Sempiternal

I look around the table at the blank stares and expressions of the completely silent faces of the four mares and 3 fillies that quietly ate . I pondered for quite awhile if I should tell them about it or not before Twilight cleared her throat and asked again. "Well?" My forehead started to bead and sweat nervously ran down my cheek as my hands began to shake violently on the Oak table.

I was usually the one doing the interrogating and asking the questions so it just felt so awkward and unfamiliar to me. I felt a drop of sweat bead off my nose and it fell onto the table and landed almost with a thud on the White tablecloth due too the silence that had taken up the entire room. It just wasn't the time to tell them so I just stalled and nervously but calmly said back. "I am fluent in 4 other languages and thats about it. I'm actually quite ordinary compared to the other humans."

They all just looked at each other over the table and traded back their gazes with me satisfied with the lie I materialized. I could feel their anticipation and wonder as I just sat there and then returned my attention back to the plate of spaghetti in front of me and resumed eating in a nonchalant manner. They all did the same after a few seconds slowly and quietly. And for a good while the only sound that could be heard for a good while was slow munching and my fork scratching the porcelain plate like nails on a blackboard as they began to talk with each other.

I couldn't help myself anymore and let my curiosity get the better of me. I wanted to read Dash's mind she seemed to have to weakest mind and I wanted to just to dip my feet in the pool so to speak and to see what made her so abrasive and bitter all the time in the deep abyss of her mind. I put all my concentration into her and slowly her thoughts and memories began to unfold like pages in a book when I found something that was what caused her the most pain.

"It was almost like walking into a dream and I could almost taste the fresh clean air and feel the cool breeze of the eerily dark Blue sky far above the ground. Even though it was broad daylight you could easily see the stars shine brilliantly past the suns veil. Every sense of mine was heightened and were being stimulated beyond anything I have ever felt before almost like I lived it . It seemed like what I envisioned heaven would look like with clouds spanning as far as the eye could see and the ingenious works of architecture built from them that rivaled that of Roman style of building with high arches and Doric along with Ionic columns . There were plenty of Pegasus walking around on the clouds but their was one that caught my eye immediately as she walked between two older ponies.

I could recognize that Rainbow mane anywhere and concentrated even harder to get a closer look at them. The little cyan filly between them was crying her eyes out and her multicolored rainbow mane was so long that it dragged the clouds and was well taken care of and neatly brushed. They walked on towards a massive amphitheater with a huge banner that read " Cloudsdale Flight School Tryouts."

I wondered what had her so upset and tried even harder to concentrate almost losing my connection with her in the process to read the memory of her and her parents conversation. Her father was a stern looking stallion with a broad chest and shoulders with muscles that bulged through his dark Brown coat he had her big Magenta eyes that stared coldly and lifeless off into space. Her mother was a tall and slender skinny mare with a Cyan coat just like hers and beautiful shimmering hair that changed into a multitude of colors and shades when the sun hit it just right. It was just then her father broke the silence as he started to scold Dash

"You had better stop crying now Rainbow. You don't know the strings we had to pull too get you here so at the very least you should show a little appreciation." Her mother's midnight Blue eyes had started to tear up and she asked him. "Storm Cloud do we have to do this isn't there any other way?" He looks down at her and with not even an ounce of sympathy on his wrinkled and chiseled face said back. "No Prism this is the way it has to be."

They walk up to the steps of the building were all the fillies and their parents were gathered. Her mother was still crying but hugs her daughter tightly and kisses her cheek before saying. "It's time for you to go now Dashie do us proud and remember that the sky is not always the limit and your going to go far in life no matter what you decide to do. Goodbye my sweet little filly I'm going to miss you so much." Dash was still sniffling but she showed a little bravery and managed to crack a smile to her mother."Please mom I'm only going to be gone a few hours and stop being so mushy your embarrassing me in front of the other fillies please stop crying."

It was then the instructor's voice echoes throughout the crowd catching her attention as he calls out for all of the fillies and colts to line up and enter. She looks back her parents one last time before she joins the others and said "I love you mom and dad." She lines up in the column of other junior fliers through the doors and on to the track.

She walks down a long dark hallway with the clattering of hooves her only company on to the cloud turf. There she could see the table with the judges all conversing and looking over the new talent this year. Her knees were starting to shake uncontrollably making it almost impossible for her to stretch her legs to warm up and her heart was pounding so fast even the tiniest bit of physical exertion would have caused it to explode out of her chest. She tenses back up and focuses when behind her a giggle caught her attention and she slowly turns her head back followed by the rest of her body.

The three colts behind her she must have known and seen before because they knew her by name as the middle one started to laugh and tease her. "Aww would you look at that I guess Junior flight camp just wasn't enough for you Rainbow Crash. You better go get your mommy and cry on her shoulder again because I am going to make it my mission this year to rid myself of your irritating presence."

Her knees stop shaking and she stands taller puffing out her chest and boldly replied back. "Then you won't have a problem racing me in the first race would you? But if you don't want to thats fine save yourself the embarrassment." They all stood silent for just a moment before they all started laughing hysterically and rolling in the clouds. The middle one walks up to her just inches away from her face and grunted with his awful warm breath hitting her and she turned her face in grimace before he said. "Your on little filly I'm looking forward to putting an end to your flying career once and for all." He then walks off with his wild eyes never taking them off hers as he walked off with his friends who were still giggling. She took her mind off the competition focusing completely on what she had to do and what she was bred to do. She wasn't just any ordinary Pegasus as everypony thought. Her father was an Equinine a very rare minority of their species that is known for their incredible speed agility and endurance but also their arrogance and selfishness were just some of their traits.

A whistle pierced the silence to announce the racers to gather at the starting line in front of the judges for the first race. She walks up to the starting line and pauses. The only movement she made was to turn her head side to side to take one look at her competition. She turns her head back forward and assumes the starting position bending her front and hind legs. She was completely concentrated with every muscle in her body surging with raw power from years of training and exercise. It wouldn't have been good enough for her just to win she wanted to bury them.

It was like the six racers where frozen in time not even giving themselves a chance to breath until the whistle blew. Her body exploded off the platform when she jumped. Her wings swung so rapidly and furiously appearing to be just a faint blur of light.

The oval track was 1000 meters long and in less than 2 seconds she tore up 100 meters in a single sprint leaving all the others in a state of disorientation in the wake of the gale force winds that she left behind her. They desperately tried to catch up to her only to be slowed down by the residual energy that poured from her wings and kept them from even getting close to her. Her Magenta eyes were watering from the high speed air ripping her in the face but she had to keep them open she needed to see. Her vision was becoming blurry but she still could see the track as the barriers and empty grandstands . She had no idea how fast she was going and no perception of time as she circles the track over and over redundantly.

There wasn't a single Pegasus in the whole stadium that was going to get in her way to try and stop her in fear that they would be ran over by her. They just let her go watching the rainbow trail behind her go around and around until she completely exhausted herself and stopped at the starting strip on her platform.

Her body literally had nothing left to give as she panted profusely trying to force air back into her body. Her fur was glimmering in the sun giving her a glossy appearance from the sweat that ran off her body and now messy mane to her underside. One of the judges walks over to her and stands quietly as she caught her breath enough to speak. She looks up at the serious bold stare of his smoky Gray eyes and as he towered over her and assumed the worst.

His expression didn't even change in the least as he asked. "Rainbow Dash is it?" She nods and nervously stammered back almost choking on her own words "yyyess sir." He squints his eyes and tilts his broad neck bringing his face closer to hers. His face cracked a smile in a sick twisted fashion from his lack of experience using the expression but it was still reassuring to her none the less as he said. "I have been a professional racer for 20 years and a instructor for 6 but never in my entire career have I seen a filly as young as you are with scores that would beat half of our most elite fliers. Your a little rough around the edges and you need to hone your technique but we can work on that. I don't really give credit very often but I must say you were absolutely amazing. You really live up to what your cutie mark suggests Rainbow Dash."

She shifts her eyes back and forth in confusion before she looks back at her flank. Her heart almost stopped in disbelief as her eyes bulged out of her skull at the sight of her signature cutie mark of the White cloud and rainbow colored lightning bolt streaking through it. She couldn't have been more proud of herself than at that moment and there was nothing that was going to ruin this golden moment for her.

The other fillies and colts gathered around them as he gave her the full ride scholarship for flight school and all the training she would ever need before they exploded in a cheer chanting her name over and over again. The smile on her face stretched from ear to ear and all the blood in her body was in her face from blushing causing her to feel faint. The crowd of trainees eventually settles and resumes the second round of tryouts. She took a seat in the grandstands to rest not even paying attention to the others as they whizzed by her one after another occasionally blowing her hair about . She just couldn't wait for the day to be over so she tell her parents about it that was the only thing on her mind.

The colt that was so sure of himself earlier walked up and took a seat beside her with his face humbled and silent. Shes squints her eyes and gives him a menacing glare almost sure that he would accuse her of cheating. To her surprise he clears his throat and began by saying. "Uh Rainbow Dash you got a minute?" She was suspicious of what kind of angle he was trying and responded back with. "What do you want?" He still had that downtrodden look on his face but managed to say. "You were amazing today Dash I didn't think you had it in you." Her face cracks a smile and she modestly replies back. "It was nothing just a walk in the park."

He continues by saying. "I'm so sorry for bullying you all those years. As a matter a fact I've always sort of had a crush on you Rainbow. It was wrong of me to pick on so ruthlessly and today you taught me a very valuable lesson about karma and if anypony deserved that scholarship that pony was you. And maybe if you wanted could you maybe be my training partner if I get in and help me on my technique?"

She couldn't believe that the colt that bullied her for most of her natural life was giving her his most sincere apology and asking for her help. She just couldn't wipe that grin off her face no matter how hard she tried to be serious. She nodded and said back. "I would be happy too I hope you get in too and we could hang out together more."

His face brightened up and he let out a sly grin before she continued by saying. "Maybe we can... I don't know even exercise alone after dark if you know what I'm getting at handsome..?" His brown eyes widened and his pupils dilated with his jaw dropped at that statement from the dirty minded Pegasus. He was lost for words and his face started to blush making his cheeks beam Red as he said back. "Ooookay I'm looking forward to it. See you around Dash I wish you the best." She still had that menacing sadistic grin on her mug as he walked away as she said back. "You too Thunderhead."

She was once again alone to her thoughts as they raced back and forth. She sat there staring off into space for a half hour and didn't realize how far she was in her self induced trance until she heard a whistle blow and an announcement boomed from the lead instructor who called for all the participants to line up on the track. Her wings were extremely sore and ached causing her immense pain as she tried to move them so she opted to walk down instead from the stands.

All the others were anxiously waiting for the results and while the judges tallied the numbers the lead instructor walked down the line of junior fliers and stared them all down. He was a very stern looking stallion tall and broad and physically imposing as he walks to the end of the line and turns back down the line again as he began to lecture them about the schools tradition in his deep booming voice. "Cloudsdale Flight School is our most prestigious and historical institution. Some of the best fliers in all of Equestria have graduated from our school and made their marks in the history books and in our halls. Most of the students in our campus have rich parents and bought their way in. 98% of these young Pegasi do not graduate or drop out and the 2% that do are usually found right here. Our faculty at the school believe that every Pegasus is special and we set up these tryouts every year to give everypony a chance to attend our school. And today I believe we found that special pony in Miss Rainbow Dash and a few others in this crowd who showed great skill and potential would you please step up on the platform behind me Miss Dash."

Her face beamed a smile as she trotted up to the platform and took her place in the middle. He walks up to her and places a Red ribbon with a sparkling gold medallion in the middle of it on her chest. He shakes her hoof and gave her a smile before his voice boomed. "I'm looking forward to being your instructor you have a lot of heart kid." He then turns back to the others and continues by saying. "But she is not alone and in a moment we will announce the other contenders that have also made the cut."

He walks over to the judges table and for awhile they conversed back and forth before he is given a clipboard and he hastily makes his way back in front of the column of anxious colts and fillies. He looks down at it and raised his head again and bluntly announced the names of the other Pegasi that also had caught the judges eyes. "Shadow Storm, Thunderhead, Bulk Biceps, Cumulonimbus, please step forward take your places next to Miss Dash. They almost tripped over each other as they frantically ran up the steps and took their places standing nervously at attention with Dash in the middle who couldn't be any more calmer and relaxed.

He congratulates them all and they are all given the piece of paper guaranteeing them into one of the most elite flying schools in all of Equestria. He continues to talk for awhile more to the ponies that didn't make it cheering them up by saying "This may not have been your year but if you continue to work hard enough it will be rewarded I promise I hope to see you all again next year." He talked for a awhile longer to the Dash and the others and hands them a schedule before he promptly dismissed them all.

Outside the stadium the parents had herded at the front gates and talked with each other as they waited patiently before the front door burst open unleashing a flood of tiny multicolored ponies stampeding towards their parents. Dash couldn't have been more nonchalant even though she was so excited to tell her parents about today she held it all back as she slowly walked down the hall behind the mob of her peers and exited last out into the sunshine at the top of the steps.

She was expecting her parents to be out front but when she thoroughly scanned the crowd they were nowhere to be found. She wondered where they were and what could have been so important that they would forget to be there to pick her up. In a matter of a few minutes the crowd dissipated and she was left all alone on the steps as she sat and pondered. "Maybe they just forgot it would only be a few hours and they are at home?" She didn't want to sit there for too much longer after that before she decided to get up and walk back home by herself.

She walks through the crowded streets of the city scared out of her mind. Cloudsdale is unforgiving and is no place for a filly all by herself but she puts on a brave face and continues on for several more minutes until she reaches the block her family's estate was on. She walks up to the huge house and is shocked to see a for sale sign in the front yard and a strange stallion she never met before standing at the front door. She gets only a few feet away before she asks politely. "Excuse me sir who are you?" The pony turns around with a surprised look on his face as he looked down at her and said. "Well hello there little missy what's your business here." She was a little annoyed that this strange pony was asking her what she was doing at her own house and replied. "I should ask you the same thing. This is were me and my parents live who are you?"

He clears his throat and explained. " Thats very funny you shouldnt make jokes like that little filly but since you really want to know I'm Schister I work for Cloudsdale Realty and I'm trying selling the house. Yesterday a couple came to my office and wished to sell the estate for a steal so naturally I did pushed the paperwork. When I came here to talk with them a little more about the house they were already gone so they basically forfeited the estate to me and now I'm working on getting it sold." Tears started to stream out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks she was starting to choke up but still asked him. "They...they left?"

He nods his head and coldly answered back. "Yes their gone and you better be too our I'm calling the police." She starts sobbing and choked up a request to him. "Can I please just go inside for a second please?" His face became even colder and serious as he scolded her. "You think your the only foal that has tried this prank on me before. You better motivate your flank out of here before I have you thrown in jail NOW SCRAM!!!"

She bolts back out into the street and sat down on the curb. She was so confused and scared as she thought to herself. "Where did they go? Why did they leave me? Is this all my fault they left? Do they not love me any more?"

It was then I lost the connection with her and I am bolted back to the familiar sight of the dinner table along with the seven ponies who had their eyes fixed on me.