"Aura Skies, we've signed you up for flight camp."

"Mom, why did you have to do this?" asked Aura Skies. "You know my....condition. Please don't make me go there!" she begged.

"I'm sorry honey, but you need to learn how to fly. You might get your cutie mark in flight, anyway," reasoned Stormdancer. "But your father and I agreed that it would be useful."

"I guess I better get packing. The bus leaves tommorrow," grumbled Aura.

"Ok, honey, be in bed by eight. Love you," said Stormdancer as she hugged her daughter.

"Love you too," mumbled Aura Skies. When her mother left the room, she sighed. Aura dragged out a good sized suitcase from her closet. She dug around in her closet and found a small sleeping bag, and she stuffed it into her suitcase. Aura Skies went into her bathroom and got some soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a manebrush. The white pegasus dropped these items into a side pockect. Aura Skies got her favorite pillow and shoved it in. She then noticed her security toy, a pink elephant that she named Cubby. "I hope nopony notices," she said to herself as she carefully tucked her stuffed friend in a cozy spot in the luggage.

After a quick combing of her light green and lavender mane that flowed slightly, not as much as the Princesses, though, Aura Skies went to bed, unsure of what lay ahead.

"Aura, wake up! It's time to leave!" Aura Skies snapped out of her sleep. As she looked at her clock, which read 6:00, she wondered if she was going to get breakfast. Her mom grabbed her luggage and threw a bagel at Aura Skies. "Hurry up!" she shouted. "Let's go!"

Aura galloped outside, where a huge double decked flight chariot been pulled by 50 buff pegasi waited for her. She kissed her mom goodbye, then climbed on board.

"Leave your luggage here on the first floor. Passengers on the second floor. You're the last one we will pick up," said a friendly looking stallion. Aura Skies obeyed and went up to the 2nd floor.

It was extremely crowded up there. Pegasi as young as her to pegasi about 16 years old, plus four pegasi, one male and three female, who wore hats that said: "Instructor" were sitting everywhere. Aura Skies didn't know where to sit, so she looked for someone without a cutie mark. Aura spotted a grey colt about her age. He noticed her and waved her over. She sat down next to him, hoping that he wouldn't tease her for being a blank flank.

"Hi there!" he said cheerfully. Aura Skies didn't respond. The grey colt tried again. "I'm Rumble Storm. What's your name?" Aura noticed he was staring at her flank. She quickly covered it with her tail. "Oh, that's ok," said Rumble. "I'm still trying to get my cutie mark too. You seem awfully quiet. What's your name again?"

"Aura Skies," she mumbled.

Rumble said, "I didn't hear you. Could you please speak up?"

"Aura Skies," she said, a little louder.

"Aura Skies, huh? My brother Thunderlane is instructing the intermediate group this year. He's the black pegasus with the hat. I can fly pretty well. Most ponies think I'm really good. How well can you fly?" he asked.

"I-I," Aura's eyes began to fill up with tears. Don't cry. He'll laugh at you. she thought. "I...can't," she said.
A tear fell from Aura's eyes. She felt ashamed and stupid for telling him her dark secret. She felt as though she lost her first chance for a friend. She expected Rumble to tell her to sit somewhere else. But he didn't.

"Oh. I'm sorry I asked. I just thought, since you're going to flight camp, you would be able to fly," Rumble said, which only made Aura Skies start to cry. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way!" he exclaimed. Aura calmed down quickly as Rumble asked another question. "What's your biggest fear? Mine is small spaces, I'm claustrophobic," he said.

Aura Skies hesitated, then said, "My biggest fear is, well, flying. I can't even open my wings. I feel so useless!" She felt so glad to talk with him, but she needed to say more. "Um," she hesitated, but continued, "are we friends?"

"Of course we are!" said Rumble. Aura Skies was never happier. She had a friend now!

"We're here!" shouted the stallion Rumble said was called Thunderlane. Everyone cheered except Aura, and the grey pegasus who was apparently an instructor shouted "WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Everyone got off the bus, and they lined up in front of the grey pegasus.

"Hi! I'm the lead instructor, Ditzy Doo!" said the pegasus. "You can call me Ditzy, Derpy Hooves, or Ms. Doo! To decide which group you'll be in, you'll take a quick flight test." At this Aura gulped. Ditzy continued. "You'll have 2 hours, split into 2 sessions, of classes with whichever group you are in, and 4 hours, split into 2 sessions, of lessons with the entire camp! Fluttershy will teach the beginner group, Thunderlane will teach intermediate, and Rainbow Dash will teach advanced! Come get your schedules then we'll begin flight testing."

Aura Skies got a schedule and looked at it. She would have breakfast at 7:30, lessons with her group at 8:30 to 9:30, a break at 9:30 to 10:00, entire camp lessons from 10:00 to 12:00, lunch, 12:00 to 1:00, group lessons 1:00-2:00, entire camp lessons 2:00- 4:00, free time 4:00-6:00, dinner 6:00-7:00, and free time till 10:00, lights out. Wow, this is going to be hard, she thought.

"Okie dokie artichokie! Line up in front of this course!" called Ditzy.

Oh, no, thought Aura Skies. The dreaded flight test.

Author's Note

I do hope you enjoy this one. Review and Rate!