Cloudsdale, the Untold Story

West Cloudsdale, 5:43 A.M., Saturday July 21st 2001, 10 years ago

“Be careful, honey.” Called out Rainbow Dash’s mother from the doorway of their Cloudsdale home, “This is your first time making a flight this far from home unsupervised. Don’t get into any trouble, now.”

“Don’t be such a worry-wart, Mom” the young filly replied, “I’m gonna be fine. How am I supposed to become the best flier in all of Cloudsdale if I can’t handle such an easy job like this?”

“Well, I still don’t like the idea of you endangering yourself...”

“I’ll be fine. Just try trusting me a little more. I promise I won’t put my life in danger, alright?” Rainbow pleaded.

Her mother finally gave in. “Okay, fine. I’m going to hold you to that promise, alright?”

“Sounds good! I’ll be home in a few hours!” Rainbow Dash flapped her little wings, leaving her house to head to her new job at West Cloudsdale Post Office. She flew as fast as her young, developing wings could take her towards the post office; she wanted to be the first one there all day. Rainbow Dash had always been the one to want to be the very best, like nopony ever was. She never liked to lose to anypony. No challenge big or small would stand in the way of her goals.

Rainbow Dash knew the only way she could even have a chance of that was by enrolling in flight school, and the only way she could get into a flight school was if she had money; money that she didn't have. Her parents were the kind of parents who would worry about their kids, so they didn’t want their daughter to love the idea of dangerous flying very much. But no matter how hard they tried, Rainbow just found flying to be so fascinating. The most her parents did was allow her to have a job that allows her to fly around.

“We just can’t pay for something we don’t want our daughter doing. If you want to get into junior speedster flight school you’re going to have to get a job and pay for it yourself.” Her mother's words echoed through her head.

“I’ll get into Junior Speedster Flight School. You just wait and see. I’m gonna become the greatest flier Cloudsdale has ever seen.”

Rainbow looked around the neighborhoods around her and noticed nopony was outside but her. She began to wonder to herself, “Am I up way too early? Maybe I shouldn’t have left so soon... No, I promised myself I would be the first one there, and that’s what I’m gonna do." Rainbow Dash sped down the street as fast as she could, determined to get to the post office. She sped up so fast she almost couldn’t see what was right in front of her. All of the sudden, a small yellow filly walked around the corner, not looking where she was going. Rainbow Dash tried her hardest to slow down to prevent herself from colliding into the innocent little filly, but it couldn’t have been helped. Rainbow Dash crashed into the other pony and they both went flying down the street.

Rainbow slowly got up, trying to keep her balance, “Ow, that’s gonna hurt in the morning.” She then noticed the other pony was still on the ground and quickly ran over to help her up. “I am so sorry!” Rainbow explained, worryingly “That was all my fault. I shouldn’t have been going that fast, I tried to slow down!” Rainbow looked at the pony on the ground who was struggling to stand. “Here, let me help you!” Rainbow offered, quickly. She dug her head under the body of the little pony and began to lift her to her hooves, “There you go, you’ll be fine” Rainbow said, trying to reassure the filly.  “I’m sorry about that. Here, let’s start over. My name is Rainbow Dash. What’s yours?” The little pony opened her eyes and looked into Rainbow’s eyes. The pony cringed then squeaked quietly, then ran away down the street she came on.

“Wait!” yelled Rainbow. “I didn’t mean to scare you!” But the little yellow filly kept running as fast as she could, “Well that was weird.” Rainbow stated “Oh well, better get to the post office.” She then began flying towards the post office again.

She didn’t get much farther before she saw a large shadow on top of her. Rainbow looked up and saw a large dark-grey colt with a mane that looked like fire. He looked like he was just a few years older than Rainbow Dash was. He kept shifting his head as he flew, as if he was looking for something. Rainbow couldn’t help herself but to stop and keep staring at the pony, “His flying is so awesome.” She thought to herself, “His wings are so big for such a young pony.”

He looked down at Rainbow Dash and suddenly flew straight towards her, “Oh buck, He’s coming this way!” Rainbow thought to herself in shock “What do I do?!”

He slowed down and landed lightly right next to Rainbow Dash, “Hey, can I ask you a question?” the large alicorn asked, “Where is Cloudsdale junior speedster flight school?”

“Oh, it’s somewhere that way. There should be a big sign that says ‘Cloudsdale Junior Speedster Flight School’ on it.” Rainbow said, nervously.

The grey colt replied, “Thanks.” then quickly picked himself up and dashed through the clear skies towards the flight school.

Rainbow Dash watched as he flew away and disappeared in the distance, “Wow” Rainbow thought in amazement, “Even his voice sounds awesome.” She couldn’t help herself but to keep thinking of him.

Rainbow Dash, staring into the clear blue sky, suddenly snapped “Oh sweet Celestia, I still wanna be the first one at the post office!” She then dashed down the street, straight towards the post office.

Post stop in her sight, Rainbow began to slow down and landed herself right at the front door, “Alright, finally at the post office.” Rainbow thought to herself. “No one is here yet. Maybe I am too early.”

Rainbow went up to the front door and started knocking vigorously. She began to yell at the top of her lungs “Hello! Is any pony in there? I’m here for my first day as a Paper Pony!” But nopony answered. Rainbow walked away from the door, sat next to the building, and began thinking to herself.

“Who was that shy little filly I saw earlier?” she wondered. “And that flaming maned grey pony.” She started slouching where she sat, “I’ve sure had an interesting day so far.” She started to close her eyes, then slowly fell asleep, and began dreaming.

Her dream started out on her first day as a paper pony. She was casually delivering papers to her friendly neighbors. Suddenly, Cloudsdale began falling apart. The clouds beneath them were parting, and none of the ponies in Cloudsdale, including Rainbow Dash, could use their wings. The fall seemed to be endless. As she was falling, she heard ponies crying for help in all directions. She saw many different ponies she knew falling past her, starting with her parents yelling, “Rainbow, help us!” She tried to open her wings, but they just wouldn’t budge. She helplessly watched her family fall to their deaths. She looked to the ground and prepared for impact as she hit the ground. She was suddenly in an open casket in the ground while dirt was being shoveled into the hole. She saw her parents dressed in black crying over her, along with the shy yellow filly, and the mysterious grey pony standing on the other side. Rainbow tried to call out to them, “I’m not dead yet! Get me outta this thing!” but none of them heard her screams.  She started shaking as her eyes slowly closed. She heard a distant call to her, “Wake up, wake up little filly.”

She slowly opened her eyes, seeing a blurry shape of a pony in front of her, “Wake up silly little filly, wake up” the pony said lightly. Her sight cleared so she could see the pony in front of her. The pony had a light gray coat with a short blond mane. He had wrinkles all over his face, and when he talked he had a scratch to his voice like his voice was starting to die from old age. But his voice was at the same time sweet and welcoming like a friend. He had a key around his neck and a hat with a picture of a pony with a package on its back.

“Who are you?” asked Rainbow as she stood up and stretched her legs out.

“The name’s Grey Hooves, but everyone who works here calls me Mr. Hooves, ‘cause I own this place.” He said proudly while looking up at the building. He then looked back down at Rainbow Dash. “Tell me little filly, how long have you been out here?”

“Umm...I don’t know.” Rainbow Dash said while rubbing her eyes. “What time is it now?”

Grey Hooves looked down to a watch on his right foreleg. “About 8 A.M. Say, don’t you know that the post office isn’t open until 9:00 anyways? Why are you here so early?”

“I got up and left around 6:00 in the morning because I wanted to be the first of the new mail ponies to be here.”

“So you’re one of the new recruits, eh? You must be Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow looked straight up at Mr. Hooves. “What?!  How did you know my name?!”

“I know about all of the new recruits. My granddaughter is joining the paper ponies too; maybe you two will become good friends. Come on inside, I got a comfy couch in my office. You can take a nap and I’ll wake yah when the rest of the new recruits get here for the 1st day meeting.”

“Alright, thanks Mr. Hooves.” Rainbow said while walking into Mr. Hooves office. She then lied down on the couch, closed her eyes, and fell back to sleep.