Part 6 – Sparkler's Flying Lesson
Dazzleglow trotted through the house, Sparkler in tow, to show her the room she would be staying in. Sparkler looked around the hall, wide-eyed, then stopped to look at the ceiling. It was covered in stars, glittering in the light from the candles placed on tables. Dazzleglow couldn't help but smile at the wonder on Sparkler's face.
Dazzleglow opened the door and held it for her. Sparkler went into the room, and threw herself on the soft bed. "Oh, it's so comfortable," she said, snuggling into the pillows.
"I'll leave you to get settled," Dazzleglow told her, turning back to the door.
"Aren't you going to bed yet?"
Dazzleglow shook her head. "I'm a bit of a night owl these days."
Sparkler didn't reply, and Dazzleglow knew she saw through this excuse. She bid Sparkler good night, then left the room, returning to the living area. Her book was already set out from the night before, her empty cup on the table. She retrieved it, made herself tea, and sat down.
No sooner than she'd sat down, did her eyes begin to close. She shook herself awake, she couldn't bear a night of Applejack's piercing gaze from her memory, not when she'd had such an enjoyable day with Sparkler's arrival.
She turned the pages idly, drinking tea after tea as the hours passed. Eventually she stood up from her chair, made her way to the front door and opened it. She closed her eyes, breathing in the night air. She stayed there for a few moments, before she became aware someone else stood with her.
A blanket was dropped over her head, and she pulled it up, expecting to find Happyglow there. Instead it was Starglow, hovering above her.
"I thought you were asleep," Dazzleglow said.
Starglow shook her head, then looked over her shoulder. "Looks like I'm not the only one."
Both ponies turned around to find Sparkler in the hall. She went up to Dazzleglow and nuzzled her neck. "You're still seeing her?" she said.
Dazzleglow nodded.
"This is where we usually find her," Starglow added, "Stood at the door, ready to go flying."
Sparkler cocked her head to the side. "Flying?"
A smile spread across Dazzleglow's face. "I promised you a flying lesson before I left Paradise Estate."
It took Sparkler a moment to catch her meaning. When she did, a grin made its way across her face too. She trotted outside the house and turned back to face the two ponies.
Dazzleglow laughed. "All right, give me a moment."
Her horn lit up and a pair of wings grew from her back. Starglow was already in the air, hovering above the two unicorns. Dazzleglow's horn lit up once more and wings grew from Sparkler's back, a pale silver, with red plumage to match the streak in her hair. Sparkler looked over her shoulder and extended them, bouncing excitedly up and down. Her wings flapped, taking her by surprise then she lifted off the ground a few inches.
"Take it slow," Dazzleglow told her, extending her own wings. "Do as I do."
She flapped them slowly, one after the other, then flapped both. She rose off the ground and waited for Sparkler. The blue unicorn took a deep breath and mimicked Dazzleglow's actions. She too hovered off of the ground and stayed in the air.
"Good. Now flap a bit faster," Dazzleglow said, showing her what to do. She rose into the air, hovering above next to Starglow. She grinned when Sparkler also rose, wings flapping, legs running on air. Sparkler grinned too, getting ready to follow the two glowing ponies.
The three ponies flew into the stars, between clouds and past the trees. Sparkler, despite this being her first time flying, kept pace with the two ponies. Starglow winked at Dazzleglow, then sped off. Sparkler beat her wings faster to catch up, and Dazzleglow heard Starglow laugh when Sparkler did indeed catch up with the green Pegasus pony. She barely stifled a chuckle herself.
They landed on the highest branches of a tree, these more than sturdy enough to hold their weight.
"You're a great teacher," Sparkler told her, with a wide grin.
"It took me so long to learn," Dazzleglow answered. "Poor Starglow was exasperated with me."
The pony in question wandered across the branch, flew off, then turned back. "You may want to see this!"
Dazzleglow exchanged a glance with Sparkler, and flew off the branch. Starglow gestured for them to duck. They both did so, hiding behind the leaves of the tree.
Below, were a group of pale ponies, behind them darkness followed. It didn't simply follow, it grew arms and reached for them. The movements of the ponies looked unnatural, and to Dazzleglow, all too reminiscent of Applejack in her pale form.
Sparkler reached out for Dazzleglow's hoof, the pink unicorn gratefully extending her own hoof. When the group of pale ponies passed them by, sounds, screeches, wails and howls all drifted through the air. It made Sparkler shudder.
"It sounds like the Smooze, but worse," she whispered.
Dazzleglow said nothing, pulling Sparkler close.
A screech resounded, followed by a high-pitched laugh. Shadows extended out from the darkness into their own forms, walking in front of the pale ponies. Flowers wilted and leaves fell from the tree, withered and dead. They had all seen these effects before.
The ponies walked past them, either none the wiser they were there, or they chosen to ignore them. As feared, the ponies were now here in Pony Land, as well as Dream Valley, and Dazzleglow wasn't sure what to do.