Chapter three: Lucky's Training
"Oh, mornin' Big Mac. Ok, so, is Applebloom up yet?" He shook his head. "Alright then. Her breakfast is on the table, I'll go get her up, but then we gotta leave to get Lucky's school supplies fer this year.", Applejack said as she went up the stairs. Lucky paced around Rainbow Dash. Rainbow watched her, but started to get dizzy. "Hey Lucky. Why are you pacing like that?", she asked. "Because, I just can't wait to get my things then start with my training. I'm just so excited that I'll finally learn to fly and use magic."
Rainbow smiled at her. "I know how ya feel. When I first started to learn how to fly, I was very impatient. I didn't want to go through the basics. I just wanted to get up and take off. Actually, during flight camp one summer, and this is where Fluttershy and I met for the first time, a couple of bullies were being mean to Fluttershy because she was such a weak flier. They called her 'Klutzershy'. I heard that and went to Fluttershy's defense. Then they challenged me to a race, which I accepted right away.
"At the start line, we were getting ready to take off, Fluttershy holding the flag to signal the start. Once she waved the flag, off we went. They were going fast, but I was keeping up, I was smaller then the bullies, but I had no problem keeping up with them. One actually crashed into a pillar. I saw it, but I kept focusing on the race. Pretty soon I was catching up with the leader. Now I don't remember what happened to him, I think he fell out of the line of hoops to fly through.
"What I do remember though is the speed at which I was going. The wind through my mane, I was speeding down towards the bottom most ring, and then as I got closer, a funnel started forming around me, becoming ever so tighter, and then, as I went through the ring, there was rainbow colors all around me in that funnel, and when I pulled up to go back to flight camp, BAM! There went a Sonic Rainboom!" Lucky's jaw dropped.
She'd heard of the Sonic Rainboom, but she didn't think it was really true. It was a mare's tale after all from what her father told her. "A really for real Sonic Rainboom?" "Yep, and that race got me my cutie mark.", Rainbow then showed Lucky. "Wow, that's a really cool cutie mark." "Why thank you. Only fitting for the coolest pony in Ponyville. No, in all Equestria." Lucky heard a scoff from behind. "Now Rainbow, don't go spoutin' off that stuff again."
Rainbow looked at Applejack, "You're just jealous because you're not the Iron Pony. I won that title." "Yeah, through cheatin'! You know I ain't got wings like you. I told you from the start, no cheatin'. I didn't think I'd have to explain what that meant." Rainbow just got an even more annoyed look on her face, Applejack has the same look. Lucky gets in between them, much like Twilight when those two hoofwrestled.,
"Girls, please. Stop, we need to get me my school stuff. Applebloom's eating already, so let's just go." They both looked down at the filly. Applejack sighed. "You're right. We should stop bickerin' and help you out. I grabbed yer saddlebags for ya." Lucky smiled. "Thanks Applejack." Applejack just smiled. They then went out the door and to the store. Lucky along the way wanting to start her flying lessons now. "Rainbow, I wanna fly… can I start my lessons now while we go to the store?" Rainbow just looked at Applejack. Applejack shrugged, letting Rainbow know it isn't up to AJ, but Rainbow herself.
Rainbow sighed. "Sure, why not? With enthusiasm like that, maybe you could become a great flier like me someday." Applejack shook her head, here we go again. Rainbow gloating about her great flying. Not that she wasn't, Applejack just wished Rainbow would tone down the gloating a bit at least. Lucky then jumped, then spread her wings when she landed. She then flapped them. She flapped them harder and harder, but nothing happened.
"Wha?", she said. Rainbow looked confused, as did Applejack. "Um…. What was that?", Rainbow asked. Lucky shrugged, scared now, hoping that she isn't earthbound. She tried again, this time face screwed up in concentration, and it happened. She rose up a few inches. Just about 6 inches. Rainbow and Applejack grinned widely. Lucky opened her eyes, then she grinned just as big as Rainbow and Applejack. "I'm flying!" Rainbow chuckled, "More like hovering. You're not going anywhere."
Lucky really then paid attention. Rainbow was right. She was hovering. She then went forward, then to each side. "Heh, it seems like you're a natural born flier.", but that comment didn't last long as Lucky fell to the Earth with an 'oomph.'. "Or not… Well, you fluttered around for a good minute. Let's try to work on just staying air born for 5 minutes, help your wings get used to flapping and staying in one place." Lucky nodded. They had reached the store they needed to go to after Lucky agreed to Rainbow's plan.
The ponies saw that Lucky was an alicorn, and they watched her, even the store clerks and manager. They'd never seen a young alicorn like her, the only Alicorns they've seen were Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. (I don't think they were in Canterlot for the wedding, though then again… I could be wrong…). Lucky lowered her head. Rainbow then put her head close to Lucky's, Applejack did the same. "Hey now, remember what Rainbow and Twilight said yesterday. Alicorns are rare and we hardly ever see any alicorns other than the princess' around here."
Lucky nodded, and lifted her head. Applejack and Rainbow sticking close to the tiny filly. Rainbow on one side and Applejack on the other. They got to the school supplies and Lucky grabbed everything the checklist said she needed. It is a little after the beginning of the school year, so Lucky didn't join too late. It's only mid October. Applejack led the way to the checkout counter, the other ponies clearing a path for them. Lucky takes it the wrong way and hopped onto Rainbow's back, she knew she needed these supplies, but she didn't like the way her presence was being received.
She laid down on Rainbow's back in a ball, her head buried in Rainbow's mane. Rainbow looked at Applejack, who paid for the supplies. Rainbow gave Applejack the bits, because she had a feeling Lucky would do just as she just did. "Hey kid, why are you doing that?" "Because…. They don't like me. They parted ways, letting us through. Almost like they want me gone as soon as I can be."
Rainbow and Applejack had incredulous looks on their faces, and one of the clerks said, "No no no. Nothing like that my dear. It's just, you're an alicorn, and the alicorns I've met in my entire life were royalty. All of us citizens in Ponyville will surely think you're royalty." Lucky then took her head out of Rainbow's mane and looked at the ponies closer, now she sees that they're kneeling before her. "Huh? Wait, what? N-No…. I'm not royalty. P-please don't do that. I'm a natural born alicorn, because I got my unicorn horn from my mama and my pegasus wings from my papa."
The ponies stood back up and looked confused. They'd never heard of that before. This bitty filly's gotta be special if she got her classification as an alicorn how she did. Maybe Princess Celestia would know something. "Well, let's look at it this way, maybe the alicorn race could be part of the civilian population as well as the royalty population starting with this young one. You a filly or a colt?", the cashier they were at asked. "Filly."
"See, you could help the civilian population of alicorn grow. You'd be the start of it. You'd go down in history. Also….. Alicorns have been known to live for a long time, though, I wonder if it only applies to royalty, and you really don't have ancestors who are alicorns, not that you know of right?" Lucky tilted her head. "Ancestors?" Applejack smiled, "That means family who have come before your mother, father, even grandma and grandpa. Years and years before them." "Oh, well, no. I don't think anypony in my family has alicorn in them."
"Well, if you don't live a very long life as the alicorns we know of do, then, that'll be a first. Alicorns have been known to live thousands of years." "That's even more than fifty, right?" Rainbow looked at Lucky, "Waaay more than that! That's like, forever to me." Lucky raised both eyebrows, now that is a long time to live. She hoped she didn't live ahead of her friends after they pass on. She'd be lonely again. "Well, we gotta go. Lucky here needs her training for magic now. She's also gotta learn to fly too, what with her bein' a bitty filly and all and not been taught yet.", Applejack said.
The three left for Twilight's house. More ponies who noticed Lucky was an alicorn, bowed to her as she rode past on Rainbow's back. When they reached Twilight's tree, they burst in through the door. "Twilight! You home?", Rainbow asked. "Yeah, I'll be right down." When Lucky saw Twilight, she smiled. "Hi Twilight." "Hey Lucky, I see you've taken your perch on top of Rainbow again huh?"
Lucky grinned sheepishly and fluttered down to the ground, showing off her new flying skills. Twilight squeed. "You flew! You actually flew, well, more like fluttered, but you were still in the air, when did you start doing that?" Rainbow spoke up, "Just earlier. Poor filly though, she was regarded as royalty when we went into the store and all the way here. She didn't like the attention I don't think." Twilight nodded. "Not surprised really. The only alicorns we know are all royalty."
"That's exactly what the cashier said when we rung Lucky's school stuff up. Speakin' of which, did y'all remember to grab them?" Lucky and Rainbow looked at each other, then back at Applejack. Applejack took the hint and facehoofed, as well as Twilight. "You gotta remember the supplies, they're important." "I know I know. I'll go back and get them." Rainbow took the saddlebags with her after Lucky handed them to her.
"So Twilight. I wanna learn magic now. Can I?" Twilight giggled. "Of course." Twilight then lowered a book from a shelf with her magic. "Ok, you'll learn the basics. Basically it'll be a lecture. Then having learned the basics, you'll do one simple thing, turning the page of a book. That was the first thing I did when I first used magic." Applejack rolled her eyes at the mention of 'lecture'. 'Figured as much. This'll take a while. Might as well lay down.', she thought to herself. She laid down in the middle of the floor so she could watch.
Then sometime during the lecture AJ fell asleep and Rainbow arrived, set the saddlebags down gently then laid next to Applejack. Then she fell asleep too, listening to Twilight talking about the basics. Then by the time Twilight was done talking, Rainbow was all comfortable against Applejack. Their heads close together. Twilight then asked, "Ok, now are you ready to try your spell?" As soon as the other two ponies in the room heard 'spell', they woke up and then watched Lucky.
"Concentration is the key point in magic, if you don't have concentration, then your magic becomes doomed. Concentrate, concentrate, concentrate.", Lucky said, as she focused on the book. Her horn flickered on and off a few times, then it lit up a blue the color of her mane and tail color. Then she concentrated on turning the page, and after a few seconds passed, the page of the book quivered and then turned over. "I did it!", Lucky said, hopping up and down a couple times.
Rainbow and Applejack got to their hooves and cheered for Lucky. Lucky turned around and smiled and trotted over to the two ponies who she looked up to. She bounced around them in circles, saying "I did it I did it I did it." Over and over again. Applejack laughed and said, "Remind you of anypony?" Twilight and Rainbow laughed as well. Fluttershy then opened the door, looking confused as to what was going on in here. "Hi girls. What's going on in here?" "Fluttershy Fluttershy! I used magic and I flew today!", Lucky said and Fluttershy smiled.
"That's very good Lucky. You'll grow up to be a good flier and spell user someday if you keep practicing." Lucky nodded. "I've been wondering, what are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna like?" Twilight and the other three look at each other. "Princess Celestia is very kind, and she sometimes visits Ponyville, to check up on me personally, or just to check up on the town. Princess Luna only comes during Nightmare Night. Luna is nice too, but sometimes she can get carried away with her tone of voice.", Twilight said.
"Cool, I wanna meet them!", Lucky said. "You might actually soon. It is October, so very soon Luna will be here, and Princess Celestia is actually due for a visit any day now too.", Twilight said. Lucky hopped up and down. Rainbow gently puts a hoof on Lucky's head to calm her. "Ok ok, we understand your excitement, but you must remember to be polite around them. You know how to greet royalty already, you seen the other ponies all over town when you went through." Lucky nodded. Rainbow ruffled Lucky's mane and sat down. "So, wanna fly some more? You still gotta do that exercise I told you to do."
"Oh yeah!" Then Lucky did what Rainbow told her to do earlier. 5 minutes passed and Lucky got back down to the floor, then Rarity came in. "Hi Rarity! I'm practicing flying. I already turned a page of a book with magic. Too bad you missed it." "Aw, I did miss it then? I'm sorry, I just finished an order of dresses for a client. Good for you though Lucky. I bet everypony's very proud of you." The others all nodded.
"Ok, that was good Lucky. Now you think you can go for 5 minutes more?" Lucky nodded then tried to hover in the air for 10 minutes. She made it to and past the 5 minute mark, but then just as there was 2 minutes left, Lucky's wings failed her. Rainbow got under Lucky and looked back at Lucky. Lucky smiled. "Two minutes to go too. I almost had it." "Yes, you did. Very good. You're getting the hang of it pretty well. I'll bet by the time next week comes you can do a couple maneuvers."
"Yay!" Lucky then got comfortable on Rainbow's back. Lucky's wings drooping at her side. No doubt Rainbow wants her to exercise them more, and stretch them out more as well so they can become strong. Lucky always had them folded at her sides before coming to Ponyville then train with an awesome pegasus pony. Lucky then sighed then put her head on her front hooves, which were on the base of rainbow's neck.
"Your mane is so pretty, and your tail too. Don't think I told you that yet. I love rainbows. They're a sign of happiness.", Lucky said sleepily. Everypony looked at Lucky. Rainbow smiled, "Never expected that from her. Of course, never expected her calling me mama in her sleep either." Rainbow said as Pinkie burst in the door. "Mama? Oooo, did somepony become a mama?", she asked. Twilight giggled. "Apparently Rainbow did. Lucky called her mama in her sleep." "Hey, don't joke ok? She was having one of those memory dreams that she told Applejack and I that she gets from time to time."
"Really? Hmm, well. That does make sense, once I think about it.", Twilight said. Rarity looked at the now sleeping filly on Rainbow's back. "She's so cute. I wonder if she'll be as good a flier as you Rainbow? I mean, with that enthusiasm of hers, I do think she could be just as good as you. Maybe even win a future Young Fliers Competition." "That would be awesome. Hey, maybe Lucky could even do a Sonic Rainboom too." Twilight thought on that. "You know, I've been thinking about that Rainbow. The whole history of it and it being called a mare's tale.
"I do believe only one pony in the very past pulled it off, and that pony could have had rainbow colors in his or her coat or mane or tail. I think the reason nopony else can do it or could do it in the past because they didn't have rainbow in their coats or whatever. You're able to do it because you have rainbow colors, that's how a rainbow trail follows you after you perform a Sonic Rainboom, because from what I've seen, your mane and tail disappear when you fly extremely fast or after a Rainboom. I think your mane and tail make up that trail of rainbow behind you. That's why I think nopony else can do it." Rainbow looked at the other ponies.
"I think Twilight has a point actually. Your mane and tail do seem to disappear all of a sudden. That trail of rainbow could be your mane and tail mixing in with each other, creating a long trail of rainbow color behind you.", Rarity said. "I don't know really, but it does seem possible. I'll just agree with them.", Fluttershy said. Applejack nodded, seemingly having nothing to say. "Wow. Oh well, hey. Maybe she can create her own move. That would be cool too. Though she'd have to become the greatest flier in Equestria to do that."
Rainbow then looked at the small, sleeping filly on her back, "I have faith in her though. I know she can do it. She'll probably do great things when she's older." Applejack smiled and nodded, then nuzzled Lucky gently enough so as not to wake her up. "I agree. This filly will be a great pony someday." And she stayed next to Rainbow. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie all then looked at the three oddly. Applejack tilted her head.
"You know, that right there could be a great picture? They look like… a family.", Rarity said. Twilight smiled, "Yeah. You're right." "I think it's precious.", Fluttershy said. Pinkie just smiled and pulled a camera seemingly out of nowhere, typical Pinkie antic. Everypony gave her an odd look. "I carry one with me only because of the twins. I want to have pictures to remember them if I leave for a long time. Like on an errand for the Cakes, like with the MMM-cake, remember?" Everypony nodded.
Then Pinkie snapped a shot of the three, making sure Lucky was visible. "You know, I think you two should become Lucky's role models though, for real. I mean, she's attached to you both like glue, but you even more from what I've seen even in the one and a half day she's been here Rainbow. Lucky likes you more, seeing as she always goes to you. Applejack, she goes to you more than the rest of us, but I think the only reason for that is because you were the first to befriend her.", Twilight said.
Applejack nodded, that does make sense. Rainbow though, why Rainbow? Well, besides the tail and mane being rainbow colored, that can't be the reason…. But in the mind of a 5 year old, they take to things without really having a good reason, so it's possible the rainbow mane and tail drew in Lucky, and also because fillies Lucky's age love bright colors for some reason or another…. "Well, tomorrow is her first day of school. What time is it Twilight?", Applejack asked.
"I think it's about 5:00. Lucky did have a full day today, what with practicing flying and magic. I think we should make a schedule Rainbow, that way she doesn't have to do both lessons in one day, and make it more flexible with her school schedule too. She'll be in school from 7:30 to 2:30, then she'll need time to get homework done…. Then maybe supper depending when she gets homework done. Oh! Or maybe take a break from homework to do training….", Twilight just goes on with the possibilities of the schedule. Rainbow and the others shaking their heads.
"Well, we should be off. I gotta get the pipsqueak to bed and Applejack…. My cloud bed is still at your house. I forgot to grab it and bring it back home. I'm sorry. Mind me staying one more night, and Lucky too?" "I don't mind, we just gotta git movin' now before we're late fer supper." Rainbow nodded. "Bye everypony. See you tomorrow." Rainbow said as she left, and Applejack behind her, saying good bye as well. On the walk home they talk about what Twilight said about role models.
"You really think we could be her role models? I'm not sure if I'm role model material.", Rainbow said. "Well, you seem like one to me. After meeting Lucky, you've become softer, well, you've been soft towards her at least." "I don't know, maybe." Lucky whimpered and Rainbow looked at her. Lucky didn't look too troubled in her sleep, so it can't be that bad of a dream. "Mama, papa…. Where are you going? Don't leave me.", she mumbled, sounding upset.
After a minute passed, Lucky woke up. When she did they arrived at Applejack's. Woke up just in time too. Rainbow told Applejack to take Lucky off her back and set Lucky in front of her. Applejack did so. Rainbow put a hoof on Lucky's head, gently. "Hey, what was that just now?" "I-I don't know. That was something new. I never had that type of dream memory before. It was when the accident happened, well, after it happened. Mama and papa looked like ghosts, and they smiled nicely at me and walked away. I tried calling out to them, but they kept going."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, and so did Applejack. "I think that that would have been their way of sayin' they're on their way to the Great Green Pasture in the sky, and that they trust Rainbow and I, and the rest of our friends, completely. Was there anythin' else about the dream?" Lucky thought for a moment. "I kinda did see you and Rainbow Dash. I ran up to you guys and you hugged and nuzzled me. That was after mama and papa left, but just before I woke up."
Rainbow ruffled Lucky's hair lightly this time. "Don't worry, you're safe with us now. Let's go in, I'm hungry." Lucky nodded, so they all went in. "Just in time for dinner. Hiya Lucky, are you staying' again?", Applebloom said, looking up from her plate, which was still empty, because there is one more thing to put down on the table, a pitcher of water. Lucky, Applejack, and Rainbow sat down at the table. "Yeah, but I wanna stay in AJ's room with her and Rainbow tonight too. It's been a long day and I just had the weirdest dream that I really don't want to talk about." Applebloom nodded, understanding.
"Applejack, can I take a bath?", Lucky asked after supper. She still looked exhausted, and Applejack agreed, on one condition. Her and Rainbow be there with her, making sure she stays awake in the tub. Lucky nodded and was soon washing up. That warm water felt nice. Rainbow's sitting at the edge, Applejack sitting next to her. "Um, could somepony get my back and underneath my wings?", Lucky asked as she finished up washing where she could reach. Rainbow got the sponge from her and washed Lucky's back, and behind the wings. After Rainbow got done, Lucky rinsed off, Then Applejack grabbed a towel for Lucky, so when Lucky got out of the tub, Applejack wrapped the towel around Lucky and dried her off.
When Applejack took off the towel, her and Rainbow chuckled. "Your fur and mane and tail are all frizzled and fluffy.", Rainbow said. Lucky giggled, then shook herself, making her body look even more poofy. The three of them laughed and went into Applejack's room. Applejack went over to her vanity and grabbed a brush. She always kept her brush clean, that way if a friend stayed over and forgot their brush, they could always use hers.
She handed it to Lucky, who then brushed her fur down to where it is when she's dry and not just had a bath. Applejack was already in bed when Lucky finished, then set the brush back where it was taken from. Lucky then got in bed, then Rainbow. This time, Lucky being still a little bit on the wet side from the bath, AJ and Rainbow both were right close to her to help keep her warm so she wouldn't catch a cold, and also to let her know they're there for her if she ever needed them. They all fell asleep, enjoying the warmth of their beds and the smell of shampoo.