The Coming of Age for an Orange Pegasus

In the dark void that filled the young filly’s mind, memories of time gone by started to come, as clear as they were in the time they were forever etched into her mind…

The young filly was standing in the middle of a huge crowd ,She could see nothing but strange ponies around her, clear sky above and the white, puffy clouds that made up the floor, She was alone, with nopony that she knew anywhere that she looked , she was abandoned!, and the only thing that felt right to do was to cry, so she did, she gave a scream of sorrow, only to be stopped a few seconds later by a face that she knew too well , a face of a young mare, with bright yellow coat and an orange mane that looked like it was made of flames.

“Mummy!” the young filly cried, spreading her own orange forelegs to reach her beloved mum.

“Star Hunter, I found our baby!” the mum cried out as she picked the filly up, “I’m so happy I found you, don’t you ever go away on your own again, you made mum and dad so worried, This is a big place and you just can’t go running away, Mummy doesn’t know what she would do if something were to happen to her baby.”

The filly shoved her mum face away from her, “I’m not a foal!! and I can take care of myself!”

“You silly filly,” the mum said as she gave a small bump on the filly’s muzzle. “I know you’re not a foal, because you are already a big girl! 4 years old!”

“Yes, I am, and don’t you forget it mum!” the filly replied proudly.

“But you will always be my little baby girl, won't you?” the yellow mare said, as she tickled the filly’s soft belly with her hoof, eliciting some giggles from the orange 4 year old. The cute moment was interrupted when a deep blue young stalion with dark blue mane came running.

“Sorry Spitzy, I came as fast as I could, but so many ponies were in my way.” he said between pants.

“Star Hunter, it’s your daughter too, I expect you to be there for her.” the angry mum scolded Star Hunter, whom the filly recognised as her dad.

“Well, not everypony can go where they please because they are a huge celebrity, you know?” Star Hunter said with some anger rising in his voice. “And what is it with the ‘no flying’ rule they have in the Wonderbolts air shows anyway? I could have found her a lot faster if we could have used our wings, instead of going by hoof!”

“Firstly, I’m just a run of the mill Wonderbolt…” Spitfire started to reply.

“You are the second in command! That it’s like saying that the Council is just a congregation of bureucrats that do nothing all day!” Star Hunter reminded her.

“Well, I am, but still not captain, and ponies only care for the captain, and, secondly.” as Spitfire slightly raised her voice to signal that there is to be no arguing on the next topic. “The no fly rule is for safety, It was put in place after many many fatal incidents, and, as a member of the Wonderbolts, I will not break safety regulations!”

“Well let's stop arguing infront of the baby, okay?”, Wispered Star Hunter, while pointing at the filly.

“I’m not a baby!” yelled the child, sick of always being called “baby,” she was a big girl now, one that used the potty.

“Sure you are not a baby, but it’s just easier for mum and dad to call you that.” Star Hunter said, before turning around again.“Anyway, the show is about to start, we should get our seats.” the dad said calmly.

“By the way, how on Equestria did they gave you a day off today? It’s one of the biggest shows the Wonderbolts ever did, so why the buck you are not in?”

“I do have sick days, Also, Captain Blazing Heat actually requested of me to take them, In his own words, ‘Spity! You know what you should do? You should take your sick days and bring all your family to the VIP boxes of our next show in Cloudsale National Stadium, since you derserve it, being a fresh mum with a busy schedule and all, I have no idea how you managed to get back on show level only 7 months after giving birth,’ so I did,” Spitfire, recalled, as they walked into their seats in the stadium. “He may be a nice captain, but you really don’t want to say ‘no’ to him.”

“Oh, well, at least we got a day off together.  You’re off from the duties as Wonderbolt, and me from my late-night mail runs.” Star Hunter commented.

“How did they let you take some R’n’R anyway?” Spitfire said buffled. “You are their best flyer, I am shocked you didn’t ended up as a Wonderbolt yourself.”

“Army lifestyle does not suit me, that’s why I never wanted to join your ranks, Plus, my boss said he got orders from above, which is very odd, but you know what they say...” Star Hunter let out a small giggle.

“Never look a gift horse in the mouth!” Both Star Hunter and Spitfire chanted in unison as the 3 ponies took their places.

The rest of the day went pretty uneventfully, besides when the filly had to go, but didn’t wanted to miss out the show, and so ended up in a big pool of her own pee. After a moment of panic and fear of regression, Spitfire comforted her by saying she was only potty trained last year, and that daytime accidents were common at her age.

However, what was pretty memorable was the end, just as Captain Blazing Heat finished doing his trade mark sunplostion bang, he landed upon a platform and said. “Thank you all so much mares and gentlecolts, I love you all, and I sure enjoy being the captain for 20 years!” His amplified voice echoed across the stadium, and it was answered by the screams of the loving fans. “Thank you, like this show, all good things need to come to an end, and now I seek the comfort of home, and, thus, will be resigning my post as the captian. Fear not, as I will be replaced by very capable hooves, as in my last call as acting capain I there for promoted Miss Spitfire…”

A bright light was cast upon them as the spotlight pony singled them out from the crowd, “To be the new Captain of the Wonderbolts, Give us a bow, oh my dear captain!”

“Oh my, Thank you! This is all very sudden! I had no idea, but I promise I will do my best as Captain! I want to thank my family, that helped me push myself to be the great flyer I am today.” and with that Spitfire, rasied the filly high up to the cheers of the spectators.

“Why can’t you support me? I had no idea it was coming, so don’t start blaming this on me!” the muffled sounds of Spitfire was heard throught the door as the filly tried to get some sleep.

“I’m just saying that you are hardly at home already, and I have to raise her all by myself, now that you're a captain, she will hardly see you. I am already busting my plot doing the late night shifts, and then being with her all the day, you know I can’t keep this going on forever.” Star Hunter said.

All the filly could remember at that time though was all the yelling kept her from sleeping.

“What do you want from me? I had to extand my birth leave to 6 months, that is 2 more then what the law gives me, plus for the first two years I hardly worked just so I could be with her!” Spitfire yelled back.

“Well, you also earned less then half your normal wage, so I had to pull three shifts just so we wouldn’t go broke. Plus, you know foals don’t remember anything until the age of 3, so, it didn’t help her when it comes to having a mother figure when she is growing up!” Star Hunter was clearly angry.

“You know what? As captian I will make about 4 times more then my last position, I think you could easily quit your job and be a stay-at home-father,  while I will keep our house hold a float.” Spitfire said in a seductive voice. “And maybe I think Stay-at home-fathers are really cute, and I could use one in bed with me now.”

“Oooh, you and your beautyful body, you got me, I will stay at home and raise her.” Star Hunter said weakly, accepting his faite.

And as one memory arrives, the same it leaves, only to be replaced by another from further down the road…

It was very loud, noise filling the place, colts and fillies running arond the living room that was decorated with streemers and ballons, there is a cake in the middle and a huge bunner that says ‘Happy 6th Birthday’, everthing seem to be perfect, as cheer is filling up the place.

Star Hunter didn’t look at the expenses, and even got a local pink teen pony with pink mane and tail, with 3 ballons as her cutie mark, to help with the perpartions, said pony was now standing on a ball, juggling cupcakes, as she played with an accordion that was tied to her back.

“How is my little dear doing? Enjoying your birthday party?” Star Hunter said, as he got down to talk with his only doughter.

“Yes dad, you're the best!” The orange filly jumped on her dad and gave him a hug. “Where is mummy? You said she promised to be here for my birthday.”

“Mummy is busy with work, she still got many things to do, but it’s her money that paid on all this, also she personally picked your gift.” Star Hunter said as he took out a huge box with a note that said: ‘To our dear baby, from mum and dad with lots of love.’

“Can I open it?”, asked the filly.

“Sure you can, it is your gift after all!”, Replied Star Hunter with a slight giggle.

As the little filly tore throught the wrapping paper she couldn’t belive her eyes, she got a scooter!! a real scooter!! and it is just for her! with teary eyes she again jumped on her tired dad and cried “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! this is the bestest present ever!”

Just as she did that. a large bright ball of light appeared in the sky, and was followed by Spitfire crashing into the living room from the window, and grasping her little girl in a hug. “I’m sorry I’m late, I was so busy with papers and new cadets, I wished I would been here sooner. At least I am here now, right baby?”

“Yes, mummy, you are here now, and I am happy about that! Oh, and thank you for the scooter, I love it so much!” the filly squeaked.

“I’m happy you love it, It is very special gift, not only are you 6 now, you also didn’t wet your bed for avery long time, so long, I don’t remeber when was the last time!” Spitfire said.

“Not that long, it was only 3 months, 2 weeks and 4 days, if you were actually home maybe, or did the laundry…” Star Hunter mumbled under his breath.

“What was that dear? I didn’t quite hear you.” patronised Spitfire.

“Nothing dear, at least you're here now and that's all that matters. Right?” Star Hunter replied.

“Right…” Spitfire said with a lack of assurness in her voice, the filly too happy to see her hero mum to take notice.

Memories, like grains of sand in a hourglass, pass one by one, staying there for a moment, before joining the rest of the pile and letting others take thier place in the everlasting passage of time.

“Daddy?” the young filly asked.

“Yes, dear?” Star Hunter replied.

“Why can’t I fly? I mean all the other pegasi in my class fly, why I still can’t fly? Shouldn’t I be flying by age 7?” The filly couldn’t hide her worries in her tone, feeling like she was an outsider.

“Well hun,” Star Hunter said, lowering his tableware. “I don’t know. Maybe for you it will take a little bit longer.”

“But you and mummy started flying well before your peers, and you two are the best flyers in all of Equestria! How this can be?”, the young filly said while making circles on her plate with her knife.

Star Hunter shrugged “Well, things don’t always make sense, and flying is overrated anyway, you shouldn’t be worried on this. But, if you really insist, tomorrow I will take you to Ponyville’s Hospital, I heard they got a great wing doctor there, I’m sure he could help.”

“Ok daddy, I want to go to the wing doctor, it won’t hurt will it?”, the filly said with fear.

“Maybe yes, maybe no.” Star Hunter comforted her, “But one thing is for sure, we could put your mind at rest.”

“Thanks daddy, this mean a lot for me.” the filly said pleadingly.

“You know what? I will even see if mummy could come and join us, would you like that?” Star Hunter proposed.

“Yes daddy, that would be awesome!” the filly couldn’t hide her exctitement.

“That’s my girl! Now let’s finish dinner, shall we, my lady?” Start Hunter said in a funny accent.

The filly giggled, “Why most certainly my dear lord, and I must say this dinner is quite well prepared.”

As the filly swang her rear legs from the edge of the table, waiting for the doctor to return, the door burst open, standing behind that door was no other then the worried mum, Spitfire.

“I’m sorry I’m late, did I miss something?” Spitfire said, panting all the way through.

“Not really, we were are just waiting for the nice doctor to return, weren't we hun?” answered Star Hunter.

“Yes we were! he even gave me a lollipop after the draw!” Said the filly, between the licks of the cherry-flavoured green candy.

“Good, and honey, I want you to know, that no matter what the doctor says, Dad and I will always love you and be there for you.” Spitfire reassured her girl.

Then the doctor burst out of the door, holding an orange envelope and a paper sheet, a grim look on his face. The doctor was a middle aged earth pony, with brown coat, a trimed gray mane and tail, and wing bones for a cutie mark.

“Results are out,” he said, opening the envelope slowly “this filly has many problems, and thus she  cannot fly, but we can’t isolate the exact cause of the said issues, ” he started going throgh the list on the paper sheet while nameing the problems. “Weak bones, misplaced and weak muscules, underdeleploved nerves, misgrowing of the pteroid feathers. We could try to fix them all, but it will be time consuming, costly, and not guaranteed to succeed. And she will need constant surgeries, and by the time we will finish one set of surgeries, she will be in a need of others for a pretty long time before partial recovery, all I can propose are trying diffrent treatments,  hoping one will address the cause, I already made a list for you.” he said as he gave the list to Star Hunter.

“Don’t worry hun, mummy still loves you, mummy will always love you, flying or not, flying isn’t that great anyway.” Spitfire comforted her shocked child.

However, no amount of words could make the filly stop from crying and cowering in fear, at the idea of either no flight, or multiple surgeries for flight.

“Well, there are things we could try here..” said Star Hunter as the family left the doctor's office, “I think we should start with rehabilitation gymnastics.”

“Ouch ouch ouch!” the filly cried, as  the mother slowly moved the wings up and down.

“I don’t think we should keep trying it,” Spitfire said, “For all I know, the training and feel of her wings, we are just making it worse, I think I feel things snap there.”

“And what do you think we should do about that?” Spitfire’s husband said “According to the list, this is the first step. If we skip it, we waste ours and her time.”

“Well I don’t want to snap my baby’s wing off!!” Spitfire roared.

“Please stop, it hurts, it hurts!” The orange filly cried in agony.

“If you want to fly, you will have to do this. Otherwise, the surgerons won’t be able to do anything to help you.” The filly’s dad said, as he rotated the left wing gently.

“Well I say we move to the next treatment, her wings are clearly not made to take this much movement!” the mother screamed.

“Alright,” he huffed, “if you really think you know more than the doctor, then go ahead.”

“What is the next posible treatment?” the mother asked as she freed her daugther's wing.

The husband took the list.

“It’s… acupuncture,” He sighed, “this will be ugly, if our daughter does not collaborate.”

“What is that?” the filly asked

“Nothing too big…”, he mumbled

“Ouch ouch ouch, nothing too big in my plot, this hurts like hell!” The filly protested, as yet another heated needle entered her wing’s muscles with a fizzle. “Why are you stabbing me?!”

“Well, you see, it’s kinda the whole point.” Star Hunter said, as he rubbed his hooves together in a circle, trying to ease his pain of his girl in pain.

“Supposedly, it should make your nerves grow faster,” he said, as he took out another needle from the boiler. “Of course, I am not sure if this will achieve anything without muscles to grow onto, but…”

“If it is to make my pain nerves grow, then it’s working all too well!” she cried out.

“Well that didn’t work.” The father said after yet another fruitless month. “I told your mother to follow the treatments in order!”

“It worked... in bringing a world of pain!” the filly said, offering her view.

“Let me look at that list again.” Spitfire said, as she grabbed the paper from her significant other. “Alright, it mentions an increment of calcium and iron of  10% of the daily dose.”

“Worth a try.” Replied Star Hunter

“And hopefully it won’t burst my stomach open!”, said the young filly.

“Well, who knew you are allergic to pills…” Said Star Huntere as he laid near his filly’s bed in Ponyville Emergency Ward.

“Why does everything backfire, daddy?” the filly cried. “Why does extra dose of minerals make my belly burst open?”

“Well, your stomach’s bacteria couldn’t handle it, called the immune system , which overreacted and caused an imbalance in your stomach, thus triggering the reaction  that made your stomach expel everything contained in it in an attempt to get rid of the imbalance.” A nearby nurse explained to the filly as she cleaned the floor with a mop.

The filly sighed and hanged her head low.

“Alright, even this didn’t work, what is the next step, if you remeber it?” Spitfire asked to her husband, whom, after taking briefly a thoughtful pose, answered.

“Well, I remeber feather tutors and plucking. I guess, that…”

“Bah, forget it,” she said “we already had too much trouble doing the rest. Let her have some respite from all this suffering.”

The orange filly was now lying in bed, taking final notes from the doctors, “So I will be in bed for 4 weeks after this?”

“Yes, and remember, this is a highly risky surgery, so if this fails you won’t be able to fly ever again, nothing could undo it, but, if this works, you will be, hopefully, completly 100% cured and won’t need any more direct tretments, so, in order for you to have the best chances of this working, you will need to stay in bed for 4 weeks, on your belly, moving only when and how we say during that time, understood?” the surgeon,  a light green unicorn with a white mane and a scalpel for a cutie mark said, behind him there was a team of surgeons waiting to take the young filly to the OR.

“You got it, I’m ready, so, gimme your best!” the orange filly said with glee, hoping this will be the final step, before joining her mom and dad in the sky.

The staff giggled at the happines and naive nature of the young patient as the nurse came with a gas mask, putting it on the filly’s snout and said, “Now count backwards from ten please.”

The young filly was happy to comply. She started to count.

“Ten.”

“Nine”

“Eight’

“Seven”

“Six” At this point, all went black.

And the black was broken by a crack of light as all the memories stopped, and the young filly awoke to find herself in an hospital bed, wings hurting like they been shredded and then topped with salt and rubbing alchool, and then finally glued back toghter with fire.

“My head hurts,” she very brightlty pointed out, and took a look at her surroundings. There were plushies with get well cards from her friends, one worried dad, ballons everywhere, and a mirror, so she could see herself in it. Looking in the mirror, she looked the same : same orange coat, same purple mane.  But her wings, they were wrapped in a bloody cast. Also, she was wearing a hospital gown and she could have swear thet her rear was much bigger then normal…