What It's Like to Fly

Twilight Sparkle returned in short order, accompanied by Fluttershy.

“Excuse me, Xavier,” Fluttershy said in her quiet way. “Twilight tells me that you’re gathering perspectives on flying and would like my opinion. Well, I’d be very glad to give it to you. Oh, and also to go on your nature walk with you, if you don’t mind. I just love nature, after all.”

“Of course you’re welcome to join us,” Xavier said. “Twilight tells me you prefer to stay close to the ground. Why is that?”

“Well,” Fluttershy said, “for a pony like Rainbow Dash, the winds in the sky are exhilarating. For me, they’re terrifying. I feel pushed around and out of control. I feel like at any moment they may send me crashing to the Earth. Also, when you get up into the clouds, it’s so cold! Besides, most birds don’t fly that high. I like being down here where I can talk to my animal friends.”

“Do you find flying helpful to you in any way, or would you just as soon walk?” Xavier asked.

“Oh, flying is useful, and it can be fun too!” Fluttershy said. “It can help me get places a little faster than I could by running. I’m not a super-fast flyer like Rainbow Dash, but I can be pretty fast when I need to be. If I go up to tree-top level, I can look down and make sure my animal friends are safe. I do like flying, I just like to stay a little lower than Dashy does.”

At that moment, Rainbow Dash returned with the Wonderbolts.

“These Pegasi owe me a favor,” she said. “So, we’re going to walk up Yellow Mountain, and they’ll meet us at the top with a sky chariot. We can’t make you grow wings, Xavier, but we can show you what it feels like to fly.”

“Wow!” Xavier cheered. “This is the greatest day! Thank you all so much!”

“See you at the top of Yellow Mountain,” Soarin said, giving the group a smile and a friendly wink.