‘Stand fast, for all you that take your place in the Heavens this day. May your wings be true, for all conditions shall not brace your back but meet you head on! Let hopelessness not sodden your wings, let fear not hold down your spirits. For this day, you ride with the pegasus Oath. For upon this very day, you ride the air like a pony should. Wings up, head down. Trust the wind and never look back!’
All was silent upon the lonesome hills. Sat high above Ponyville came barely a whisper of sound. The soft evening breeze would blow in from the south, rolling off the far hills and breaking on the valley below. A soft clutter of chirping, the harking cry of a lone eagle as it claimed the twilight hour. The cape of grass would shift and sway in the stifling summer wind, the call of the skies and the clouds above flicking off the solitary peak. Beneath the mountain sat the churning stream, barely a tinkle at such height, like a vein through the rich seam of the hulking plains. An outreach of green bathed in the sweet kiss of the dying light.
A crunch of leaves underfoot, a hoof against the bowing grass. Each solitary blade would bend, a prayer to the great pony who would ascend the peak. The horizon gave its last act, a crown of golden brilliance that sat at the edge of the world. The great mare would take her steps to the edge of the cliff beyond her, eyes scanning across the ocean of wind ahead. Ears would flick to the humming currents of breeze around her, legs would readjust as she stopped at the grand lip.
Body was adorned in a long coat of steel, a royal battle dress of dark obsidian trimmed with a shimmering gold. Plates of fine craft gave her flexibility, allowing her wings to move freely through the back plate. Head was crowned with a fine laurel of polished gold, designed in the shape of air currents that started at her ears and met to form at point at her forehead.
A breath was taken. The crisp air would kiss back. The sky would call her.
Those illustrious wings would open, blue feathers shooting up to catch the dying rays of the setting Sun. Each plume would shudder in the wind, laying flat against the shimmering surface. Soon enough, the Sun would dive slowly beneath the world, set to rise another day. The boisterous whistle of the airborne drifts shifted freely across those steadfast ears, whipping across the rolling locks of that rainbow mane.
Hooves took their steps to the very edge of the sheer cliff, body weight shifting to send the lone pegasus into the precipice below. Great blue feather sails shot out at either side, the rushing wind catching each and lifting the graceful pony from her free fall. As the circuits of air would catch each wing, those bustling feathers would start to straighten her out. The grand pegasus was off, soaring high above the valley floor and into the dying day.
Below blue wings sat the great buildings of her second home, of the grand city hall and the olden tree of the library. All would rush past in an instant, a firm flap of those gracious wings jetting her through the approaching twilight. Nothing was audible but the passing air, the sensation of the world zooming by her. Clouds seemed to zip above, charging past at breakneck speed. A once grand peak seemed to divulge into nothing more than a pinprick on the skyline, left naught but a few stray feathers and a diminishing dot.
With the town left behind, the weather of the outlands came into action. A roar from the blackened heavens would cry out above her, snarling and groaning like a tiger baiting its long awaited kill. Streaks of light tore through the darkened clouds, each pool of black soot letting free a torrent of bone chilling icy water. But the Queen was unfazed. She would not stir from her path. Soon that brilliant coat would be coated in silken rain, a blanket of moisture cascading off her wings as they flapped through the heavy storm. The air around her hooves began to morph and change, a ripple of air causing the rainfall to spread around her. Like a bullet, the rain mare charged through the skies.
Tumultuous rainclouds roared and snarled above, like enraged beasts baying for their kill. But the lone flyer was not daunted. Even sudden howls of deathly thunder would not break her form, grand wings carrying her in an elegant roll through the downpour. Time seemed to slow, each raindrop like a tear splashing upon her cheek or back, gusty fronts seemed to be only the lightest breeze.
Streaks of sharp lightning would crackle from the swirling dark clouds above her, each jutting angle and crooked turn of the bolt almost like a pillar of fracturing bone. At such a speed, the pegasus’ perception picked up every motion that jolt would make, jittering past her as she soared on, slamming firmly into the wet ground beneath her. And just like that, the storm had passed, or was left behind. The curtains of rain would give way to the clear, chilling night. The Moon shone above, unveiled from the darkness of the cloud cover, making that royal armour glow and beam in the soft luna rays. A glimmering sight to behold as she shot gracefully through the midnight sky.
Up there, she was the ruler. Up there, she was Queen.
Rarity swiftly awoke from her rather tantalising dream. Her body sat up, hooves to her head as reality began to flood back in. It had been some dream! Was that pony Dash? Was she destined to grow up like that, to become such a strong, imposing figure? The poor unicorn was getting all hot and bothered just thinking about it!
"Oh wow..." murmured the excited mare, her head tilting to the side to see the rainbow coloured mare beside her. A warm blush lit up on her lips, Dash softly snoring and mumbling in her sleep.
"No Applejack...no more..." groaned the sleeping pegasus, Rarity leaning down to press a soft kiss to her cheek before rolling back over and tucking her head into the pillow.
"Mmmm...Applejack...ah...Nox Primus..."
