it. His belly to hers. So close that their flapping wings could almost touch tips in their rotations. The checkpoint was coming in fast. Soul saw it, a sharp turn downwards after it. There was nothing but clouds after that checkpoint. “Glad to see you’re at least fast!” Aurora said. He leveled himself out next to her. Soul did the same. Spinning up to fly over him. Ready for the turn. Both ponies squinting eyes, not taking eyes off that tight turn. He’s gonna make a sharp turn downwards. From this angle… Soul smiled. I got this.

7.4
The turn came, both of them passing through the narrow checkpoint and into the tiny window they had before they would crash right into the clouds. Soul used them. She spun about. Putting her back to the earth below and angling her wings to face the oncoming clouds. Right when Aurora made his turn below her. Soul flapped hard. Sending all the wind she could use to gust out from her wings and strike the clouds she almost collided into. Such momentum. Pushing against her, Soul flew off from that turn. Perfectly. Faster than she expected. Though more speed was not bad. Not when she saw the colt pass behind her and getting her lead once more. Barely.

Sheesh, she didn’t know he was this good. Every chance she had to overtake him and it barely counted for much. The colt right on her tail. Really not liking how it was they kept going back and forth with their places. If this was just straight up speed, I would dominate him. But… this crap.

Soul dodged around the next sets of clouds in their way. Big groups of them she had to zigzag around just like Aurora did. But complaining won’t work. Soul would need to use all she had to do this. For Rainbow Dash and for the ponies who trained her. Another checkpoint straight forward between the clouds and then the next was another tight turn that Soul had to grit her teeth around her flag for just to prevent it from falling with how much it took for her to take that turn at such speeds. Almost threw her off when the wind came in and struck her during that turn. Bobbing from it and then leveling out. Kind of wishing that wind would have messed Aurora up. It didn’t. Too bad. But Soul would not let that get to her.

She didn’t even blink when she made the next turn and that colt flew in right next to her. I don’t know what it is you had to go through, Aurora, but you really do seem like you put a lot of effort into what it was you told your mother. I can tell it is true drive. Unfortunately, you’re up against me. Your goals give you power, but I have confidence in my goals. They are what let me fly this fast. Going from that pathetic and crying filly into something like this. A pony who soared high over the incoming layers of clouds that dotted the sky and barreled back down under them with a screeching plummet to the next cloud checkpoint. Falling headlong down the height of the thunderhead. Thunder cracked. Not from the cloud.

7.5
Aurora shot by in that mad dive down through the clouds. His tail whipping past and taking the next turn before Soul could. Damn it. You’re not getting away.

Soul made the turn. Rearing back up and shooting forward past a break in the walls of clouds. Soaring back up into the sunlight. Open sky once more. Aurora flew off ahead of her. The colt tilted his wings and flew off sideways. Falling down and flying off. Down to far below where the camp was. Soul did the same. Except. She did something first.

Nimbus taught me this. When you’re diving, it is hard to control your wings and you are more relying on gravity to carry you. But there is a way to use both to your advantage and gives you a ton of speed. That was what she did say. Soul carried it out.

Aurora plummeted. Soul curved herself downwards. Flying straight and down towards the clouds below… at an angle. Just enough for her to do a quick spin and readjust herself so she flew down in the same direction as Aurora, save for one little difference. Soul flapped her wings hard. Not falling straight down like he did, and Soul saw it. His wings held out still. Riding the wind. A good tactic. But… Soul didn’t ride it. She controlled it.

Flapping her wings with her angled fall down through the sky. Looking and seeing she may just do it. Fly right over Aurora. Towards the next checkpoint. Just don’t let up. But it was getting hard. Her angled dive fighting against her. So much wind striking her face like it was a whip. It almost hurt. A bump in the air hit her. There it is. The air was getting rougher. Choppy skies coming in the lower she got.

Soul tucked her hind legs in against her stomach. Holding her forelegs out. Flying right over Aurora. Before he could level out. She did it first. Thank you, Nimbus. Soul shot past him. Careening in past the checkpoint. An angled dive, that made it so much easier. Soul grinned with all this force behind her that she used to fly back up. Spotting the assortments of clouds far below the thunderhead they had left behind. Rising to the sky once more.

7.6
Up there, Soul could see more of the others. Peering out over their clouds in time to see Soul fly past them. Enter the next set of the course. “You’re not gonna win.” Aurora flew in. Sliding over her and keeping his position high above her. Sweat flicking off his face.

Soul glared. I will win. I fought so much for this chance. Had to put up with so much pain just to get this ability to feel this strong. I won’t lose it. A cloud broke up the two. Soul flew under it. Aurora over. Soul kicked her wings back into gear, putting as much pressure as she could to get herself flying back up to get around another one. Entering another huge field of them. Clustered so tight but it was in sight. Soul saw the next checkpoint. Hard to see behind all these clouds. Beneath the shadow of the thunderhead, both of them soared. Where no Sun touched them. Soul could still see it all. Dodging left and right. Spinning and weaving the same way that Aurora did. Like the colt did a mirrored move with her. Like they both danced together in the sky. Flying past one another and leveling out once more and then repeating.

Soul exerted her wings. They kept pumping. Flapping without pause. Fighting for the one they loved. No grievance or worry could stop them. Not with all she had to work with. All she had to fight for. It was worth fighting for. All these ponies will see how I truly am.

7.7
Both of them passed through the ring, circling upwards and off towards the next. Flying back up to where the thunderhead was. Fighting hard against the oncoming winds. Strongly hitting back at them. Barely slowing Soul down. She didn’t let it. All the power she could muster. Kicking her wings against it. She was used to flying in wind. This is nothing. She kept her eyes almost shut with how bad it was getting. Amazed she still heard Aurora next to her.

Dash, you had one hell of an opponent to race, but this guy is something else. It won’t deter her. It never would. Her wings buckled. Soul widened her eyes. Just as the stinging wind struck her face. She screeched a little. Skidding to a halt and holding her hooves before her. Right as the wind rushed hard against her. Coming in like somepony just ran into her. Not even her wings could flap against it. Taking so much just to keep herself aloft.

Thunder cracked from the massive, black cloud above. Oh no, looks like the storm is starting up. Pinning her down under that maelstrom of wind. She could only not panic just because Aurora sat there next to her. Shielding his eyes from the wind. Barely flapping his own wings to keep himself up. Not normal wind Soul was used to. This is stuff she’d expect full grown pegasi to deal with or pegasi more tuned with terrible weather. She couldn’t just sit here. She had a job to do.

The next ring was high above, rocking under the gale of wind. Inside of a big grouping of black clouds. Right underneath the foot of the mighty thunderhead. I came this far… Soul looked along it. All the rings placed along the bottom of the cloud. We get to fly under it. This was going to be something else. Flying with a thunderstorm. Soul will not back down. Grunting and keeping herself in place. All her strength needed so the wind didn’t send her flying away. She peered off. Looking along the sky. Forget this.

7.8
Soul spun about, finally making her wings flap and all her power sent her flying off across the sky. Hearing another flap of wings. Aurora followed off after her. Guess he’s getting the same idea. Forget flying against the force of the wind. We’re going around it. She flew straight along the width of the clouds above. Feeling the wind come down on her back. Trying to push her down. Right over all the layers of clouds they both had flown through before. High over the entire camp.

Soul kept herself fixed on the goal ahead. Getting out from the path of the wind. Her wings beat hard. Her breathing rapid. Finally getting her first bead of sweat coming off her face. Where is it? Where? Soul waited for the moment. Wait for the wind to let up and tell her where it was she needed to be. This was going to be hard. She needed to be precise. He was right there on her tail. I’ve never flown a race like this before. They are usually so uneventful and calm. Never this scary. But… it sure was thrilling. She loved it. This really was thrilling and to think she could do this now. At camp. In front of everypony else. They never get to see me fly like this.

The air rippled and another howl of thunder sounded off from the colt behind her, flying past her. Soul didn’t let off what she did. Her wings kept flapping. Harder. Even harder. A bump in the air, the feeling of wind going along her back. All this adrenaline that went through her. May as well be like she was at home training. This was the life. A crack went off behind her. Right as she turned upwards with Aurora. Right when the wind ceased, and both ponies flew straight up. Up towards the thunderhead. With a smile on her face. This was the life.

7.9
Soul leveled out with Aurora. Their straight rise into the sky. Side by side. Neck and neck. Nothing stopped the two in their dead tie with one another. Coming in at the sky of black clouds above them. The entire bulk of the thunderhead. How close can we go? I think Aurora knows as well as I do. The entire world was silent and still, Soul didn’t blink. Waiting for her opportunity. To get as close as possible. The first to pass this storm, they would win. Soul knew this to be true. With her wings starting to hurt and Aurora panting. This was coming close.

She couldn’t tell how much longer she could go, but it was a blast. She loved this so much! Soul spun back and straightened out once more. One last time. With Aurora next to her. Their last dash across the sky. The final go. How it was, she never could have seen herself being like this. Flying this fast to where she couldn’t even hear anything but the wind. Her back right to the foot of this thunderstorm where the darkness covered all she saw. A ceiling of black clouds as far as she could see. Like she could reach up and touch it with how close she was. But she wasn’t afraid. Light filled her sight. Shining bright over them. Lightning.

A bolt of blue coursing out from the cloud above them. Reaching out ahead of them and disappearing in an instant. Not afraid at all. This was not something worth being afraid of. Not at all. She clenched the flag. So tight, it may break under her teeth. Hard to control with how much she smiled. This. This is how I always saw flying. Surpassing any obstacle that presents itself and doing all I can to achieve that which is set before me. Where she needed to dodge and circle as lightning shot out around them. Never letting up on her speed. Because that is what is expected of you. You are expected to perform perfectly. To never let up on your ability. To always surpass everything that was in your way. As long as you get the thrill at the end. But it was not that thrill she wanted, for she had it now. That thrill was how she always saw flying. Before.

7.10
But that mare was wrong. She was always wrong. She was wrong in her expectations of me. She was wrong to leave me. Now, I leave her behind. Because I don’t need her. Everything was a lie. Soul could not see herself doing this if she was how she used to be. Skimming so close to thunderous skies. The wind so harsh and the sky frigid. Yet her wings went on. She did not give in, keeping with Aurora at her side. Both of them doing all they could to dodge the hail of lightning and wind. This is hard. So hard. So dangerous. I couldn’t expect anypony to see me go through this. They would see me as weak. Never able to do this. So many saw me as weak. That is how I was for so long. Now look at me.

Mom. Wherever you are.

I wish you could be here to see your little girl fly like this. Because she finally got the push she needed. How else could I fly like this in front of everypony? On into the horizon where she would be able to perform like this for everypony. All of Cloudsdale. Equestria. To know that nothing is out of reach. That a pony like her can become something amazing and overcome the real obstacles. The real storm clouds. Break through it all and find a much better place. I could only do it… because of the ponies who do care for me. Thank you so much Nimbus and Starry. Thank you for all the years. All your teachings. All your kindness.

Now, I do this for you… and for one more. I do this so she can see what it’s like to fly without fear. Without anything holding you back. The pony I can truly say has become the light of my life. None other could be there for her. Now Soul will do it for her. So nothing holds her back too. When Rainbow Dash will see what it is to feel this way. The rush in her body. The sensation running all along her. Like soft little touches that made her feel so soothed that she may just fall asleep.

7.11
“Soul!” A voice broke next to her. “How? How can you fly like this?” Aurora banked next to her. Doing all he could to pass her. Nothing stopped them from their tied flight. “How can you do this like it’s nothing?”

I can tell from the sweat on your face and the fear in your eyes. That reason why I can. It’s something he needs to learn. “Why did you hide it?” Soul smiled. Closing her eyes. Looking away from the world in front of her and joining only with that loving sensation over her.

Why? Same reason as it always was. Since day one. When she didn’t feel anything except for the one gnawing thing on her mind. Up until today. Right here and now. She felt even more. In the darkness that she saw, surrounded by the coursing wind and loving touch of the sky, she felt so much more. She was comfortable. After so long. Like the world was her own for just this split second. When the sky was the one who opened itself to her after all the pain that she felt. Yet it still loved her. Just like all the other ponies in her life. So few of them but she could not ask for anything better. The few she had, those were the ones that counted most. The ones she loved. Because of this, she could say it. That she truly felt that there was a pony out there who was her family.

Rainbow Dash, no other pony has done for me what you did. Not even my own mother. For that, I feel this way now. Free from that terrible feeling. “Because I was scared. Like I was for most of my life.” No more. How else could she fly like this over the camp with so many watching her? Like all of Cloudsdale could see her. Flying no different than she would with Nimbus. This is the way I dream of flying. This is the life. With a loving feeling over her and the air comforting her. She could calmly breathe and let loose a smile. As long as I have wings, I can be there to inspire other ponies. I truly can thanks to all that the ponies in my life did for me. Picking me up off the ground and helping me. I love them for that. I love you, Dash. That is why… “I love flying.”

The world fell still.

7.12
Soul opened her eyes. Tilting her wings and dodging. Feeling the trickle of a tingling sensation over her. She felt it. Felt it was coming. Running through the wind. Exactly what it was that she felt and she avoided it.

Lightning shot out. Separating her from Aurora.

The frightened colt yelping and left behind. Forced to stop before he would run into the bolt. One that Soul zipped away from. Rumbles in the sky. A ripple in the air. Soul did what she felt was right. It all came to her. Lightning shot out so quick. In front of her. More and more. Soul could not stop smiling. Nor could it stop her.

I feel it all. I can sense it all. Left. Right. None of them could get in her way. Soul dodged around them all. The last volley of bolts the sky had to offer and they were not the things that would stop her. Not with the sky like this. With the world like this. Where it all stood still for her to be the one to surpass it all. I feel so alive now. I love this feeling. I love flying. Holding her wings out. Letting that gust of wind roiling behind her catch up and slam right into her wings. Carrying her forward. No more need to be worried. Nothing left in her way. This is what it is that we were trying to reach. This sensation from before. The same one. Soul recognized it and knew for a fact what it was she had just accomplished.

I can feel it. I did it! Soul laughed. Curving her wings up. Right then when the great thunderhead above her was left behind and she flew straight up into the bright, blue sky. Up to the clouds and to where all were cheering. Cheering for the one pony who shot up in a hail of wind. Soul flew in. Watching all the clouds around her sway away from the power she let out. Her mighty wings holding firm. Skidding her to a halt. Only enough, that she could sense, to give her that last boost she needed to pass under that checkered banner.

Landing down on the cloud with a graceful tap of her hooves. Holding her wings out. She sighed. One last giggle.

I did it.

7.13
Cheering sounded out all around her. Like music to her ears. The most lovely sound. The thrill in the air and… they all chanted her name.

“Soul!” “Soul!” “Soul!” Enough to make her even want to shake in happiness. For once. Without fear. She felt she could cry right now with a tear in her eye. No point in it. She let it happen. Both tears falling down her cheeks. As she laughed. Her tears of joy. Listening to her name and all the kids around her. Perched atop all the clouds, from so many of the camp’s groups. Younger and older. Campers and instructors. Dozens or even a hundred. So many pegasi who flocked around her. Her, the winner of the race.

I’m the winner. I’m a winner. This… this was the happiest moment of her life. No more name calling. No more insults or cold shoulders. Everypony cheered her name and hovered around her. More than happy to be there with her. Landing on the cloud she proudly stood on. Kids she recognized and others she didn’t. None of that mattered, they all wanted to be there to see her. To make her feel so happy for what it was she had pulled off. Much like… the first day of camp. This is how it was. The same result. Now, it was better. Because all that pain that had been caused was now left behind. Lost in the wind and filling that void only with the happy smiles and joyful words given to her. All the ponies who gathered around her. “You did it, Soul!” “Wow, she’s so awesome!” “I wanna fly with her someday!” The fillies fawning over her wings. Even some colts blushing up on the clouds. Looking away from her.

This is far better than before. I can’t complain. I can’t be upset. Soul only congratulated herself. Loving what it was she pulled off. Going so far. So very far. From this morning. From yesterday. From all those weeks and all of autumn. I got past it all and came out stronger than before. So much so that she knew what it was she loved and who it was she had to thank for it.

7.14
Like something clicked, they all fell silent. All the ponies around her. Glancing off and getting the message. Something that went on along them all that left Soul curious of why the sudden silence and why they all started to part. Stepping aside. Giving her room. Just so Soul could see. She looked to her. The pony who stood across from them all. Who walked down across the cloud between all the other ponies. The only one here who could make her smile so deeply. Rainbow Dash.

“Dash.” Soul ran off. Running right into her. She couldn’t even stop it. Soul threw her hooves around the filly. Pressing her head into her chest. Holding her so tight. Dash closed her own hooves around Soul. Not afraid at all. Nothing stopping them both from hugging in front of everypony else. Soul didn’t care who saw them. Looked like Dash didn’t either. She set her own head on top of Soul’s shoulder. Whispering into her ear. “Soul, you did it. You won.”

“We won, Dash. We won.” Soul gripped her hard. Running her warm fur over her and crying into her chest. So very happy to do this with her. That they did this together. How far we both came. You were just that mysterious filly sitting atop a cloud with such a loving and longing gaze that left me so lost, and afraid when I had no idea if you were one to trust. If you were the one who would be that pony I needed. All that trouble we went through. All those moments we had. Some painful and some not so much. But it was all meant to lead to this. For us to succeed together. “We did it together.”

7.15
“You all hear that?” Dash said, lifting her head up. Gently putting a hoof around Soul’s chin and lifting her up to look upon them all side by side. Soul did not let go of her. Neither did Dash. “Soul and I are a team. You mess with one of us, you mess with both. Because she’s my flight buddy.” Dash. Soul smiled deeper. That’s so sweet of her. “You’re my flight buddy too” Soul said of her. “And nothing will stop us from being the best.”

They both got it now, all the ponies cheered for both of them. The two flyers who just beat everything that held them back. Even more than that. Soul did not care if they accomplished this. That wasn’t important. What was important was… they both could be there to reach that end together. The first pony in her life to cross that finish line with her. But the cheers were helpful too. Looked like Dash was loving it, glancing to all the ponies and smiling to herself. A big and toothy grin. So full of herself. She deserved it. Soul threw her hooves around her again. “Thank you so much for being there for me.” “Don’t thank me” Dash said. “It’s what I should have done in the first place. I should be thanking you.” She whispered under the loud cheers of everypony else, holding Soul and looking at her. Sincere in her voice.

“You taught me something today. I shouldn’t just fly for myself, I should do it for others too. Ponies like you. I’ll be that awesome flyer someday.” “I will too, I’ll keep training and we can do it together. We can be an awesome team” Soul said. Dash nodded. Her smile grew. “Promise me that, because I won’t stop till you and I are the greatest flyers in Equestria.” Soul widened her eyes. The greatest?! Together? That sounded like a tall order right there… but oh so sweet sounding. Even so, even if it was too hard to imagine right now, Soul had to admit. They did make a killer team. They were awesome together. Perhaps we really were meant to be flight buddies. More than that. Way more. “Only if you promise me one thing” Soul said. “Something a team like us should be.” “Name it” Dash said. “Can I be your wingpony?” Soul asked her. Forget flight buddies. No more of that nonsense. Dash and I are gonna be the greatest. So I’ll gladly be the pony at her side wherever it is the wind takes us.

“Only if you let me be yours.” Soul laughed. So happy to hear that. That wonderful offer. Of course! “Deal!” Soul and Dash struck hooves together. “We’ll be the best flyers in Equestria!”

7.16
“Alright, everypony” a voice came in over them all. The shadow of their great wings overcoming them all. Silencing all the many fillies and colts who had gathered. Calming it all. Nimbus settled down on the cloud. Her and Starry and… Dash’s parents? Windy and that must be her dad. Soul looked over both of them. Wow, they really do have such a likeness to her. Breaking up all the commotion but, none complained. Not with the care in Nimbus’ voice. How wide her smile was. She tried to put on a face of authority, didn’t work. Soul could see it and it made her happy.

Nimbus was proud. Holding her head up high, that joy in her voice. Trying to hide it. But she saw she had done a good job. They both did.

“Free time is over” Nimbus called out across the clouds. “I don’t want any of you to be late so let’s all clear out, okay.” She signaled them all to head off. But all four of the adults looked a bit impatient, looking around waiting. All the kids let out this displeasure. Groaning and complaining about having to go back to routine once again, though none of them fought it. Fillies and colts flew off in every direction. Going off to join with their groups. Guided away by the other instructors. Soul watched them all. Waiting and wondering if they should leave too. Lots of the kids looked back to her and Dash. So many smiles among them. A few waved back to her. Soul waved to them. Really feeling like… this was the change she wanted. They liked her now. They really did. All it took was to show I wasn’t a weak pony anymore. That and… she looked to the pony she didn’t let go of. To have one there for me. To stick up for me. We did this together.

“Soul!” That startled her. A familiar voice behind them. One pony did not leave. Hanging there in the air to hover over both of them. Really risking getting in trouble. Both of them were. Because she wasn’t alone.

7.17
Spitfire and Aurora. Both pegasi there. Taking a moment to land on the cloud with them. “Can we talk to them first?” Spitfire asked the adults. Nimbus nodded. “Only for a minute.” Spitfire smiled. The fiery maned Pegasus stepping forward to the two fillies who hugged one another. Shaking her head in amusement but she gave off that look. She was happy to see them like this. Nothing that made Soul feel at all like she had to run. No fear of this pony. After what happened before, it was good to stand with her right now. Face to face.

“Congratulations, Soul. You really blew my mind up there. You both did.” She turned to Dash. “Dash, expect a rematch sometime. I ain’t done with you yet.” “Bring it” Dash said with confidence. Warming Soul’s heart. Because both those fillies laughed with one another. Especially since Spitfire could say “Well done, you two. You both make an awesome team. Some of us can learn things from you.” “Thank you, Spitfire.”

Soul accepted her words and Spitfire did the same. Like nothing bad happened between them. Soul could say for sure… this was the Spitfire from before who liked her. Maybe I really did earn something here. I really did. Still, it hung on Soul’s mind. She had to be sure.

“I’m sorry for what happened before” Soul said. The yellow filly shook her head, quickly getting back into the air. Waving her off. “Ah, don’t worry about it. But maybe some other pony should apologize” she looked down to the colt with them. Aurora sighed. “You two really are something else, keep flyin’” Spitfire zipped off. That meant so much to Soul. A huge weight off her. Spitfire was happy. Happy for them. I thought she would be upset. Not at all, that filly congratulated her. She wasn’t so bad at all. Nothing to be afraid of. Soul hoped to be able to be there to see her and Dash race. It brightened both of them up. Only before they both had to look down to the colt standing before them with his head down and eyes to the cloud.

7.18
Aurora sifted a hoof along the cloud. Keeping his eyes beneath his bright mane, breathing harshly with what was left of how exhausted he must be. He put up a good fight but… too bad for him. Soul proved to be too much, and she hoped that got into his head. That she was no pushover. She was the real deal when it came to flying and no pain would stop her from reaching that final goal that she loved. The taste she got today. That she and the sky truly had become one. Something all young pegasi strived for. Something I know he does. After all, he promised that to another pony. But…

“I hope you see…” Soul said to him. “I won’t give up on reaching my dream. Nothing can stop me from it… because it’s what I love. I’m going to keep training and I won’t hold back ever again. I hope you can see that now and how wrong you were about me.” Soul looked down at him. “That’s why I beat you. It’s not just about the goal you feel is set out for you, it’s about doing what it is you love. Doing it how you want. I love flying, I’ll never give up on it. Now that I have somepony there for me.”

Soul looked to Dash. She did the same. This is what we both wanted from the start and we did it all for ourselves. Now, now Soul felt there was nothing that the two of them couldn’t do together. If they could come out this happy after all they went through, what could stop them? What could stop Soul from seeing Dash how she did now? More than just that rainbow maned filly. Much, much more.

Something moved in the corner of her eyes. The colt walked away, head low. Tail left to face both of them. Standing out at the edge of the cloud, he faced out to the sky. Grunting to himself. But not daring to look back at both of them. He couldn’t. Now that it was all over. But Soul heard him. His breathing. It calmed itself. “Soul, …keep flying. Don’t let anything take that from you.” His wings stretched out and Soul could only see him fly off, soaring down to the surface below and out of sight with one last line left to echo in the wind.

“I’m sorry.”

7.19
“Look what you just did” Dash said next to her. “You just got that guy to apologize. I’ve never seen him act like that before.” Not surprising. Guess nopony ever showed him that he was wrong. Soul was only glad she could get at least that out of him. But not just her. “We did it” Soul said. “If you hadn’t been there for me, I wouldn’t have been able to win.” “Oh… please…” Dash let go of her and put her hoof over her blushing face. “I didn’t do all the work. I just helped a little is all. Anypony could do it.” “Not anypony. Not all ponies are as nice and skilled as you are” Soul told her. She wouldn’t accept any write off of it. Dash was a monster flyer and she proved it today. All the ponies got to see it. Wait… “Everypony here got to see that for sure.” Dash shot a cold stare out to the sky. Mouth held agape. “Oh… yeah they did.” “And we’re all proud of you two” Nimbus said. Coming to join both of them. “You did it kiddo!” What?!

Soul couldn’t even react in time before two hooves shot out and grabbed hold of her. Pulling her deep into a hug… against Starry’s chest. The stallion ecstatic over her. So sudden at first. Soul wanted to pull away from it, only letting it happen when she got a second to breath. His wings coming over her. Sheesh, Starry rarely gets this way with me. He was always so reserved. Now here he was like some obsessed fanpony shrieking in amazement over her. “You’re even better than I was at your age. Maybe better than Nimbus too.” “Starry…” Nimbus said with annoyance.

Soul pushed herself up a little just to relieve the pressure on her from his tight hug. Not in front of… she looked. Finding that Dash was over there… smothered in hugs from her own father. The filly struggling to get free with all the “That’s my Dashie! Best flyer there is. I knew you could do it.” “Way to whip tail, honey!” Windy shouted over them both. “Mom! Dad!” Soul laughed at Dash. “I think you mean they’re both the best flyers” Starry chided in over Soul. Looking over to Dash’s father. “You know it! Our two girls are unstoppable!” Dash’s dad was so quick to go right back to squeezing Dash against him. I thought Starry was being rough. Soul did not want to be caught in that hug. Looked real bad with how much Dash was struggling to get out of it. Flailing her hooves around and yelling out “Dad!” Soul, she couldn’t care what they did. Right now… she accepted her hug. Loving that they were getting this from them. Really like they did earn something here. Starry doesn’t hug me that often. Soul liked it. Rubbing her nose into his chest. “Did I do good?” Soul asked him.

7.20
“Of course you did” Starry said down to her. Calming down so he could talk. “I’ve never seen you fly like that before. It was the best thing I’ve seen in a long time. You made me proud, Soul. Both of us are.” “We are so proud of you” Nimbus said with him. Joining them. Soul felt her put her nose against the back of Soul’s head and the mare laughed. Such joy in her voice. “Thank you so much for helping me” Soul told them. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Anything for Equestria’s future best flyers” Nimbus said. That sounded so beautiful. Dash and me. Future best flyers. I can just see us now, both of us being those amazing flyers that all can look up to and see what happens when you chase your dreams. Soul could say right now that it all started here. Today. This was the day. The day we joined together… she looked over to Dash who had now fallen into a warm and soft hug with Windy. No longer fighting. No longer worried. The filly happy inside her mother’s embrace. Like none were watching her. When we became wingponies.

“Soul…” Nimbus said next to her. Her voice soft and gentle. Like a switch was flicked. “You did it, didn’t you?” “Huh?” Soul cocked her brow. Making Nimbus smile. “It’s kind of hard to tell… but it became a part of you. I could feel it. When you flew. That last move you made. It was the same look in your eyes that I had when it first happened to me. You figured it out, Soul.”

Soul clenched on to Starry tighter. Looking away from her. Only thinking back over it all. That sensation that she had. It was just like the first time it happened. Something so intense in her. So strong and amazing. Where the world was just a little piece of the sky she was in, something she could reach out and touch. For only that moment, she saw it all. Felt it all. But it was there, she had sensed it.

7.21
“You mean…?” “I knew there something special about you” Nimbus said. “Even I couldn’t figure it out as fast as you did. I can’t even tell you how much you amaze me.” Nimbus looked up to Starry, then Soul was lowered. Pushed over to her. She accepted it, as Starry gave her up and Soul hugged Nimbus. Held deep in her warm and large wings where her legs held her tight and Nimbus put her head down atop Soul’s head. Whispering down to her. “Never, ever think you aren’t a good flyer. Never sell yourself short. Because you can even make a master like me proud of you. Someday, you’ll be better than me. And you don’t know how happy that makes me.”

Soul smiled. Burying her tearful face into Nimbus. Loving what she said. She loved it so much. To be told that. I really am special. After so many ponies made me feel I wasn’t. Soul could not be more thankful for this day.

“Keep on flying, champ. Keep on flying.” “I will” Soul said. Because I have ponies like these in my life now. Ones I can hug like this. A moment she wanted to last forever. “You really are lucky, Soul. Because you have another in your life who you can rely on. Don’t let her go” Nimbus whispered that to her and both of them glanced to Dash.

“You know, she did it too…” Soul told her. “Yeah…” Nimbus agreed. “Windy, Bow. You got a pretty amazing daughter right there” Nimbus said to Dash’s parents. All of them nodded to one another. Letting Soul and Dash go. Dropping from their hugs so both fillies could come join one another. Laugh to each other. Feel so proud of themselves. “You did it, Dash.” “We did it” Dash said. “Yes, you did” Nimbus said. Staring at Soul. “Guess training her my technique worked out in the end? Right?” Oh yeah… that’s right. Soul gulped. She didn’t sound too happy about it. But… it was to help her. We both want to be great flyers so… it just sounded right to teach her how to do it. Soul held her tongue. Both her and Dash looking at one another and then to Nimbus. “I didn’t know it was a secret” Dash whispered. “Neither did I.”

7.22
“I’m sorry” Soul said. “I didn’t know I couldn’t teach it to her.” “Oh Soul” Nimbus waved a hoof. Pleased with herself once more. “I never said that. I am a teacher after all so I shouldn’t be upset if you kids learn something.” “Wait, you’re not mad?” Dash asked. “Not at all, and I can think of no better pony to learn the technique than Soul’s very own wingpony.” “So we both get to keep practicing it?” Soul asked. Nimbus had no problem with it. Nodding her approval. That both of them could be the skilled wingponies they both sought to be for one another. Like a whole path was set forth for them. This was great! Dash and I both know how to do it!

“So does this mean we can both pull off daredevil stunts and do high speed flying?!” Dash blurted out. Windy laughed. Really loud. Confusing because all of the adults around them started laughing. What? Soul was also sure that they would be ready. Wasn’t that the point of this? All of the training for it? Nimbus walked up to both of them, calming herself down.

“You both have a lot of training to do before you both can tackle that type of flying. Strength training, speed tests and aerial controls. Plus you need to master the technique itself. You both know how to do it, but it takes a while before it becomes second nature. Masters aren’t made overnight.” She proudly arced her head high to the sky and walked past the two of them. Soul looked down to the cloud she sat on. At least the found out how to do it. Found just how wonderful that feeling was. She pulled off the first move of many. Soul’s ears flicked up. Right when something touched her back. Turning her around and finding Nimbus’ outstretched wing brushed against her back, and the mare grinning at her.

“You see, still haven’t mastered it yet.” That made Soul realize it. She still couldn’t sense when Nimbus would do that. How long will this take? Kind of depressing to think it wasn’t good enough.

7.23
“Don’t be so down, you figured it out. Faster than I did when I was your age. You really blew me away” Nimbus said. “I’m also very impressed Dash could figure it out too.” She looked to Windy. “You have a talented daughter.” Flattering, to all of them. Soul agreed. They both were pretty kickass. “Yay, more training” Dash said so low. Rolling her eyes and livening up her voice. “Well, at least we figured it out. Besides, I’m pretty sure being able to keep track of everything around me will come in handy someday.” Just how amazing that would be. They really could be the best flyers around. Soul couldn’t wait. Just how many years would she have to wait? It was frustrating. Just one small comfort, that they both got out of this together. Her and Dash. For them to give one another that final hoofbump right now.

Awesome flyers! Together. Soul loved it.

“Alright you two, we need to get activities started now” Nimbus said. “So time to join the others.” Something Soul had no problem with. But… “Nimbus, can Dash and I hang out after camp?” “I don’t see why not” Nimbus said as she trotted off. Taking to the air over all of them. “Be back home before dark though. I got a certain colt’s father to talk to after camp anyways.” Soul threw her hooves around Dash. Cheering in her joy. Loving it when Dash ran her hoof over her mane. Laughing with her. “Yeah, I think both of us need to get to work now” Dash’s parents walked past too. Taking to the air alongside Starry and Nimbus. Joining with them to look down at the fillies. It warmed Soul’s heart. To see all of them so happy for them. That she truly did make something right happen. She made the right choice.

“We are all proud of you” Nimbus said. “Never give up, you two. You’ll both be the best wingponies ever.”

7.24
They just made it. The Sun was almost set. Cutting it close with how much time they spent at the sauna but Dash and Soul made it, landing on the porch of Soul’s house together. Not even a bead of sweat with how fast they flew. How worried they were to not make it in time, except for Dash. Soul couldn’t understand why she was so calm. Offering to fly her home first. She didn’t have much time to get home herself. Yet she stood there, happy as could be. Coming up with Soul to the door. Letting off her sighs of exhaustion.

“Well… I made it” Soul laughed. “Yeah!” Dash looked up to her under her mane. Whipping it back up. Well relaxed from their hours and hours at the sauna. Even her mane was still damp. Their wings given such a good time to rest after a hard day at camp. Hard for all the right reasons for once. No more pain or fear from it. No more. Not one mean word. Not one harsh stare. Nothing bad. Like a new page had been turned. The drop of a feather. She actually felt respected and strong. Able to fly through everything with such ease and joy. Holding nothing back anymore. Like she planned to do. From now on, she had no reason to hide or pretend. Things that will go on until she finished this autumn at camp and go on to newer and brighter skies. In the end, whenever that will be.

But she didn’t need to do it alone, she finally had another pony with her for the rest of her time here… and maybe even longer as she was hoping. Barely able to keep herself from gushing inside over it. Just how great will it be?! Soul almost freaked out while relaxing in the lake. Really looking forward to doing more things with Dash. Maybe even hang out longer. Oh no… she couldn’t do that. Not this late.

7.25
“Well, I think you should be heading home. Your mom will kill you if you’re late” Soul advised her. “You really wanna get rid of me that fast?” Dash surprisingly said. Sifting her hoof over the wooden floor to the porch and smiling. Much deeper than she usually did. Actually a bit alarming to Soul. Confusing too. She’s definitely joking now. The Sun was almost down. “I’m only a few minutes’ flight away from home so… I have a little time” Dash said.

“Time for what?” Soul cocked her head. Right when Dash flashed her wing over Soul and… she tugged right when the cyan filly ran off. Pulling Soul with her. “Come on!” Soul planted her hooves, barely stopping Dash’s wing from pulling her along the porch. Both looked at one another. “Wait, where are we going?” Soul asked. “Come on!” Dash said, tugging her wing on Soul. “I wanna show you something. It won’t take long. Then I’ll head home, promise.”

You’re really pushing it, Dash. Soul shrugged her shoulders. Agreeing to it. Hesitantly. Just as long as Dash didn’t pull her. Soul walked with her. Then turning to a gallop, the fillies running off the porch and across it. Soul following Dash to the side. Past where the waterfalls plummeted in the yard and finding a place amidst the rain water gently dripping down the roof of the house. Like small pellets slowly dropping among them. Soul still followed her. Wondering what it was she wanted to show her over here. At a place under where the rainbows rose high above them and showered them both in that lovely light. “You really do have a beautiful yard” Dash commented about it. Looking around at all of it. Her entire cyan body shining the same colors as her mane now. As did Soul. Under that light they stood together with. Soul knew it was beautiful. Especially at night. “Is this what you wanted to show me?” Soul asked. Dash shook her head.

“Nope, just a quieter place.” “For…?” Soul asked. Pushing herself closer to Dash. The filly smiled.

7.26
“Soul, you and I did very well today…” “Yeah we did!” Soul said. A hoof rose to her muzzle. Dash whispered. “Please let me talk, just for a little bit. When I first saw you, I didn’t think much of you. Just kind of interested in that little idea you had about flying. And I was really worried when you didn’t live up to it. It was hard to watch you treated that way, I didn’t think much on it. I actually didn’t want to do anything to help you. Didn’t even think I should come visit you that night and take you to the stadium. But… I’m so glad I did. Because if I didn’t… I wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Soul fell silent. Still… when Dash’s hooves came over her once more. Wrapping around her back and holding Soul tight. As tight as she could. Soul felt all her strength leave… leave when that filly pulled her so snug against her warm fur. Like it was something new. Something different.

This… this hug… Soul looked over to the filly holding her head against Soul’s shoulder. Smiling deep into her mane. So soft. Such a warm and caring smile on her. Made Soul’s legs feel weak. But she did her best. So hard to raise her forelegs up to lock together along Dash’s back. Couldn’t even say a word before that sweet and loving, raspy voice whispered right into her ear.

“Thank you so much. Soul Serenity. You taught me to be happy again. Happy with myself. You were right from the start. There are ponies who accept me, just like you. I never thought you would be that pony for me.” A tear went down Soul’s cheek. “You were right all along. Thank you for being there. Thank you so much.” “Dash… it was no problem” Soul whispered. She tightened her own hug around the pony. “You helped me too. Helped me see I’m not weak. That I can do great things. I shouldn’t attack myself.”

7.27
“Soul, you don’t need to call me Dash anymore” Rainbow said. “Please, call me Dashie.”

Dashie?

Soul felt her heart leap. Something like that… but… “Wasn’t that what your mom calls you.” “It’s what I let the ponies closest to me call me. She calls me that, but… I think my friends should be allowed to call me that too.” Soul shuddered. Pushing Dash away from her. Holding the crying cyan filly in her hooves face to face. Their eyes locked. Soul couldn’t breathe. Looking at this sweet filly before her. Who just said something so strong. So great to her. The one word she wanted to hear from another. The one thing that she had sought out of all of this.

“Did you just call me…”

“My friend” Dash said. “You’re my best friend, Soul. Of all the ponies I’ve met, none are like you.”

Her best friend. Soul cried. Tears streaming down and littering the clouds they stood upon in shining puddles under the rainbow light. “I’m your best friend?” “Yes, …Soul… can I be yours?” Soul’s heart ached. Like it was hollow with how much she began to cry. But it didn’t hurt. Not that way. It felt so good. So lovely. She fell in love with this feeling, and the words she was told. There was no way she could say otherwise, except for the words she wanted to give to this pony.

“Of course, you are, Dashie. You’re my best friend.” Pulling her right back in, in to that long and loving hug they shared. Like so many more. Soul couldn’t stop smiling. In a world filled with ponies who tried to hurt her, she finally found the one to make her happy. One she can call her best friend. The pony to play with. The pony to fly with. Tell stories to and enjoy life together. Spend holidays together. Like all the ponies Soul had envied. She got her wish. Here and now. To do even more together.

7.28
“Dashie, I’ll gladly be your best friend. We can do anything together, anything… and we will both be the best flyers of all time. Together.” Making Dash cry even more as she put her head against Soul’s chest. Soul combed her hoof through that rainbow mane. Telling her all she wanted to say. “We’ll be there to help each other and be together. Be there when the other is down. I’ll always be there by your side. Just like you’ve done for me. I promise.” “I’ll… do the same for you. I promise too” Dash cried into her fur.

Then… it was set. A promise for their future. It took a long time for the filly to lift her head up and wipe away the tears. “I didn’t give you an answer before” Soul said. “But I’d love to go with you to the Wonderbolts in the winter.” “You’ll love it” Dash said softly. “The Wonderbolts are the best thing you can see.” “Really…?” Soul asked. Leaning closer to Dash. Liking what she heard. After all, she always loved listening about this. Even more so now, now that Dash was going to be one of them. Soul knew it. “I can’t wait to see you fly with them and…” I vow to be there with her for everything. It’s a promise I’ll make for myself, and… it doesn’t sound too bad. Especially with how awesome it would be to see it come true.

“I’ll be a Wonderbolt with you.”

That made Dash smile more. As Soul would hope. She wanted to. If Wonderbolts are meant to inspire, then that is what I should do. Now that I know I can do it. Now that I have another pony there with me. “We’ll be the best Wonderbolts. We already will be the best flyers.” Dash leaned back and offered her hoof. Met by Soul’s. “All the way!” Dash shouted. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we get our cutie marks in flying. It’ll be so awesome.” She has the same thought? Soul wanted to see if hers would be about flying too. How great it would be for them to realize their talents together. Maybe for it to be the same thing. “It will be awesome. You and me.” “Together!” Dash said.

7.29
They both fell quiet. Soul peeling herself away to look at the downing Sun. Calm in her voice. “Looks like it’s time to get going.” “I really don’t want to leave” Dash said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dashie.” Rainbow chuckled at that. “It’s so weird to hear you call me that. I think I like it.” “Then I’ll keep calling you it” Soul said. “You better, but you need to do something for me in exchange for being allowed to call me that.” Oh come on, we’re friends after all, I need to do more. Soul wasn’t complaining. Really lost on what it was she wanted. “Okay… what is it?”

“This weekend, I want you to do something with me. Now that we aren’t playing around with flying anymore. I think we can do a little thing together… like a race?” Dash cocked her brow to her. Giving her a toothy grin. Such an arrogant grin. She wants to race me? Wow, Soul never expected such a request from her but… oh… that sounded too good. Soul found it hard to resist. After what she had seen from Dash, such a talented flyer. Maybe it can be good training. Or maybe a chance to whoop her tail. Is it wrong to be so eager to do this? Soul didn’t think so. “You’re on” she said. “I’d love to see which of us is faster.”

“It’ll be me” Dash said. “Whatever! I’m so much faster, plus I have more experience.”

“Well, we’ll see this weekend” Dash said. Going back to her happy self once more. They both laughed at one another. So satisfied they could do this together. I didn’t even think of being able to race with a friend. Soul welcomed it. It sounded so fun for her. A little special thing for them to do. But when I win, hope it will keep Dash motivated to keep training. Dash stood up and slowly walked past her, giving her a little glance. Soul watched her off. Going after her, knowing it was time to leave. Really wishing this day didn’t have to end, for them to have time to race now or do something else. For it to go on forever. It couldn’t. So sad. But we can sleep happy tonight. Both of us. Yet Dash still stopped in front of her. Looking over her shoulder and… she was blushing.

“Erm… I have an idea and... you can stop me if it’s too crazy.”

7.30
“Lay it to me” Soul said. “You… remember that goofy posing that Amber and Breezy were doing?” Dash asked. Soul remembered. Back when things had yet to get as bad as they did. It really was an odd dance those two did. Part of a Junior Speedsters thing.

“Yeah…?” “Stop me if it’s too weird” Dash went on.

“So since you and I are now wingponies, I was wondering if you would want to… have some sort of…” Dash hunched her wings up and grinned a goofy smile. “Pose we could do?” Soul blinked. A pose, huh? Soul never thought too hard on it. Though it was surprising that Dash of all ponies wanted to do something like this. It just didn’t sound right to Soul. Yet Dash kept up her pleading face like she really wanted to do this. Something for them to do together? Like in front of other ponies. If this had been before today, Soul would say no. “What type of pose were you thinking?” Soul asked.

“Really?! Okay, I was thinking something that totally shows how awesome we are together with flying” Dash spat out. So excited now. “Start with something that shows we’re a team and then something that involves flying… I got it!” Rainbow came closer to the perplexed Soul, sitting down in front of her. “Sit down” she said. Soul did it anyways. Curious of what she had come up with. “Okay so how about we clap our hooves together… twice! And then we can turn and lock our wings together! Oh wait, we should also call it something. No Junior Speedsters stuff for us… something about us.” Dash paused, really making Soul laugh inside. She was serious about this. “I got it! We’re gonna be the best flyers of all, so how about we both shout out Cloudsdale Wingponies!”

Dash leaned forward. Eager to hear a response to what she had. She got one. “You had too much candy for lunch” Soul said. “Shut up, I think it’s a good idea.” As silly as it sounded, Soul had to admit it did sound a bit unique for them to do. Just like the twins had something… she didn’t see a reason her and Dash couldn’t. It sure sounded fun to her. Good for a laugh… as well as the thought of them being close enough to get to do this. She wanted to.

“Let’s do it.”

7.31
“Really?” “Yup, wanna start it off?” Soul offered. Dash chuckled. Sitting back up and raising her forehooves. Soul followed. Reaching out and a loud clap when they both hit together. “And one more” Dash said. Ok. Soul clapped her hooves to Dash’s again. “Do it with me now” Dash went on, turning herself sideways to Soul, looking over to her to follow, which she did. So this is where we… lock wings.

Dash said it like it was nothing, Soul couldn’t believe they were actually doing this.

Dash’s wings spread open. Soul didn’t hesitate to do the same with her massive ones. Spreading her thick spans of feathers over to where Dash held out her own wing. I can’t believe I’m doing this. Nopony ever locked wings with her before. So amazing she could do it with somepony. To show just how close these two pegasi had become. When their feathers wrapped together and magenta overlapped cyan. Clasping tight. It really made Soul happy and Dash looked to be the same too. Proudly saying “Cloudsdale Wingponies!” up to the sky. Why not? Soul yelled it too.

“Cloudsdale Wingponies!” Right when a hoof wrapped around her neck and pulled her in closer. Dash hugging her. “And a hug” she said. “To finish it off.” Soul did it. Quickly wrapping her own hoof around Dash’s neck and joining her in this hug where their wings still clasped together behind them both. A few seconds… Soul enjoyed it so much. Kind of hard to let go. They separated. “That was so crazy” Soul laughed.

“But I liked it.”

“No, I liked it too” Soul said. “It can be our own thing… we can even do it when we become Wonderbolts.” “You know we will. Both of us will wear those awesome uniforms” Dash proudly said. She stood back up. Until that day came, we will be together forever. She’s my wingpony and I’m hers. Together to cross that finish line and blow everypony away. They will all see how far these two would go. But before that… the time had come to say goodnight as the Sun lingered on its last heights in the horizon, shining bright red over the spires of the cloud city and the mountains beyond. Witnessing both fillies touching hooves together in one last moment before parting.

“Thank you for today” Soul told her. “Don’t, thank you… for teaching me. I know what I need to do” Dash said. So happy with herself. Though it looked kind of hard for her to let go of Soul’s hoof. Venture off towards that distance she needed to go before flying off. Yet she looked so bright. So happy under this coming night sky. “Goodnight, Soul. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow” Soul nodded. “You know it, goodnight, Dashie.” For tomorrow was another day. Another on a wonderful path forward.

Dash flew off.

7.32
I got to make this quick. Before the Sun was down. Not much time left, though she had to do this, as Dash flew fast over the rooftops of the neighborhoods below her. Zipping past all of them and heading to where she last remembered it to be.

Soul taught me right. So I need to do this before anything else. Now that I know I can trust ponies. Dash could not let it fester any longer. Happy with herself when she found it, and she landed upon the porch to the house so familiar to her. She hadn’t been here in a while. Not since… then. She could only hope it wasn’t too late. Not too late to fix things.

Dash knocked on the door. Patiently sitting before it. Come on. I need to tell you something. She looked off to the dying Sun in the distance. Mom is gonna kill me. But it’s worth it. So worth it… as that door slowly opened before her and the pony stepped forward. Out in the light cast off from inside. Dash saw her. Recognized her. Face to face, after so long.

But Soul taught me I can trust ponies and… I should give my old friends a second chance. I should be reliable to them. After all, this pony did help her a little. That counted a lot. Why she could sit here before her and speak to her for the first time in so long.

“Hi, …Fluttershy.”

Next Chapter: Part 1 Illusion - Act 8 Estimated time remaining: 45 Hours, 23 Minutes