Today was the most horrible day in the entire month. It was the second Wednesday of July and Celestia's sun was just about to reach the mid-way in its loop. Well it would be, if you could see it that is. HawkFlash's olive-green gaze shifted nervously from the clouded, dark grey sky to the loose dirt that her hooves strolled on and unavoidably beckoned up.
This wasn't much of a problem though since her pelt was a light dusty color anyways. Infact, she hadn't even noticed she was kicking up filth on herself. Her mind was focused on one thing: the clouds looming overhead.
Oh come on, hurry up!
Within her muzzle she held a bag full of groceries. Thankfully the tan, cloth handles didn't give way to the tense grindding of her teeth. HawkFlash hated being under the clouds, especially on the second Wednesday of every month. Most ponies, despite the upcoming weather, conversed and sat contently under kiosks', venders', and cafes' patios. Hawk, on the other hoof, increasingly sped up through the middle of the marketplace.
Just one more thing on the list! Where is that apple vender?
The more time that ticked by the more panicked the sorrel mare became. HawkFlash was now at a full gallop, tearing up the dry dirt in a cloud behind her. Going at this rate, she nearly missed the red and green apple-painted sign signifying her targeted destination. Digging her forelegs into the ground she skidded to a halt. The sudden stop, as well as the unsual haste, was greeted with wary gazes from all around.
Always having been a pony of short focus, Hawk didn't even notice the attention. Bounding straight to the front of the kiosk (thankfully housing no line) the mare placed an order of three green apples to the host of the buisness. When the apples were rounded into her bag Hawk made short time of flinging the bits required onto the counter.
"Why, thank ya kindly sugarcube." A cowboy-hatted filly replied with a tip of her head.
HawkFlash gave an awkward smile through her held bag in acknowledgement to the appreciation before pivoting to be on her way. With a flick of her wing she skillfully tossed the coin purse held within it to the bag. Now with that outta the way it was time to spread her wings.
Her eyes peered up at the thick, rolling grey blanket of clouds that blotted out all signs of day. A lump caught in her throat and her usually perked ears drew back in fear. Cloudsdale was past that wall; peace away from the ground.
Let's go! The longer I stand here the more of a chance the clouds have to burst!
Forcing the catch in her throat away with a heavy gulp, HawkFlash readied for pushoff. With trembling limbs, she finally drew up the strength and courage to jump from the ground and...fall to the earth again. Landing on her stomach with legs outstrached, HawkFlash quickly scrambled to her hooves again.
Ignoring her now very dusy pelt, the mare checked to make sure all the items she carried were in order and well. After that worry was atteneded to, she made sure to give herself a mental hoof in the rear. Focusing this time (as well as actually using her wings) helped her next attempt at flight become successful. The air's cool yet shifting currents usually gave Hawk a sense of enjoyment, but not today.
At this moment, fear was driving her upward instead of usual bliss. The closer she got to the smokey-colored clouds the faster her heart raced. As if to keep with the tempo, her wings beat faster as well. This only drew the inevitable closer and closer. Three yards from entering, Hawk squeezed her eyes shut. She felt the softness of the clouds wizz by and their liquid cling to her pelt. The static held within them was the scariest part, however. It was supressed spring ready to unleash it's full energy.
A chill ran up the mare's spine simply thinking about it. She prayed to Celestia to finally break outta this horrific cloud and- PING! Her head collided with a pillar of Cloudsdale, a sharp pain pounded at her cranium soon after contanct. HawkFlash's wings stropped in place and she fell to a cushioned landing on her back. Her forehooves rubbed at her forehead, determined to ease the pain.
"Ooooowwwwww~!" She heard herself complain in a rather whiny tone. Her voice usually held a foalish cheer, cracking ever so slightly when she over-expressed things or quickly changed pitch.
"Well maybe if you'd fly with your eyes open, my dear Hawkie, you wouldn't have to greet that pillar so often." A deeper tone rang, a trace of a tease lingering. His voice, even in situations such as this, held a certain profession to it. Though deeper than Hawk's, it was lighter than most stallions. It was most recognizable by its constant attempt to feign elegance.
Opening her still closed eyes, HawkFlash looked over to the owner of the ever familiar voice. Confirming her undoubted suspicion, they narrowed to a glare. "Well if you wouldn't send me on featherbrained errands on this day of all days I wouldn't have to close my eyes!"
It was a lame excuse and she knew it, but letting the yellow brute get the upperhoof was unthinkable.
"Oh? So you're telling me you haven't crashed into that same pillar numerous times before? On sunny days no less." He rolled his ruby-colored eyes at the mare though a smile was clear on his muzzle. "Besides, look at my groceries! Why, if I wasn't here to catch them when you uncaringly let them go they'd of been all mush."
Blowing hot air from her snout, HawkFlash rolled to stand on her four hooves. The cloth bag holding all the items she'd picked up today was sitting comfortably beside the stallion's left forehoof. She could only assume he'd caught them when she'd inevitably let them go after nearly pounding her head clean off. She could feel a headache coming on. Cloudpillars were much harder than imagined and Hawk knew that firsthoof.
"I swear, one of these days I'm going to force those construction ponies to move it. Anyways, why did you need all that food? You know better than anypony I hate these days." HawkFlash questioned, still glaring at her long-time best friend. She'd never been angry more than five minutes, and she couldn't even say she was angry right now. Even so, the mare wanted to know why her friend would make her feel so scared on purpose.
On cue, a roaring sound of thunder signaled that the storm had struck Ponyville below. Though the clouds were only a leap below Cloudsdale, it was safe from the weather the grounded ponies had to face.
Flip-Clop (the yellow-coated, black-maned stallion of coruse), uplifted his head and placed a forehoof on his chest. In this position he looked to be mocking an offended pony. "The nerve! I'd never cast my close friend into the fray with such carelessness that was show to my groceries! Why, I even planned to bake you your favorite dish on this horrid anniversary of yours!"
HawkFlash blinked, out of words to combat such twisted reasoning as this. Shaking her head slowly, she simply smiled. "Flip, you're a werido."
At that they both laughed and began their jouney to Flip's house. The stallion carried the bag on his back, freeing his mouth to sputter it's usual nonsense. Right now, however, Flip seemed to take on a more serious note. "But seriously, dear, it was a long time ago. You should really face your fears and stop being so skidish of a simple storm. You're a weather pony for filly's sake!"
Hawk kicked up a puff of clouds, looking at the ground. Sad subjects were awkward for her and she'd rather just leave it be. Glancing up at the bag, she found a way to slip out of the topic. "I'm hoping by 'your favorite dish' you meant chocolate carmel apple cake?"
Flip cast a look down to his shorter friend and gave a posh-like chuckle. At least, he would of thought so. "Why of course, Hawkie. A layer of chocolate on a layer of carmel on a layer of apple on a layer of cake~! Couldn't you tell from the ingrediants?"
"Hey I'm an eater not a cooker." HawkFlash replied, happy to pull him off subject. It wasn't hard to do seeing as the stallion flipped from one thing to the next all the time. Hawk was quite certain that was how he earned his name even. She shrugged, following in suit to the not-so-distant house. The mare was glad to have Flip as her friend, even if he was her only one.
With beautiful, safe Cloudsdale, Flip at her side, and a job to look forward to tomorrow, what could possibly go wrong?
Author's Note
Pictures of OCs will be limited to one per chapter. While it's important to know looks of everypony, I don't want the pictures distracting readers. Also, since I proofread my own work, I'll be putting three stars up (***) on the top of these author's note to signify when it has been throughly looked over. This is because I'll be posting my rough draft up as soon as possible for your own enjoyment. Thank you for your time~!
