Part two, hope you like it. I do. Hopefully I kept everyone in character, but the way we act in life is how we are shaped by our friends and family. That said, enjoy the chapter, and some copypasta.
Disclaimer: I, Lord Genesis Shadow, do hereby state that I do not own the rights to My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
…
"Hey Ace, it's time to go!" Sky called. I stretched and walked toward the gate. Rainbow Dash was on her way, and I was working up my nerve. We were heading out early, but apparently Twilight had found the spell for cloud-walking on her own, so Specs asked her to use it on her, and she was going to join them in the hot air balloon later to surprise Rainbow. "Ace?" I had everything set. My mask, my cloak, and my glasses on under the mask, which adhered perfectly, and all but the cloak were in my travel bag.
"Present…" I said tiredly. "I think." They laughed.
"Well, a good flight should clear that up." Horatio said. "What do you say we make this fun?" We looked at him. "We'll fly together, of course, but how about we all do some practice tricks? A contest between the three of us?"
"You're on, old man." Sky said. He laughed. "Ace?"
"Well, this is the first time I've made such a long flight in, years." I said. "I'm not sure I've ever flown this far in one go, actually." She smirked.
"Chickening out?" She asked. I got ready and opened my wings.
"Hardly." I said. "I need the practice. But we should hurry. Last one to land pays for lunch."
"You're on." They said together.
"But the tricks will be for fun." Horatio said. They got ready. "On your marks."
"Get set." Sky said anxiously.
"Go!" We called together. I jumped higher and got more distance right away, and they laughed until they finally caught up. Sky did a barrel roll over me, and I smirked before keeping up opposite her. We spiraled for a distance before going through a cloud, leaving trails behind us, and suddenly Horatio flew between us, hooves stretched out before him as he began spinning, leaving a spiral of his own. We just laughed together.
"That was an easy one." He said. "Allow me to demonstrate, the Osprey!" He flew ahead as we separated, and he flew up higher before doing a series of sideways rotations at an angle, but he suddenly spun the opposite, only losing a few feet of altitude before he leveled out. As he flew near us, Sky and I clapped.
"Not bad." Sky said. "A golden oldie. But let's see you top, the Drill!" She flew up and behind us before dashing forward and down, spinning rapidly. She hit a cloud, leaving a large hole, before flying back up at a near perfect opposite angle, leaving a vapor trail like a drill. As she got back to us, she laughed triumphantly.
"Very impressive." Horatio said. "If we could get that into the act, it would be a real crowd pleaser."
"And one heck of an entrance." I said. They both laughed, but Sky nodded.
"Your turn, Super Ace." She said. I nodded as I went through a few moves in my head, until one stood out that I'd been trained to do perfectly, one my dad was beyond proud of, when he did it. He said only a few ponies in the world could do it without getting hurt by it due to the nature of Pegasi and clouds. "Out of moves that can top that?" I decided to be bold.
"Hardly." I said. "Here's an old one, but if you know the name, go ahead and say it when I'm done." I flapped harder a few times before shooting forward with hard, rapid wing beats, and I started running like I was on the ground. 'Here you go, dad, the move you never let me hear the end of. The old crowd favorite that always left them stunned.' I flew up before flying back and around them, faster and faster. I kept running until I pointed all four hooves back, streamlining my body. I moved my glasses into my pack as they started moving before devoting total focus to the move. 'Here we go… Time for, the Cloud Shredder.' I flew down toward a long string of clouds ahead of them as I started spinning, my wings outstretched as far as possible. With all of the forward momentum, I hit the clouds with only the tips of my wings, but I knew I was leaving a trench with cloud residue flying all over, like a huge aerial battle had just taken place. When I flew back up, level, I put my glasses back on before I flew back up to them, and they stared at me. "What do you think?" I looked back at the 'damage', and Sky made a sound.
"A-Ace, that was…" She started. "Freaking, amazing! What in Equestria was that?!" I smiled a little.
"It, looked like, a Cloud Shredder." Horatio said carefully. She looked at him as I looked over my work. The trench was the main draw, but after that, the only thing you'd really notice were 'slices' in the clouds at short intervals. The bits that survived looked like debris left over, which was just right. "Only one Pegasus I know of has ever pulled that off. The sheer speed is said to cause tunnel vision, and the stress on the wings is, phenomenal. Ace, how in the world did you learn how to do that?"
"A, a lot of practice." I said after looking ahead. "I don't think I did it right though…"
"What do you mean?!" Sky asked quickly. "Ace, that had to be perfect! Dad, back me up on this!"
"Well, yes, it was." He said after a few seconds. "If there were a textbook, not a teacher in the world could fault you and keep their job! Only a fool would say that you didn't do it perfectly." I smiled a little.
"W-well…" I said quietly.
"Ace, my boy, I don't know how you even know of that move, but I am ecstatic!" He said. "The Pegasus that created that move warned all others never to even attempt it, because it could easily ruin one's wings."
"Well, mine are, a little tougher than they look, I guess." I said bashfully. They laughed as we got closer, and the sun started coming up. We were close, and they were moving faster, so I picked up speed until I landed roughly three seconds before they did, though I landed on my hind hooves first while they landed on all four.
"You know, that same Pegasus landed just like that." Horatio said. We looked at him. "Like a bird of prey." I was silent as I tucked my wings under the cloak, carefully.
"Hey, Ace, how did you keep your glasses on?" Sky asked after a moment. I just looked at her with a smirk, adjusting my glasses with my hoof.
"Trade secret." I said. They both laughed for a moment.
"Well, Sky, don't try to follow that move." Horatio said. "I tried to do it once, and I very nearly broke my wing at a very high altitude. You're good, very good, but believe me when I say you aren't ready for that."
"I know." She said. "I'm half as good as Ace, about, and at my best, my Drill is the closest I'll get to that, Cloud Shredder." She slugged my shoulder. "But that was completely wicked! If you had the confidence to fly for the crowd today, you'd win. No contest. You could go first, and they'd just call it, just… 'Forget the competition, Stormrider wins, nothing's topping that one'."
"That's just what happened to the Pegasus I spoke of." Horatio said. We looked at him. "Such a complex, powerful, and difficult move, they banned it from competition use. Many ponies tried, and failed, often breaking wings or spraining them, and more than a few ended up in the hospital from other injuries." Sky slightly raised her hoof.
"It's that hard?" She asked.
"You have to have incredible spatial awareness and expert control." I said. She looked at me. "One wrong move, just a third of an inch too close, and the cloud you're 'shredding' pulls you into a nasty crash, or you could just smash your wings. Magic can help the healing process instead of going through years of physical rehab, but you fail one time, and you question the wisdom of flying for a good long while."
"Wow…" She said. "I guess, I'm getting better at spinning, but, until you say I'm ready…" Horatio laughed warmly.
"If Ace says you're ready, we can trust his word." He said. "Come on, we have a few hours, and I told my sister we'd come by for breakfast. Ace, you're invited, if you want to join us." I thought for a moment and shook my head.
"Actually, I brought some money for souvenirs." I said. "I want to see if any shops are open."
…
'Great, just, great.' I thought tiredly. I looked at the crowd from the doorway, looking for specific coats and manes, and there were more than a few I recognized. As fate would have it, I left my mask behind in my tent and hadn't double checked my bag. I knew my mane was very memorable, so I couldn't chance that they'd remember me, and if not that, then my eyes and glasses would be visible, and they'd remember that. I was, frozen. 'How did I forget my mask? Today, of all days!' I wanted to turn when I heard somepony nearby.
"Are you okay?" A strong male voice asked. I was silent. "Young stallion, are you okay?" I looked at him to see that he was a royal guard.
"No…" I said. I looked at the crowd. "I, came here to see the competition, with a few friends, but… I was bullied, as a colt, and some of the bullies are here. I don't, want to cause a scene…"
"I see." He said. "You don't want to face them."
"No." I said quietly. "If I even tried, they'd just keep bothering me and, ruin the show for at least part of the crowd… I, was going to bring a mask, but I left it back at, my tent."
"I might be able to help." He said. I looked at him as he offered his helmet. "I doubt you remember me, but I remember you, young Stormrider." I swallowed quietly. "Your family has been worried, especially your mother." I looked away. "Princess Celestia wouldn't mind you joining her, if you're on your best behavior." The helmet settled on my head and I looked at him.
"Ironwing?" I asked. He smiled a little.
"So, you remember that night?" He asked.
"Yeah…" I said. "I remember, that you didn't think my wings, made me a freak." He gestured.
"I'll go grab my extra helmet." He said. "You can take a spot in the skybox, next to the princess. And don't worry, just tell them I sent you, and the other guards won't bother you." I nodded shakily.
"C-could you, not mention, seeing me here, if, you see my parents?" I asked. He nodded.
"Don't worry, I won't say a word." He said. "You should hurry. The show's almost over." I nodded, smiling a little.
"I, got caught up at a shop, selling some cool stuff." I said. I walked as he walked away, and I made my way to the stand, near the cloud throne. The guards looked at me, and as one whispered to the princess, one walked up to me. "Ironwing said I could sit here, if I was on my best behavior." I was quiet, but then, these were royal guards, the strongest with magic, flight, or just brute strength depending on what kind of pony they were. Princess Celestia looked at me as he moved aside, and she smiled a little.
"I don't recall, having a silver guard, with such strong red eyes." She said. "Did Ironwing have to leave early?"
"He, went to get his spare helmet." I said carefully. "He saw me, and, I told him about some bullies from, when I was younger."
"I see." She said. "Please, sit beside me. If there are any problems, though, you might have to play the part of my personal bodyguard." I nodded and slowly walked up, sitting next to her. "You know, I once met a young Pegasus with a silver coat, deep blue hair, and strong red eyes… As I understand, he ran away from home, and no one in Equestria knows just where he is. Or so I thought, until recently, young Stormrider."
"I…" I started.
"Now, now, we can talk about this at the gala." She said. "I just hope you don't have to run away again." I laughed quietly. "After all, you promised last time that you would at least try to make it. I understand, but it would be rude to promise that you will be there, if you won't be." I nodded.
"I'll have my mask then." I said. "J-just, please, don't let my father know."
"I know." She said kindly. "But you will have to face him, someday." We were silent until the announcer cleared his throat.
"Due to time constraints and other issues, we have to change our program." He called. "Instead of having one perform after the other, we're having the last two entrants fly together!" There was chatter among the crowd. "Without further ado, Rainbow Dash, and the surprise entrant, Rarity!" I raised my hoof slightly.
"Rarity?" I asked. "She's, a Unicorn."
"You haven't heard?" A guard asked. "Rarity has, wings. They're not like normal wings but, you'll get it when you see her." I looked at him before looking at the door as Rainbow Dash walked out, followed by Rarity. She wore strange makeup, but more than that, she had prismatic butterfly wings. I pointed at her. "Yes, I know, I've never seen wings like those. They're very, beautiful."
"Yes, t-they are." I said. "I, have a book, detailing a spell that, can give non-Pegasus ponies those wings. It's, some high level stuff. Walking on clouds is, easier by comparison… To, grant through magic…"
"Yes, so I understand." Princess Celestia said. "Though I am uncertain as to who I want to cheer for." Rainbow Dash took off as Rarity began a simple routine involving graceful twirls like she was doing ballet. But as Rainbow flew, she made mistakes, crashing into pillars, while Rarity flew around gracefully, like a butterfly.
'Come on, Rainbow, you're better than that.' I thought. I leaned forward slightly as she flew around more columns, but she crashed as Rarity flew up, and after a moment, Rainbow flew up as well, much faster. 'What is she doing?'
"Oh my, the colors from those wings are…" A guard started. I realized something.
"No, this isn't good." I said quickly.
"Why is that?" Princess Celestia asked. I just swallowed, hard. "You would prefer Rainbow Dash to win?"
"It's not that." I said. "The prismatic butterfly wings have a major flaw. They're very temperature sensitive, and the higher she flies, the hotter the wings get. They could burn up at any…" As if waiting for that exact moment, the wings burned up, and Rarity began falling. I wanted to move, but a guard held his hoof in my way as two Wonderbolts took off together. "Rarity…" I looked up and moved my hooves slightly. "Rainbow, look down… Look down!" I looked toward Rarity as she fell, screaming loudly, and she flew past the Wonderbolts, causing them to turn. "Come on, come on!"
"Oh dear, there has to be something that can be done." Princess Celestia said. "She's going too fast for a spell to catch her without hurting her, and the clouds would be as hard as the ground if she has the cloud walking spell's effects…" A sudden powerful downdraft nearly pushed me down, and I saw a shockwave pushing through the air, with a blue dot at the center. "Is that…"
"Rainbow Dash." I said. "She's, she's going, fast…" I moved forward and watched, and a moment later a large multicolored ring shot out from behind the blue dot, followed by a streak of every color in her mane.
"That's…" The princess started. My eyes widened considerably.
"A Sonic Rainboom." I said reverently. Rainbow flew down and suddenly pulled an impossibly sharp turn, and then up. She completed a perfect arch, forming a giant rainbow above the stadium, and she landed nearby as the crowd was silent, save for one cheering pony. I looked to see that it was, of all ponies, Fluttershy. The crowd suddenly began cheering, and I rose onto my hind hooves. "That's how you do it!" I landed and smiled as the princess laughed warmly.
"Well, it would appear that Rainbow Dash wins." She said. "Of that, I have no doubt." I smiled a little wider. "And she saved Rarity, and the Wonderbolts… Rarity's flailing must have knocked them unconscious, thus why they didn't bring her back." I sat down near her, still smiling. "I haven't seen a Sonic Rainboom in some time."
"So, it's not, just a myth?" I asked, looking at her after a few seconds.
"No, I have seen few Pegasi capable, however." She said. "The technique was thought long lost, but I remember seeing one the day Twilight Sparkle took her entry test into my school, and it would seem that Rainbow Dash was the cause, as a filly. Since that day, she had not done so again. Perhaps it was an accident, but it would seem that she has rediscovered her ability, and hopefully will retain it. I may ask her to do so at the Gala, if I can find enough time after our talk…" I sensed a hint, so I nodded, smiling.
"I think I might be able to suggest she try." I said quietly. She simply smiled.
…
Rainbow Dash smiled as she looked over the edge with me. Sky and Horatio went ahead with Twilight and the others, but Rainbow Dash wanted to stay behind to fly back with me, and we'd go to the party that Pinkie was going to prepare. The sun was low, and we would soon take off.
"You're sure about this?" She asked. "I know how nervous you are."
"No, I think…" I started, but I shook my head. "I have to do this… It, might not be all at once, because my nerves would make me pass out, but, I'm going to show my friends my wings. I know none of you would, make fun of me, but… Tell that to my nerves." She put her hoof on my shoulder.
"Hey, if I laugh, you have my permission to make fun of me for being nervous today." She said. I looked at her.
"You were nervous." I said. "You, Rainbow Dash, best flyer in Equestria, who can clear a town full of low hanging clouds in ten seconds flat." She laughed, but nodded. "I'll, keep that in mind."
"I guess it happens to the best of us." She said. I looked to see that we were probably in the clear, but I still felt nervous.
"I'm, going to do something a little stupid, but, I'll catch up in a few seconds." I said. She looked at me. "We should go, and, I worry that we're being watched, what with you being so, awesome." She laughed quietly. "Go on after I do this, but don't worry, I can catch myself."
"Catch…" She repeated. I turned and fell over the edge, and as she looked, I turned down and opened my wings, pulling up quickly and flying between the clouds. When I finally saw her flying, I flew up and she looked at me, eyes wide. "Seriously? Those are your wings?!" I nodded shakily as she flew around me, and as I watched her, she let out a laugh. "Ace, that's awesome! Seriously?! Those are the coolest wings I've ever seen!" I laughed shakily as she flew beside me. "No way, did Twilight set this up?"
"She didn't." I said, still laughing. "These, are one hundred percent, mine. Since I was born."
"Man, those are awesome wings!" She said excitedly. "I get it now! Ever since you said you were a Pegasus, I couldn't imagine you with normal wings, and, I kept imagining that cloak to just, fwoosh, open up like a pair of wings! I was right!" I laughed with her as we flew. "I wish you'd shown me sooner. Those things are sweet!"
"Th-thanks." I said in a relieved tone. "I, I kind of, worried… I knew, you wouldn't make fun of me… But, I was bullied, because of these." She looked at me, all excitement gone, instantly. "Kids, can be cruel, sometimes, at least where I used to live…" She flew a little closer.
"Why would anyone make fun of wings that cool?" She asked. "I mean, look at them! They're like, twice as cool as normal wings!" She held her front hooves out toward me. "You don't have to preen! That, alone, is nothing but cool! You can fly in any weather! That's full on amazing!" I laughed as she held her hooves out. "And the best part, you hid them with a cloak that looks just like them! You're a genius!" I laughed a little more as she spun and kept flying near me. "I guess those books really do make you smarter." I smiled. "So, uh, now what? Who will you tell next?"
"No idea." I said after a few seconds. "I just… Figured, one at a time, to make it easier, you know? If everyone found out at once, it'd be okay, but, I'd pass out for sure." She sighed.
"Still, pretty cool, Ace." She said. After a moment, she flew a little closer. "Hey, how about a trick Sky hasn't shown me yet?" I laughed, thinking through a list of moves I'd been taught as a child. "Come on, something completely awesome. She said you've got like, dozens."
"Alright." I said. "I guess… I've got…" I looked at her. "Have she told you about, the Navy Comet?"