Make Your Echo Create A Wave

Echos bounce from wall to wall, always on the go,

not used to being stopped, not used to being told "no"

CHAPTER 5: ADAPTING

The day was warmer than usual, even though snow still covered the ground and the occasional breeze shook my form. Having wished Rarity a kind farewell, prompting to return so we could work on outfits for me, I headed to see Rainbow Dash for a more basic flying lesson. At the welcome party the night before, Twilight assured me that as long as I took it easy my wings wouldn't take damage. She informed me that the fact that the spell worked so well is due to the magic speeding up my bodies metabolism to a great speed, as well as prioritizing the repair of my major functions. Since my wings and body had been healed to a great degree early on, it will be a much slower process to fully heal, so taking it slow is the best idea.

I wasn't comfortable with this body yet, and I was not entirely sure I could adapt fully, but I had realized the prior night that I wasn't seeing the girls as ponies, but friends. Maybe it was their friendly disposition that made me adapt so quickly, but I hadn't felt a bit strange since I've been here (not including the original startling realization). I could only hope my feelings wouldn't change, but I had no idea what was in store for me in the not-so-distant future.

Dash met me with a confident smile as I approached her in an open, empty field, spare one tree and a small river. She was relaxing on one of the branches and had curled her hind legs so she could hang off the low hanging limb and smile upside down at me. "Well, I taught you what to do and how to think last time, so were gonna try again. This time, however, I'm gonna have you jump and fly at the waterline instead. Worst case you fall in and get wet, so you should be fine." She beamed at me again, confident in her teaching ability as I made my way to the edge of the river and looked down at the still water.

It couldn't have been more than two feet deep, so was a good idea. I took a step back, opened my wings slowly, and gulped as I shut my eyes and jumped up and out. I was surprised as opened my eyes, waiting to feel wet but instead a few feet away in a small glide to the ground. It worked, I flew up just as I told myself to, and my wings stayed open as I glided to the snow. As I landed I heard Dash cheering loudly, clapping her front hoofs together as I turned and made my way back.

"YOU DID IT JACOB" smiled, probably exited that she could teach me as she dropped from the tree. I didn't want to gloat, but as I though how to respond, Twilight was echoing in my ear. I hid the smile I wanted to express as I got closer to her and gloated loudly.

"Oh Dash, you just wish you had the skill to do that. It probably took you weeks to start flying. guess I'm just better than you." Her mouth dropped as she put on a wicked grin, zipping off into the sky and leaving a rainbow trail behind her as she showed off. It worked. She took the bait and now all I have to do is sit back and admire as I've wanted. She was an amazing flyer, bouncing back and forth as she corkscrewed and flipped wit power and grace. I could only applaud and cheer her on as she made beautiful colors in the sky.

After about ten minutes, she landed with her head up over-dramatically as she laughed. "So Jacob, what where you saying about being better than me?"

"Oh Rainbow Dash, there is a reason your the best flyer in Ponyville. Your probably the best flyer anywhere." I couldn't help but boost her ego. She was cute, and even though she seemed kinda pushy, I felt a kind of spark. I had only talked to her for a little, but she was just...she felt right. I felt like I could be myself around her. I felt like we could have fun, and I kind of wanted to be more than friends. I blushed lightly as I sat back against the tree and continued complimenting her form, her poise, and her power.

"Yes, yes, I am the best aren't I? I've been telling everyone I'm practically famous already. Bet I could beat any Pegasus in all of Equestria." I liked when she was this happy. We ended up talking for well over an hour, then she spend another hour showing me how to get the most out of gliding. I wasn't ready to flap my wings more than a few times, so gliding was all she could really help me master. It was nice knowing she was willing to put so much time into helping me, and I planned on spending as much time as I could with her. I decided the best way to learn more about her was asking around, so I decided to go talk to the one person who wouldn't lie or fudge anything about her.

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As I made my way to Applejack, I headed down the same path I had taken the first time I went to see her. As I recalled the occurrence, I distinctly remembered standing next to a door, then a whack as an apple hit me in the side of the head. Fearing I'd make the same problem repeat itself, I looked around the apple rows first. Sure enough, Applejack was a few rows over, kicking apples out of a tree. With her was Twilight and Spike, who probably needed a break from book reading and decided to head to see Applejack.

I decided to sit in the shadow of one of the trees and listen in on them. They seemed pretty quiet, so I just decided to make my way over and greet them. Just as I went to get closer, Spike, who was eating an apple, glanced over and noticed the neon purple coming from my hair, eyes, and hoofs. In a quick shriek, he lobbed the apple at me and hit me square in the forehead and skewered onto my broken horn, a feeling I was hoping wouldn't be a regular thing. The girls looked over at Spike, then at me as I fell forward and into the light, holding my head with my hoofs.

"Agh, Spike...it is impossible to be subtle when I'm around you ponies...and Spike" I said sarcastically as I rose to my hoofs and trotted over slowly, still a little wobbly as I shook the apple from my mane. They smiled as they greeted me, and I didn't waste time as I turned to Applejack. "So, since I'm going to be learning from her for a while, what can you tell me about Rainbow Dash?" She turned her head to me and grinned.

"Well, ya already know the basics. She's headstrong and brash, though she'll always be a loyal friend. I re'con you'll be around for a while, so just know that she always like those who respect her. Last thing she wants is someone disrespecting her or her friends. She'd take a punch for you, and be the first to dish one out if you cross her." She paused as she squinted at me, getting close as I took mental notes. She got up close to my nose and glared at me. "And if you break her heart, I WILL break you. Don't go acting like you don't know what I'm talking about." My heart was practically in my throat as I gulped.

"What? I...I don't know what you mean..."

"Come on Jacob" Twilight interrupted,"I saw the way you were looking at her when you first saw her." I looked down lightly and blushed.

Spike popped up onto Twilight's back and blinked, "Yea dude, you're not fooling anyone. I was right behind you after all. I thought you were gonna drool with the way your mouth was open."

"Jacob . . . I know about what Rarity did too. You DO know why she kissed you, right?" Spike instantly ran towards me with his claws drawn before Twilight grabbed his tail and drug him back. "Spike, it's not his fault." Spike just pouted and sat there.

"Alright, then explain it."

"Well, your an alicorn Jacob. How many other alicorns have you seen around town? Your kind is very rare, and many look at you as a type of royalty. Alicorns represent a standard of perfection, and Rarity has been wanting to be know as royalty for as long as I've known her. She probably wanted to date you before anyone elts could, or elts she probably wouldn't have been so brash about it. I...I don't think she wanted to use you, but...to tell the truth...you are the only stallion we're friends with, Big Mac not included" she adds, smiling lightly to Applejack.

"We know you won't hurt her" Applejack added, "but please, just...know that your actions have consequences. Dash has never been too kind to stallions, and the fact that she smiles and talks normally around you is reason to believe that she trusts you. At the party she talked to you like you were one of us, that doesn't happen normally. I don't want her to think your using her, and I know she WILL think that. Just, be careful."

I told them that I understood their concerns, and that if it made them feel better, that I wouldn't move forward as fast as I wanted. They nodded, and trusted that I was telling the truth as I made my leave. I was honest, and I realized the actuality of my situation. I wouldn't make any mistakes, I told myself, and if it meant I had to be just-friends with Dash, I could accept that.

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Making my way to Rarity's, I began to see it more and more. people gasping at my sight, amazed an alicorn was just walking through the town without a royal escort or anything. Maybe they DID think I was powerful, that I had been born from royalty, or born into wealth. I shrugged as I stepped faster, almost galloping to the boutique and locking the door. Rarity gasped, not expecting my arrival as I smiled at her. "Alright Rarity...it's time." She tilted her head as she leaned against the mannequin. "It's time, to make some outfits." Her eyes lit up as she raced out of the room and back, tossing a few papers onto the table and giggling lightly as I walked over. She must have had dozens of sketches of clothes for me. All in different colors and patterns. There were vests and jackets, shorts and jeans, top hats and fedoras. I pondered lightly before deciding. I chose a few items from different pictures as Rarity lifted a pencil with her magic and began scribbling quickly. After that, I said color and stitching, then any accessories. She finished and smiled widely as she put the sketch down for me to check. Smiling back at her, she had me grab the appropriate fabrics and textures and begins.

It took a little over an hour before she was finished, tossing me the clothes and ordering me to change into them. As I changed, I heard her tapping the floor downstairs impatiently. Slowly making my way down, she opened her mouth and just stared, dragging me over to the mirror and stepping back. A black fedora sat atop my head, dipped down slightly. Next was a Black jacket with purple stitching covering a plain black shirt. My pants had the same color of black with purple stitching, except it had a few dangling strips of purple fabric that dangled from my midsection. It was more than I could have hoped for, and I didn't even know more was to come.

She shut the lights off and my outfit came alive. Every bit of purple on my outfit glowed vibrantly, from the strips of fabric on my pants to every purple stitch on my clothing. I couldn't hold back, galloping over to Rarity and hugging her tightly with my front hoofs. She fell back and smiled, as she gasped, looking up at me. "J...Jacob...your face..."

I ran back to the mirror and my glowing eyes widened. My cheeks were glowing the same purple color the rest of the purple on my body was. "I...I didn't know my blushing was...wow."

As I looked outside, I noticed the receding sun and instantly sprinted out the door, grabbing Rarity as I ran to Twilight's library/house. I opened the door quickly and was met with Dash, Twilight, and Fluttershy sitting together in a circle on the floor.

They instantly got up and looked me over. "Jacob, you look rad" Dash said, yanking on my pants and lifting my hat.

"Wow...um...Jacob, you look great...that is...if it's alright to say so..." Flutter said as she got close and looks at my jacket. I was so exited that I had clothes for a special occasion.

"Jacob...we defiantly have to take you too see Vinyl Scratch, she would love this. She and her colt-friend Caloo run a club not far from here." Twilight was deep in thought of where to take me as she blurted this out.

I turned to Rarity and had an idea."hey Rarity...do you think you could make everyone elts outfits like these? You seem like you would be great at it, and then maybe we could pay that Vinyl Scratch girl a visit." She bounced happily as she nodded her head.

"Well of course darling, how ever could I say no to such a strapping fellow such as yourself? I'll start first thing in the morning."

We talked for an hour about possible ideas, ending up with me and Rarity heading back with piles of sketches. We spent another hour or so picking the fabric and choosing the design. Rarity and I laughed about possible ideas like Flutter shy wearing dark clothing and Rainbow Dash in a frilly formal gown. We headed to bed laughing and hoof-bumped as we went into our separate rooms. Rarity was cool, and she is a lot more calm and relaxed than I had thought.