Chapter 27: Crash and Zipp
At Zephyr Heights, Zipp was in her room pacing on the spot taking breaths while wiping her brow. "Okay, Zipp. You can pull this off. You are the most skilled and best flyer in Equestria. You can do this." Zipp said to herself.
"Hey, Zipperdoodle!" Pipp suddenly said, making Zipp yelp and turn to see her friends standing at the door.
"Pipp, I told you not to call me that in public," Zipp said through her teeth while gesturing to the others.
"Heheh, Zipperdoodle." Sunset chuckled quietly with a wing over her mouth.
"Sorry, Zipp. Just wanted to see how you're doing." Pipp said as she and the others went towards her.
"And you couldn't have just knocked first?" Zipp asked with a brow.
"You left the door open, Zipp." Sunny said to her with an amusing smile.
"We just walked right in." Twilight added.
"Surprise you didn't notice," Misty commented.
"Ahh, she's probably just nervous because in one week she's to perform a crazy fast and dangerous air stunt show in front of all of Equestria and millions of ponies waiting for her to fly across the sky like the rebel princess she is," Izzy told them.
"Heh, Rainbow Dash would do the same." Twilight commented.
"Yeah. Right. I am about to do that." Zipp said with a confident smile, "This is my chance to show mom just how far I've come since magic's come back. I've been practicing for weeks since she told me!" She said excitedly.
Pipp then sighed, "Ugh, Zipp you're always just flying, you never have time for preening, hooficures or selfies," She said before smiling in thought, "You know what you need?"
"Pipp, don't you a h-" Zipp tried to say.
"A hot date!" Pipp finished.
Zipp groaned. "Sis, we've been over this. I don't want any of those or a date." She said with a look. "I'm already a detective and Equestria's greatest flyer-"
"Equestria's self-proclaimed greatest flyer," Sunset snarked with a teasing smirk as Zipp gave a dull look to Sunset.
"I don't need a Coltfriend who's only after the Throne of Zephyr Heights," Zipp finished.
"Aww, Zipp you're selling yourself too short," Pipp said, wrapping a foreleg around her while showing her phone, "I know a bunch of stallions who are totally into the royal rebel type of mare."
"Pipp, I said it once, I said it to Izzy, and I'll say it again; I don't need a coltfriend." Zipp said tiredly as she spread her wings and flew off. "I need to practice. I'll see you guys at the show." She said as she flew off as her friends watched.
"Pipp, why do you always have to push Zipp to even consider doing makeup or getting a coltfriend anyway?" Sunset questioned with a brow. "During Hearts and Hooves Day, Izzy kept thinking Rocky and Zipp are a thing, but she talked her out of that for a couple of hours."
"It's true. She did. And that was before we found out Jazz has a crush on Rocky." Izzy said with a cheerful smile.
"Well, it's probably because, I want Zipp to have a relationship will work out," Pipp said with a slight frown which confused them, "Zipp doesn't like talking about but, back when were a little younger, Zipp started hanging out with this Colt she was into, and it looked it was going well, until she found he was only hanging out with her so he get in mom's graces, he even tried hitting on me, which I'm was flatter of course." She said with a smirk as the others rolled their eyes playfully before Pipp frowned. "But even I was shocked, and it hurt my sister's heart. Mom even banned that colt from the palace for using Zipp to get in, and since then, Zipp kinda refused to even consider getting a coltfriend if they started playing with her feelings again."
"Oooh, yikes." Sunset said with a cringed as the others frowned in sympathy.
"Wow, Zipp had it rough." Hitch said with a frown. "And that was against the rules of a relationship."
"Well, not every coltfriend plays by the rules, Sheriff," Sunset said with a look.
"Good point." Hitch said with a sheepish look.
"Poor Zipp." Sunny said with a frown.
"Who knew she tried to be in a relationship." Misty commented with a sympathy frown.
"Some of us felt love, which didn't work out." Twilight said with a frown when she used to have a crush on Flash Sentry, but didn't work out since he was from CSH and the one in Equestria doesn't know her much.
"I know how that feels," Sunset muttered, knowing that feeling well.
"Since then, Zipp has been doing everything to look unprincess-like, so she wouldn't attract another guy who would play with her feelings, even though she was already a rebel at the time, but still." Pipp explained, "Now her only real true love is thrills and daring flight stunts."
"And detectiving now. Don't forget detectiving." Izzy said with a cheerful look.
"Yes, that too." Pipp said with a chuckle.
"Well, while that is very sweet that you wanted to make Zipp happy, Pipp. But you can't just force her to be in a relationship." Sunny said to her.
"I do not force her. I was just trying to let her give it a shot." Pipp said.
"Yes, but if somepony doesn't want to find love, it's their choice." Twilight said with a frown. "I've been there when I tried to force friendship on my first student, Starlight Glimmer. Which didn't work out well." She added, remembering how her past with Trixie almost ruined Starlight's friendship with her.
"So if Zipp's happy being an unattached mare, we should respect it," Sunset said to her.
"But, we did it with Jazz." Pipp reminded them.
"Which ended in Jazz humiliating herself instead of just talking to Rocky despite it surprisingly working out in the end." Sunset said with a dull look.
Pipp gave a sheepish chuckle as the others, except Twilight and Sunset, gave embarrassed looks. "Okay, fair point." Pipp said.
"Still, we should be proud of Zipp," Twilight told the group, "This show will be a testament to how far ponykind have come since magic returned."
"And the first show for the Crystal Ponies since their return." Sunny said with a smile. "I heard Princess Flurry Heart is gonna be there."
"I know. I can't wait to see my favorite niece!" Twilight said giggly as her wings spread while tapping her hooves.
"Alright, let's go ponies." Sunset said with a small smile. "We might want to see how Zipp practices before the games. She really likes to stay in shape before a big event." She said as the others nodded and followed after Zipp.
In a large Stadium with a cloud cover floor and stunt obstacles litter about like hoops, cloud ramps and rings and more. The Mane 8, With Queen Haven with them, looked at the set while Zipp looked at it with sparkly eyes and hooves to her cheeks. "Wow, Zipp could really rival Rainbow's skills with this set up." Twilight commented with a smile.
"I believe ya." Sunset said with a smile.
"Mom, this is amazing!" Zipp cheered with a bright smile.
"Oh, thank you, Zipp," Haven said with a smile, "The Zephyr Heights Sky Stadium is even better than I thought it would be. I based it off those documents of Cloudsdale you showed me, Sunset," She said to the yellow alicorn.
"Eh, I tried to recover much info and remember some things from that time, which was a bit rusty, but I tried thanks to some feedback from Twilight." Sunset said with a smile.
"And I remember it well." Twilight said with a proud smile.
"Well, this is so amazing!" Zipp cheered in excitement. "I am gonna try this out before the games starts!"
"Why, of course darling. Go on-" Haven said before Zipp flew off past her. "Ahead." She finished with a small smile as they saw Zipp going through the obstacles.
"Wow, look at Zipp go!" Izzy said as Zipp serpentined through some brass poles.
"I never seen her go that fast!" Pipp said with a smile. "Not even through that flight school lesson she gave the other Pegasi!"
"Amazing! She's like the most… uh… uh…." Misty muttered as she tried to find the right words.
"Devilish flyer?" Hitch offered as they watched Zipp go.
"Yeah, devilish flyer!" Misty said with a smile as they followed Zipp around.
"She is amazing!" Sunny said with a smile.
"Where have I seen this before?" Twilight asked with a frown, feeling a sense of deja vu.
"What was that, Twi?" Sunset asked in confusion.
As Zipp kept flying around, she went through some loops and rings as she flew as fast as her wings could carry…
…but then, she clipped her wing against one of the obstacles, making her eyes widened as her flight to go off balance, "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" She yelled while waving her hooves around, losing control, which her friends noticed as Twilight frown, definitely remember this.
"Oh no. Oh no. Oh no." Twilight muttered in concern as they followed Zipp's flight.
"Aye-aye-aye-aye-aye!" Izzy cried out as they looked up and saw Zipp flying down as she landed hard into a pole that bent hard before she slingshot back with a yell and bounced around the course like a pinball, spun around one ring, before she crashed into the side of the stadium with a hard crash, which made them all cringed.
"Oooh!" They all exclaimed.
"That's gonna leave a mark." Hitch said while covering Sparky's eyes from that nasty crash.
"ZIPP!/MY BABY!" Both Pipp and Haven cried out in worry as they flew towards where Zipp crashed and picked her up.
"Zephyrina, are you okay?!" Haven said in concern as Zipp's eyes spun while she smiled dopily.
"Zipp, talk to me, are you okay?!" Pipp asked her sister as the others came over.
"What? Oh yeah, I'm good," Zipp said dizziedly, while her eyes swirled, "Hey, how does a spa day sound right about now?" She asked.
"She's not fine!" Pipp said in panic, knowing Zipp would never suggest a spa day.
"To the palace's medical room! Now! Guards!" Haven cried out to her guards as they rushed in with a bed stretch as they gently placed Zipp in and they quickly entered the palace as the others watched in concern.
"Oh, just like Rainbow alright." Twilight said with a frown, remembering when Rainbow crashed at times, including a wing broken.
"We better go and see if she's okay!" Sunny said as they all rushed up to the palace.
Zipp only saw blackness as she groaned and cracked her eyes open, seeing a purple and pink blur looking over her, "Hey, I think she's coming out of it," Sunset's voice spoke up.
"Zypherina can you hear me?" Queen Haven asked as Zipp's vision cleared.
"How many glitter do I have?" Izzy asked.
"Zipp, you wanna take a selfie?" Pipp asked, holding out her phone before it was shoved in her face by Zipp.
"Absolutely, not." Zipp said with a tired look.
"She's back." Hitch said with a smirk as the others smiled in relief.
"She sure is." Pipp said as she got the phone off her face with a smile.
Zipp groaned and sat up while rubbing her head, "Wh-what happened?" She asked, looking to see her in the medical bay, "Last thing I remember I," Her face then turned to dread, "Oh no, nonono, somepony please don't tell me that I-"
"Had a major crash landing?" Sunset asked with a frown. "Uh, yeah, you did, Zipp. A nasty one at that."
"You're lucky nothing was broken though," Misty told her.
"Except for your head of course." Izzy said naturally.
"Izzy!" The others all said to her, which made her flinch.
"What? Honesty." Izzy said before she realized something. "Ooooh. Woopsies." She said with a sheepish smile.
Zipp looked up and saw a bandage headband as she groaned. "I landed on my head? That's embarrassing." She said.
"Hey, it's not that bad." Twilight said optically. "When my friend Rainbow Dash crashed many times, one time, she broke her wings, which is much worse than a head injury." She said as she gave a smile.
"I don't see much comfort in that." Zipp said with a dull look to Twilight, who gave a sheepish look.
"Oh, be glad you alright darling." Haven said in relief as she gave Zipp a hug. "Your sister and I were worried."
"What happened back there, sis?" Pipp asked in concern. "Usually when you fly, you are so focused and straight-up impressive."
"I, I don't know," Zipp said, looking down in confusion while frowning.
"Well, everypony can make a mistake," Sunset told her while smiling, "We're just glad you're okay Zipp."
"Now that you're okay, why don't we distract ourselves and explore Zephyr Heights?" Twilight suggested.
"Y-Yeah. Sure." Zipp said with an uncertain look as she got out of bed. "L-Let's go." She said as she got out of bed and they all walked out of the room while Zipp was behind as she gave a frown. 'How could I crash? I'm the best flyer. I practiced every day, even before I could fly.' She thought to herself with a frown.
Soon they came outside to the streets and Pipp gave a smile, "Come on Zipp, let's get some air!" She said with a smile before taking flight.
Zipp however froze and slowly looked up to the sky as it started growing and shrinking rapidly. Zipp's eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she frowned in fear with her lips sucked in while she shook like a leaf.
"Uh, Zipp?" Sunny's voice spoke up, snapping Zipp out of it as she turned and saw her friends looking at her in concern. "Are you okay?" Sunny asked.
"Huh, uh, yeah." Zipp said with an awkward smile. "Yeah, just a bit spaced out."
"Uh, Zipp, when have you ever been spaced out?" Sunset questioned with a brow. "That's more Izzy's department." She added as she gestured to Izzy looking at a pegasnail.
"Oooh." Izzy said with a cheerful smile before she turned back to her friends. "Sorry, what was that?"
"My point exactly," Sunset smiled.
"So Sis, you gonna come flying or what?" Pipp asked with a smile.
"Um, actually, it's been a long day, so why don't we just walk around town for a while," Zipp suggested, sweating nervously while smiling.
The others were cut off guard by that as they looked at each other before Sunny spoke. "Um, sure, Zipp." She said as Pipp flew back down.
"Great. So, how about we go to Zephyr Heights' park? Come on." Zipp said as she walked ahead of her friends, who gave confused looks to her.
"Is it just me, or did Zipp turn down a chance to fly?" Hitch asked in confusion while Sparky babbled in agreement while rubbing his head.
Pipp gave a suspicious hum while she looked at her sister walking away.
At the park, they walked up as they saw some Pegasi doing some stunts in the air, which Pipp gestured to her sister to go join them and show them how it's done, but Zipp shook her head as she walked by, much to her sister and her friends' surprise.
The next day back at Maretime Bay, Zipp was walking down the street while looking at her phone before she looked up to see Windy and Thunder waving to her, "Hey," Windy gestured her to join for a race.
"Uh, no thanks, guys. I'm good." Zipp said with a small smile as she walked off as Thunder and Windy looked at each other in confusion before they shrugged while the rest of the Mane 8 watched from Mane Melody while Pipp rubbed her chin.
The Mane 7 were walking into the Marestream for a flight before Sunset noticed something, "Where's Zipp?" She asked, noticing the Element of Bravery wasn't here.
"I thought she was out flying." Twilight said in confusion.
"No. I think I saw her still in the kitchen." Misty said right before Zipp walked out.
"Hey, Zipp. Ready for a flight to the Crystal Empire to pay Flurry Heart a visit?" Twilight asked with a smile.
"Um, flight?" Zipp asked with a nervous smile. "Uh, no thanks. I'll just walk or take a train there." She said as she walked off.
"Uh, the Empire is miles away and the new train tracks for the Crystal Empire won't be set up for another month or two." Pipp said to her sister with a brow.
"W-Well, then no better way for an exercise." Zipp said with a nervous smile as she walked ahead. "I'll catch you guys there."
"Uh, Zipp…" Sunny tried to say before Zipp trotted away. "Okay…" She said awkwardly.
Pipp then narrowed her eyes and rubbed a hoof to her chin, "Hmmm," She said suspiciously.
A bit later at the Crystal Brighthouse, Zipp was walking down the stairs from the bed as she walked up to the kitchen. "Zipp." Pipp's voice spoke up as Zipp turned and saw her sister giving her a brow. "I have a question for you."
"Uh, sure, sis. What is it?" Zipp asked in confusion.
"Do you want to go for a flight or try out some of Mane Melody's new makeup products?" Pipp questioned with a brow as she held up a brush and a mirror as she kept a straight face.
Zipp gave a nervous look at her sister's suggestion before she raised a hoof. "Uh, what's in that new stuff?" She asked with a smile, which made Pipp give a dramatic gasp at her sister as she dropped her mirror and brush.
"I knew it!" Pipp exclaimed with a shocked look. "There is something wrong with you! You never even consider giving my new products a chance on yourself your whole life!"
"W-w-what? Pipp, that's crazy!" Zipp said, sweating slightly as Pipp frowned at her, "I mean there was that time when-Diversion!"
"Huh?" Pipp said with a confused look as Zipp flapped wings, blowing her mane in her face as she ran for it, "Stop that sister!" Pipp called out.
Zipp ran as fast as she could as Izzy came up from the front of her. "Hi, Zipp." She said cheerfully before Zipp ran past her as Izzy spun around. "W-Whoa! Wild." She commented with a dizzy look.
Zipp ran to the front door as she got outside, but then she crashed into something as her face planted herself in an invisible glass. "Huh?!" She questioned as she placed her hoof on it and noticed that she was trapped in a magic sphere mixed with gold, yellow, and purple. "W-What the-"
"Sorry, Zipp." Sunset's voice spoke up as Zipp turned and saw her, Twilight, and Sunny flying in, with Sunny in her alicorn form, as the three Alicorns used their horns. "But your sister planned this out."
"We've all noticed that you've been acting off since your accident at Zephyr Heights," Sunny said as Hitch, Misty, and Izzy walked in.
"And you avoiding flight and willing to try out your sister's products is a bit concerning, even by your standards." Twilight added with a concern frown.
"Yeah, which is a bit weird." Misty added as Pipp walked out and stood beside her sister.
"Zipp, what is wrong with you?" Pipp questioned. "And don't bother trying to lie your way out. Because I know you. So explain yourself."
"I-I'm fine. No need to-" Zipp tried to say before she saw the look in her sister's face while also seeing the looks her friends gave her as she sighed. "Okay, fine but brace yourselves. The thing is… I-I'm…Afra-yaa-yaah." She sputtered the last word.
"You're Afra-yaa-yaah?" Hitch repeated while he was sitting on a couch.
"I'm Afra-bay-dayday." Zipp tried to say again.
"I don't think there's a proverb for that one," Twilight said, rubbing her chin.
"I'm afrooka-looka-looka-looka!" Zipp tried again.
"It, sounds like she's trying to say she's, afraid," Misty guessed.
Pipp scoffed in disbelief, "You're kidding right?" Pipp asked with a brow.
"Come on, Misty," Hitch told her.
"Zipp afraid?" Sunny asked rhetorically.
"Never thought I'd hear that," Izzy noted as she munched on some ponycorn.
"Yeah, she's Element of Bravery," Sunset recalled.
"From how long I've seen her, I never saw Zipp show fear her whole life." Twilight said with a brow.
"No, she's right, ponies," Zipp spoke up, looking down in shame, "I've been acting weird all week because…I'm afraid to fly." She finally admitted.
The Mane 7 all gasped in complete shock, "YOU'RE WHAT?!" Hitch exclaimed, losing his balance as Sparky was sent flying. "WHOA!" He yelped as he fell off the couch as Sunny caught Sparky, Izzy gagged from her ponycorn while Pipp fainted and Twilight and Sunset looked at Zipp in shock.
"I told you to brace yourselves," Zipp said with a cringe while Misty started hitting Izzy's back to get the pony-corns out of her throat.
"How are you afraid of flying, Zipp?" Twilight questioned before Izzy's ponycorn that was in her throat was sent flying.
"Yeah, you love flying! Flying is your life!" Pipp exclaimed as she flew around her sister in shock.
Zipp gave a sad look. "Not since that crash I had back at the stadium." She said with a frown.
"That's it?" Sunset asked with a brow, "You have one little spill and you are now afraid of flying?" She questioned.
"It's not just that!" Zipp said with a look before she frowned. "I never made a simple mistake in my life. I practiced to the bone, did so many stunts, performed techniques, and for some reason, I had a clipped wing and I lost control, which resulted in my crash. I never had that before, never. Not even when I couldn't fly before magic returned. And not even when I crashed before, this was nothing like that."
"But Zipp, what about the stunt show?" Sunny told her, "You can't let Queen Haven down
"Yeah, you've worked hard to compete in the stunt show." Hitch added with a frown."
"Yeah, well, I guess I'm not cut out to fly now after what happened, especially with all of Equestria watching." Zipp retorted before she frowned. "I've never been afraid of anything. Not even when facing Opaline or Allura. But now I'm too afraid to even leave the ground."
"I'm not an Element of Bravery, I'm a scaredypony," Zipp said sadly before walking away with her head down, "You guys go and tell mom that I'm not competing in the show." She told them as she walked out of the Brighthouse
"Zipp. Sis, wait…" Pipp tried to say but Zipp already left with a sad look as the others gave confused frowns.
"This is like when I lost my creativity-juices." Izzy said with a frown.
"Yeah, but unlike you who overworked, Izzy, Zipp is doubting herself." Sunset said with a frown.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Misty asked.
"Let's just give Zipp some space." Twilight suggested. "She obviously needs some time to get her flying mojo back."
"But couldn't we just go and cheer her up?" Sunny suggested.
"Sunny, whenever we tried to help ponies like the time you and I tried to help Delia with her plant magic, it ended up with Maretime Bay having a sneeze fest." Sunset said with a brow, which Sunny gave a sheepish chuckle from that reminder. "Let's just give Zipp time to think. She might need it."
"In the meantime we should probably head to Zephyr Heights for the Stunt Show," Pipp said with a sad look. "And hopefully Zipp gets her mojo back before I tell mom she's not coming." She said as they all walked to the Marestream.
"Zipp is strong, she'll come around. Like another Pegasus I know." Twilight assured, seeing much of Rainbow in Zipp as they walked into the Marestream and took off.
With Zipp, she was trotting down Marestream Bay with her head down and frowning as she leaned against a railing and looked up to see Pegasi flying around doing tricks as she teared up. "At least I got pegasi off the ground before I hit the ground," Zipp muttered as she looked out to the ocean with a sad look. "How could I screw up my flying that badly unlike the other times I crashed? I never lose focus, I never crash that badly. Never."
"Tch, do you always talk to yourself here?" A voice spoke up, which made Zipp yelp in startled as she turned and saw a blue pegasus stallion with a swept back yellow and white mixed mane with azure blue racing stripes on the sides and two long thin banks on each side of his head.
"Only when I thought I was alone." Zipp said in slight embarrassment while looking out to the ocean again.
"Well, obviously, you've forgotten that you're in Maretime Bay, near the coast." The pegasus commented with a chuckle before he got a closer look at Zipp. "Hey, your Princess Zipp. Princess of Zephyr Heights, heir to the throne, and one of the greatest heroes in Equestria who helped defeat that fire Alicorn Opaline, and you and your friends brought back the Crystal Empire."
"Yay, glad we're famous from that." Zipp said dully, which made the pegasus look at her with a frown.
"Okay, what's eating you?" He asked. "Because whenever I see you or either of your friends passing by, you always seem like a determined pegasus."
"And why should I tell you?" Zipp asked with a brow, "I don't know anything about you, not even your name."
"Oh, right, sorry." The pegasus said while scratching his head. "My name is Cloud Breaker. And you may not know me, but you know that every Pegasi knows about you and your royal family, especially your sister Pipp, right?"
Zipp thought for a moment before she shrugged. "Okay, fair." She said as she kept looking out to the ocean. "And what's going on with me, I don't think you would understand."
"I only saw you in pictures and along with everypony else, saw you in action like the time when Maretime Bay Day had a bit of that magic glitch when you and your friends tried to help stabilize it." Cloud Breaker said as he walked up to her. "And from all the times with the celebrations and that fire alicorn stealing magic and our marks thing last year, I can tell that you are a brave pegasus who can face any danger. Even other ponies saw it."
"Heh, not anymore," Zipp told him with a hollow tone, which confused Cloud.
"What do you mean not anymore?" Cloud asked in confusion.
"I had an accident that made me lose my confidence. And it was the worse accident than any I've been through. And it resulted in me hitting me in the head." Zipp said with a frown.
"Oooh, ouch." Cloud said with a cringed look. "That must've been a nasty crash."
"You don't know the half of it," Zipp said with a frown.
"But compared to how Pegasi was before they learned how to fly properly, me included, you always seem the best out of all of us." Cloud commented.
"Yeah, well, none were more humiliated than what I've experienced." Zipp said with a sad look. "After that incident, I'm too afraid to even get off the ground and soar above the clouds."
"Wait, you, Princess Zipp, afraid to fly?" Cloud asked in a bit of shock before scoffing. "Impossible."
"Oh, but guess what. It is." Zipp said with a sad look. "After that accident, I can't even go two meters off the ground or even go for a simple flight. Heck, I even had to walk all the way to the Crystal Empire before my friends forced me into the Marestream, which was a bit scary for me."
"So you had a little spill and now you're too afraid to get off the ground?" Cloud asked in disbelief. "The Zipp Storm, heir to Zephyr Heights, one of the greatest heroes in Equestria, afraid of flying? The best flyer in Equestria?"
"Don't you get it, I'm not the greatest Flyer anymore, I crash and-" Zipp tired to say.
"Do you really think any of the pegasi from ancient Equestria never crashed before?" Cloud asked with a brow, "I'm sure even the best flyer back then had to have crashed once."
Zipp was about to rebut, but then heard what Twilight said when she mentioned her old friend Rainbow Dash. 'When my friend Rainbow Dash crashed many times, one time, she broke her wings, which is much worse than a head injury.' Twilight's voice echoed in Zipp's head.
"Hey, you're right on that. Twilight did say one of her old friends was the best flyer, but even she crashes at times." Zipp said in realization.
"Exactly, and do you think you're the only pony who gets scared? Everypony does," Cloud told her, "Being brave isn't the same as being fearless, it means being scared and still pushing through the fear to do what you want to do,"
"B-But I'm now afraid of even flying-" Zipp tried to say.
"So, face that fear." Cloud said to her with a smile as he placed a hoof on her shoulder. "You're Zipp Storm. You went through impossible odds. Everypony knows you and your friends did. And bravery may have been something you might have had before, but bravery comes when facing those fears. It's never gone, just blocked off by something that you need to face to find it again."
Zipp looked at him in awe as his eyes shone with inspiration as she felt something build up inside her as her cutie mark glowed. "You're right, the only thing stopping me from flying, is me." She said.
"Exactly. Nopony is perfect or fearless, but they are in their own way. Being brave is a choice not a destiny." Cloud said with a smile.
Zipp looked at him for a moment before she closed her eyes as she placed a hoof to her chest. "Being brave is a Choice, not a destiny." She said as she began to glow bright as her Cutie Mark shined.
"Whoa." Cloud said in awed.
"Thanks for the talk, Cloud! Now I have a show to get to!" Zipp said as she then took a leap of fate over the railing and quickly spread her wings as she took a breather and then she quickly flapped her wings and took to the air and flew off to the sky as Cloud watched in awed.
"Whoa! It just keeps on getting better every time." Cloud said with a smile.
At the Zephyr heights stadium, Ponies from all across Equestria were gathered with many stunt equipment while the crowd are chattering in excitement while the Mane 8, san Zipp, are at the VIP lounge while Queen Haven, with Alphabittle and Flurry Heart behind her, were at the throne section.
"Wow. This VIP section is amazing." Twilight said as she was giving a piece of cucumber sandwich. "Thank you." She said as she took a bite and started eating it. "And the food is good too."
"Think nothing of it Twilight," Haven told her with a smile, "Zypherina's performance today will be marvelous,"
"Thanks right. Because my sister is the best there is." Pipp said with a smile.
"No doubt." Sunset said as she took a sip from her drink. "Zipp is like Rainbow Dash. If Dash was still around, only she and Zipp together could make a tie. But since she's not, Zipp will beat these stunt ponies no problem."
"So true!" Izzy said while eating a cupcake whole.
"Hey, Pipp…" Hitch asked as he guided Pipp away from her mother as the others regrouped. "Aren't you planning on telling your mother about what's wrong with Zipp? What if Zipp doesn't show up?"
"Are you kidding? Knowing how mom is, if she finds out what's wrong with Zipp, she'll fly all the way to Maretime Bay and overreact." Pipp reminded them with a frown.
"But if Zipp doesn't show up, she'll definitely be more worried than that." Sunny stated with a frown.
"Yeah, it's not easy keeping secrets, Pipp." Sunset reminded her. "Remember? You keep lying, it will come back to bite you."
"I don't think it could really bite." Izzy said in confusion.
"Not literally, Izzy." Sunset said with a brow.
"Oh, yeah." Izzy giggled.
"I know, but you know my mom. She can overreact at the very details, especially me and my sister." Pipp said with a frown.
"Us switching her crown around is proof of that." Sunny said with a sheepish look.
"Yep, that's true." Sunset said with an awkward look. "And the time when we wreck her throne when finding a piece of an old glowing blanket, we were lucky we weren't there."
"Yeah, that was not our best moment." Hitch added.
"Wait, you ponies did what?" Misty asked in shock.
"Long story, Mist." Sunny said with a sheepish look before she frowned. "But with how Zipp is lately, I doubt she might come."
"Well, if Zipp is anything like Rainbow, I have a feeling she'll show up right about-" Twilight was about to finish before a white and magenta blur zipped down, "Now," She finished.
"Did you ponies really think you can start the games without me?" Zipp asked with a small smirk.
"Zipp!" Pipp cheered with a smile as she flew towards her sister and gave her a hug as the others huddled around her.
"Surprise to see you here." Izzy said with a smile.
"And you're flying again," Sunny said with a smile as well after seeing Zipp flying down.
"Did you really think I wouldn't stay in the ground forever?" Zipp asked with a smirk as Haven walked in.
"Zipp. Darling, you have arrived." Haven said as she walked up to her daughter and gave her a hug. "I was wondering where you were,"
"Just thinking about some things, mom. But it's cool." Zipp assured with a smile.
"Oh?" Haven said curiously.
"Never mind that. Are the games about to start? Am I late?" Zipp asked her.
"Oh, they're at the starting lines, dear. You should…" Haven was caught off as Zipp flew past her and went into the starting line. "Go." She finished with an amusing smile as Flurry giggled.
"Zipp is so much like Rainbow Dash, doesn't she, aunty?" Flurry asked Twilight with a smile.
"You have no idea. I sometimes think she's actually a descendant of Rainbow." Twilight commented as the two shared a small laugh.
Queen Haven approached her microphone and cleared her throat, "Ponies of Equestria, I have pleased to announce that I am honored you all have come to the opening to Zephyr Heights new sky stadium and our new Spectacular Sky Games," She announced it as everypony in the crowd cheered. "And I like to welcome the Crystal Ponies and their ruler, Princess Flurry Heart, to attend the first games they have ever been to since their return." She added as Flurry Heart gave a light blush at the compliments she was receiving.
"And now, as you can see we've assembled the strongest, fastest and most skilled flyers from across Equestria," Haven continued as the Competitors stretched them.
Zipp was at the starting line, feeling a bit nervous as she was sweating a bit while seeing so many ponies among the crowd while having flashbacks when she crashed at the obstacles as she was feeling uneasy if she could go or not.
"And now, as ruler of Zephyr Heights, I would gladly say, let the games begin!" Haven announced as the crowd cheered as the chief coach with a flag was at the starting line.
"On your marks…" The pegasus coach started as the Pegasi stunts got ready, so did Zipp afterwards. "Get set…" He added as he raised a flag.
"Go Zipperooni!" Izzy cheered while holding two flags with Zipp's Cutie Mark on it.
"Go!" The pegasus coach declared while swinging the flag down, which the pegasi stunts and Zipp took off as they started making their way to the obstacle course.
They made their way through the sky poles and slithered their way through them, though Zipp had a bit of trouble making the turns. "W-Whoa! Okay. Didn't see this coming." Zipp said with a frown as she sloppy made some turns around the poles.
"I think Zipp might be a little rusty." Hitch said as he and the others watched Zipp in concern.
"Does she need cleaning?" Izzy asked oblivious as her friends gave her dull looks.
Zipp and the other stunts went past the poles as they then made their way to parkour course, jumping from standing pole over the cloud obstacles, while some of the Pegasi fell due to their inexperienced on clouds as Zipp hopped on each one as best she could as she barely kept her balance.
"How could the pegasi from the ancient past stand on these things? They're like bouncing on trampolines." Zipp muttered as she nearly tripped if she hadn't quickly grabbed hold of another cloud as she gave a yelp. "Okay, it's just like a fun house, yeah. Only on air and limited ground." She muttered as she kept bouncing.
"That looks like fun!" Izzy said with a smile.
"How do you ponies even get those clouds down?" Sunny asked Sunset with a smirk.
"Eh, it takes skills." Sunset said with a shrug.
"Oh, and we and Flurry Heart caught some clouds for the obstacles while flying." Twilight explained with a smile. "If you're an Alicorn, a Pegasi or any other flying creature, you can touch clouds like a soft pillow."
"Wait, you mean we can actually control the weather?" Pipp said excitedly.
"Well, not anymore since you Pegasi stopped controlling the weather as the weather could control itself before magic returns, but you can still land or touch clouds." Sunset said with a shrug.
"Aww, sad face." Pipp groaned as she slouched her wings. "I wanted to keep a great sunny day."
"Don't even bother, Pipp." Hitch said with a shrug. "Nature has laws."
"Sssh! Zipp's about to reach the next obstacle!" Izzy said to them while holding a tub of ponycorn.
On the Course, the pegasi were doing barrel rolls through the rings. Some Pegasi missed their targets and went over or hit the side of the rings while Zipp flew through them easily while also making it through to the higher ones. "Well, Zipp seems to be having it easy with the rings." Misty said with a smile.
"Oh, you just had to jinx it, didn't ya?" Hitch said, knowing what was gonna happen next.
As Zipp did another barrel roll, she aimed her target off as she hit the top of a ring, which caused her to start rolling. "W-W-W-WHOA!" She yelped as she was flung to the end of the ring obstacle as she groaned. "Well, at least I made it to the other side." She groaned as she took off. "Okay, just one more stunt left," She said before looking up and gulping, "The High Dive," She said nervously.
"Ooh, looks like Zipp is about to go through the Hive Dive." Haven said with a smile.
"What's a Hive Dive?" Sunny asked uncertainty.
"The Hive Dive is where Pegasi dived down at impressive speed and gained some attitude after flying up at the speed after diving down." Twilight explained.
"Wait, so Zipp has to fly up and dive back down to see how fast she can get?" Misty asked in concern.
"Oh ponyfeathers." Pipp muttered as they watched as Zipp just stood there as the Pegasi flew up to the sky while Zipp gave an uncertain look. "Come on, Zipp. You can do this." She encouraged her sister.
Zipp remembered her crash a week ago and was starting to get scared again before she saw a certain somepony standing at the stadium edge. Cloud was leaning against a pillar and looking Zipp right in the eye as he nodded with a resolute expression.
'Bravery may have been something you might have had before, but bravery comes when facing those fears. It's never gone, just blocked off by something that you need to face to find it again.' Cloud's voice echoed in her mind about their talk earlier as she listened to his words as she closed her eyes and took a breather.
Zipp then opened her eyes with a determined expression as she then spread her wings and looked up as she then took off into the air at high speed. "I'm a princess of a different kind, always trying to figure out why." Zipp Said as she flew upwards and was glowing as she reached the highest point possible, "When my Cutie Mark comes to life, I blast freely across the sky!" She declared as her wings were spread and a rainbow glow enveloped her as she then dove down.
"Oooh!" The crowd all said in awed when they saw Zipp glow in rainbow color as the rest of the Mane 8 looked up
"What's happening to Zipp?" Hitch asked.
"She's a glowing rainbow?" Twilight asked in wonders.
"Wait, I've seen this glow before." Sunset said in familiarity. "Izzy, didn't this happen to you before?"
"Oh, yeah, I think it was during my Blockywocky's thing when I created the Boardtrot." IZzy said with a smile, which made her gasped. "Wait, you mean that Zipp…" She started off.
While diving down, Zipp was still glowing as her mane and tail then extended as she then gain rainbow streaks of herself as she was envelope in a golden flash as she kept diving down as she then started to break a barrier as she then sparked up before she then blasted past, creating a sonic boom in her wake as a rainbow shockwave was made from where she took off as she dived down at high speed as every pony, including the stunt ponies, looked up in shock and awed at what they are seeing.
"O…M…P…" Pipp said breathlessly, as she got the whole thing on video.
"Twilight, is that what I think it is?" Sunset asked in awe.
"T-T-That's the Sonic Rainboom!" Twilight said in shock and had a nostalgic smile.
"The very same technique Rainbow Dash made that got you and your old friends Cutie Marks together?!" Sunny asked in excitement.
"The same one!" Twilight called in pure excitement. "Zipp did a Sonic Rainboom! A legendary move that Equestria hasn't seen in centuries!"
"My daughter did a legendary technique?!" Haven asked in shock and a proud smile. "I, I, I just, I can't…!" It was all too much for Haven as she fainted before Alphabittle caught her.
"She's just happy." Alphabittle commented with a chuckle.
They continued to watch Zipp fly down before she then got into an arch formation as she then formed a rainbow over the stadium, which she stopped as she realized what happened as she looked at herself and saw her new Rainbow Form. "D-Did I just do that?" Zipp asked herself in shock as she looked down and saw her friends and the crowd cheering to her from the final performance as the rainbow Zipp made shined over her with sparkles as Zipp gave a wide smile at what she just accomplished as she then flew in a loop around her rainbow she created as the crowd cheered louder.
A bit later after the show, Zipp, who is still in her Rainbow Form, regrouped with her friends who were chatting about what happened. "Zipp, that was amazing!" Sunny said with a smile.
"That was the best show we've seen in our lives!" Hitch added while Sparky babbled in excitement.
"You created the Sonic Rainboom!" Twilight said in pure astonish.
"And the first Rainboom I've seen since I missed out on Rainbow's." Sunset commented with a smile.
"I have never seen a rainbow shined like that!" Misty said in pure amazement.
"It was so sparkly than the Brighthouse's rainbow!" Izzy exclaimed with a wave of her hooves.
Pipp squealed and rushed to her sister, "Oh my Glitter, Zipp you were so super glamtaculously amazing out there!" She said, before looking at Zipp's mane, "And look at your Rainbow Highlights, they are so you!"
Zipp laughed before she was pulled into a tight hug by Queen Haven who nuzzled her cheek with tears of joy, "Oh my dear little Zipperpoo! I am so proud of you!" Haven wept happily while she hugged her daughter.
"Mom! My friends are watching." Zipp said while blushing in embarrassment as her mother kept nuzzling her.
"Zephyrina, you will let your mother hug and love you as much as she want." Haven said with a stern tone, which made Zipp give a sheepish chuckle and a nod as Haven went back to hugging her. "You have made the most memorable event that nopony will ever forget!"
"Thanks Mom," Zipp said with a smile, despite the embarrassment, as she looked to her friends, "I guess I was wrong, I am still the Element of Bravery,"
"I knew you weren't really scared of flying," Pipp said with a smile.
"Oh no, I was terrified," Zipp corrected, making her friends confused, "But it was only until I realized that Bravery is choice not a destiny, and that it means overcoming what scares to do what you want to do,"
"And I guess because you found your true purpose of bravery, you unlocked your rainbow magic of your element." Sunset said with a small smile while gesturing to Zipp's Rainbow Form.
"It looks similar to how me and my old friends had when defeating Tirek the first time." Twilight said as she inspected Zipp's Rainbow Form. "This is amazing. And I'm a bit jealous since me and my friends only had that power once thanks to the Tree of Harmony."
"Ooh, I can't wait until I get my Rainbow Look!" Pipp said excitedly.
"Give it time, Pipp." Sunset said with a smile as she looked at Zipp while Flurry looked at her careful. "Zipp, you really embrace your element like Izzy has. And you created the most ancient move that no other pony has ever done in generations."
"Thanks Sunset, I think I might be even faster than I was be-" Zipp stopped when she noticed Flurry looking at her hard, "Um, Princess Flurry?" She said in concern.
"A boy," Flurry spoke up in realization.
"Huh?" Zipp said in confusion.
"You met a boy!" Flurry sang as Zipp blushed while the others looked at Zipp in surprise.
"Oh, what?!" Pipp asked with an excited smile.
"She met a what?!" Haven asked while looking at her oldest daughter in complete shock.
"Uh… Um…" Zipp stuttered as she looked at Flurry. "How would you know that?!"
"Zipp, I'm the Princess of Love." Flurry said while gesturing to her appearance with a smirk. "I have the ability to sense love and share it like how my mom used to do. I can practically sense it off you. Kinda like how I sense Hitch and Sunny's love sparkling so bright that I would've used sunglasses to see them." She quipped while Sunny and Hitch blushed sheepishly from that.
"It's true. She does have it." Twilight said with a proud look at her niece.
"So, found somepony interested, eh?" Izzy said with a smirk, nudging Zipp.
"Because if so, we would like to hear about it." Misty said with a teasing smile.
"What's the likely Colt's name?" Sunset asked, getting in on it too.
Zipp kept blushing as she looked at the teasing looks her friends gave her and a stern look her mother was giving as she gave a sheepish look. "Uh, I'll just… I'll catch you ponies later. See ya!" She said as she trotted first as she went back to her normal form and took off at high speed.
"Zephyrina Storm!" Haven yelled firmly as she flew off after her daughter as Flurry and the rest of the Mane 8 laughed in amusement from that.
"You just love revealing a sense of love out of nowhere, huh, Flurry?" Twilight asked her niece with an amusing look.
"I couldn't help myself. It is my nature." Flurry said with a shrug and a smirk.
"So, Zippy's finally crushing on somepony again," Sunny said with a smirk.
"I wonder who got my sister's eyes?" Pipp asked with a smirk as well while rubbing her chin in thought as the others wondered the same thing.
Meanwhile Cloud was looking out to the sunset before he noticed Zipp flying in panting, "Okay, I think I lost her," She said in relief.
"Tired out from the games?" Cloud asked with a small smile.
"Not exactly. But having to lose my mother from a firm talking to can do that." Zipp said while taking a breather. "Phew, she's tough to shake."
"And what was she trying to scold you about?" Cloud questioned.
"Well, wanting to know who talked to me before the games and after Princess Flurry Heart sensed something in me that might've… giving her and my friends a hint." Zipp said while having a slight blush as she rubbed her hoof.
"Heh, nice to know a princess has been singing my praises," Cloud said with a smirk, "Bet you got a killer singing voice too,"
"Uh, I sing, but my sister does that everytime." Zipp said, feeling her blush a bit more heated from the complimented.
"I heard. But if your sister could sing, I bet you have that too." Cloud said with a smile. "And I saw what you pulled off at the show. And I gotta be honest, I didn't expect to see a rainbow that you created out of nowhere. What, is that something you kept secret from others?"
"Uh, actually, it was my first time doing it." Zipp admitted while rubbing her head. "Gotta be honest, I wasn't expecting that to happen."
"Well, doesn't make it any less cool," Cloud told her.
"Yeah, it was cool." Zipp said with a small smile. "Hey, Cloud. Thanks for the talk you gave me back there. It really helped me through the whole show."
"Hey, I was just giving you a helping hoof, nothing special," Cloud said with a small shrug and a smile.
"But it sorta did. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have moved past my fears and did an impossible stunt that nopony has ever seen." Zipp said with a smile. "I mean, not even I couldn't pull that move before in my entire life. I mean, you don't see that everyday, or ever."
"Well, I'm glad that I could help, princess." Cloud said with a smile as Zipp blushed some more. "Well, I hope to see you around, Zipp Storm."
"Actually, maybe you and I can just hang out, go for some smoothies and take a flight?" Zipp suggested with a smile.
Cloud was surprised by Zipp's offer as he gave a small smile and a shrug. "Well, I have nothing else to do today, so I don't see why not." He said.
Zipp turned away and pumped her hoof downwards, "Yes!" She cheered silently before turning back to Cloud. "Well, come on. Let's go." She said as she then took flight and flew ahead as Cloud watched her go as he sighed.
"Okay, that princess is full of surprises," Cloud commented with a smile as he then flew after Zipp as the two Pegasi flew towards Maretime Bay as they flew across the sky together.
Zipp found her Element and unlocked her Rainbow Magic, but she also found something else too; a bit love that brought a bit of cheer to her life.
End of Chapter 27.