Sound-Flying - Rainbow's new Obsession

by Lise

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash
Length: 1096

When Rainbow Dash first learns of this new thing called 'sound-flying' she is skeptical. After all headphones and flying don't mix... Right?

When Vinyl tries to sell a set of headphones to Rainbow Dash, the Pegasus is skeptical. The whole idea of 'sound-flying' just sounds too absurd to be cool. But then, why is everypony else into it? Maybe it's time for Rainbow to check it out?

Written for the Hazardous Writing Materials and Challenges Character Prompt (Rainbow Dash).

Published 2015-08-07 17:30:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-08-07 17:30:02 UTC

Sound-Flying - Rainbow's New Obsession

"You must be kidding me!" Rainbow Dash said, looking critically at the headphones.

"Come on, Dashie." Vinyl Scratch tapped the headphones gently. "All the cool ponies are doing it. Besides you've been eyeing them for ten minutes."

"Only because of how lame they are!" The blue pegasus crossed her forehooves. "Just look at the size of those things! How do you expect me to be fast with that on my head?!"

"Derpy doesn't seem to mind."

"Oh, please!" Rainbow roller her eyes. "Derpy is hardly a good example..."

"Cloudchaser even has three pairs," Vinyl interrupted. "One for daytime, one for nighttime, and one for storm time."

"Well, Cloudchaser is still less awesome than me!" Rainbow grumbled. She was still slightly resentful by the fact the Wonderbolts had chosen Cloudchaser over her for active duty.

"Spitfire also ordered a pair," Vinyl had no intention of giving up. "But hey, if you want to be a square, that's cool."

The remark caused Rainbow to glare at the unicorn. If the captain of the Wanderbolts had indeed gotten into this crazy trend, it would be treasonous for Dash not to. And yet they looked so... uncool! With those huge things on her head, she would look like Tank! Not to mention that listening to music while flying went against everything she had been taught. It took all senses to be a good flyer, and Rainbow would never settle for good - it was awesome or bust. Reluctantly she took a pair of headphones and started examining them.

"So I just put this on and fly about?" she asked.

"Heck, yea!" Vinyl rubbed her hooves. "Put those babies on and let the music drive you! Just stay clear from other ponies the first few times. When it comes to sound-flying, you are still a newbie."

"Please!" Rainbow waved a hoof confidently. "Best flyer in Equestria, remember? How hard could it be?"

"I don't know, Dashie..."

"Just give me the headphones!"

The pegasus shoved a bag of bits into Vinyl's hooves, then, before the unicorn could even protest, she dashed into the sky, headphones and all.

"Stupid headphones!" she said as she went even faster. "Stupid sound-flying!"

What was wrong with normal fast flying? At the end of the day that was what mattered. Why was everypony obsessed with this craze? Derpy, Rainbow could understand. The accident-prone pegasus had always been a bit off, but Cloudchaser and Spitfire? Both should know better. What really made Rainbow Dash fume with anger, was that she herself had become curious.

Several miles from Ponyville, Rainbow slowed down. With all the bits she had spent on the stupid contraption she might as well check it out. From what Vinyl had explained, it was fairly easy to use - place the headphones comfortably over her ears, tap the side of the left one to start or stop the music. There had also been something about changing the volume, but Rainbow had become bored by then. What she did remember, was the name of the song Vinyl had installed on the headphones - Cloud City by the Ravenettes. The name, at least, had promise.

"Here goes," the pegasus said and started the music.

Wanna fly in Cloud City, go, go, go! boomed in her ears. Unprepared for such an experience, Rainbow darted uncontrollably forward, screaming as she did. As quickly as possible, she took off the headphones.

"What the buck was that?!" she asked as music kept on pouring out of them. How could anypony fly like this? Rainbow had half a mind to throw the headphones away right there and then. She didn't have to join the sound-flying scene. After all, she was perfectly happy the way she was - best flyer in Equestria, lead pony of the Wanderbolt cadets, the only pegasus that could perform a sonic rainboom. And yet, there was something strangely alluring in the music. Guiltily, she approached them to her ear again.

You can't come with me, 'cause you're just too slow! the song went. Actually that didn't sound half bad. Any song about speed had to be good in some way. The music was also catchy - just the right amounts of wild and edgy to be cool, but without overdoing it. Maybe there was something about this sound-flying after all?

Rainbow turned the music off. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right. Carefully adjusting the headphones so they fit perfectly, she took a deep breath and tapped the start button. The music started flowing once more, only this time she was ready for it. Like a dose of adrenalin, it shot in through her ears, filling her with more energy she thought possible. For a split second her entire body shook. Her wings suddenly developed a mind of their own, thrusting forward and taking her for the ride. The feeling was scary, terrifying, but also completely out of this world.

"This is awesome!" Rainbow screamed as she zig-zagged wildly through the sky. This was powerful stuff! She could not only hear the music, she could see it! She imagined herself catching the rays of the sun, then throwing them behind her, as she sped onward.

In her mind the clouds transformed into a swarm of changelings, itching for a fight. Of course, she was only too glad to oblige. And it didn't stop there! With every instance of the song, things became wilder and wilder. Before she knew it Rainbow was chasing stars in the evening sky. At that point she decided to stop and take a rest.

Breathing heavily, the pegasus went to the nearest cloud. Never before, since Wonderbolt Academy, had she pushed herself so far. Her entire body was trembling with pain and fatigue. The weird thing, though, was that she hadn't felt it. What was more, she had enjoyed every moment of it.

"How could I have lived without this?" she asked glancing up at the sky. No wonder the other pegasi were doing it. The rush was that good!

First thing tomorrow, Rainbow was going to pass by Vinyl again and learn more about this phenomenon. She might even organize a race or something. If sound-flying was so awesome, sound-racing had to be absolutely unbelievable! Maybe even the Wonderbolts would notice and add it to their routine? One could only hope. That, however, was for tomorrow. Right now, Rainbow only wanted to enjoy the music.

"Spin and fly, and have some fun," she sang along, as she dozed off into sleep.