Before you start Louis is pronounced Lou-ie just for clarification. I tend to like to know how names are pronounced.
I gaze out the window as the sun sinks below the roofs of the buildings of Canterlot. I turn away and collapse, tired on to my bed crushing my orange and yellow gelled mane. I sigh and remove my mechanical leg, chuck it on the ground it clatters on the hardwood flooring.
Without sliding under the covers I close my eyes and fall asleep.
When I wake, I hobble to the bathroom on three legs, where my medication bottles are lined up like soldiers waiting to be taken.
I close my eyes as the images of that day push themselves to the front of my mind, and not giving up.
I stand at the start line waiting for the go ahead. I hear a creaking noise and look at the metal bars holding up the stadium seats. It’s not a permanent stadium like most of the ones I’ve been in and apparently the ponies in charge of assembling it were late yesterday, but surprisingly they still got it done on time.
I see the lights on the wall blink. I count three flashes and ready myself.
“GO!” yells the announcer and I dash off leaving a flaming trail behind me, I run at a steady pace and clear the first jumps with inches to spare. I smile slightly but remember to focus.
I get a glance at the stands where ponies are still filtering in.
Then all of a sudden the stadium gives a big groan. I glance around nothing seems wrong, I continue running, it groans again and the beams above my head shudder. Something is wrong but I don’t know what.
I’m still puzzling over this as I clear another jump.
Then all of a sudden the air is filling with dust, I gasp for clean air and I shoot off in a straight line. The only thing processing in my mind is that I have to get out of here
.
That’s when I hit a jump head on, I tumble to the ground and a beam falls near me, I let out a screech and roll away. I try to get up but a beam crashes down on my leg which is stuck out.
All I feel is the sensation of intense pressure on my leg I gasp before I let out a blood curdling screech. I crane my neck around to look at the blood seeping out from under the beam cutting into my flesh.
A tear streams down my face and is soon followed by another. I’m lying in a small puddle before my world finally goes black and the pain fades away.
I open my eyes and I find myself lying on the ground. This tends to happen to me, living the worst moments of my life over and over again. Like a never ending punishment.
I heave myself up and take the pills one by one and when I finish I strap my leg back on. I magic my cloak onto my back, so no pony can see my missing cutie mark-which disappeared shortly after I gave up my jumping career vowing never to enter a temporary stadium again.
Today I am hunting for it. I open the door to my apartment and climb down the single set of stairs and out in to the cool morning air.
My hooves clack on the cobblestone road as I head towards the Wonderbolts main office.
The building is a dark blue decorated with yellow lightning bolts. It’s the most modern looking building in all of Canterlot; it’s very new and clean and also very busy. I open the door and walk in to the white tiled lobby. There is a small group of Wonderbolts at the front desk checking in with a pink and white unicorn. Other ponies are milling in and out of the building some are swiping cards at a pad on the wall.
I join the end of the line, right behind a gray mare with a rainbow mane. When it’s her turn she slides a card across the counter with her hoof and the unicorn swipes it waits for it to register and slides it back.
During the exchange I catch a glance at the name on the card, Rainbow Tornado. Rainbow steps backwards and I step forwards accidently stepping on her long rainbow tail. I open my mouth to say sorry.
One of her fellow Wonderbolts talks before me.
“Tornado...” she says, the pony is an Alicorn which I find strange only the princesses are Alicorns, her mane is light green and dark blue and her coat is a bright blue.
Tornado ignores her and turns to me “you stepped on my tail, you didn’t even say sorry”.
“Rainbow Tornado, she didn’t mean to, you didn’t even give her a chance to say sorry, plus look” says a stallion gesturing to my mechanical leg.
“She isn’t even a whole pony” now it’s my turn to get angry but before I can say anything, the stallion is out cold.
“Now who’s being mean” snarls Tornado lowering her hoof and stalks of. I’M surprised that this pony I don’t know stood up for me even after I stepped on her tail.
The mare at the desk rolls her eyes as if this happens all the time and calls some pony else to come deal with it.
After the first aid ponies come for the stallion, the unicorn gestures for me to come to her.
“Sorry, about that dear, how can I help you?”
“I'm here to see Spitfire she said she wanted to talk to me”
“Okay, one minute” says the secretary and picks up the phone again, after a minute she places it back on the cradle.
“She’s just in the common room, straight down that hallway, then to your first left, the stairs will be on your left, go up one level and it’ll be on your right.” She says with a smile. I thank her and follow her directions and find myself in front of a mostly glass window that’s cloudy.
I magic open the door and step in. Inside there are three couches arranged around a television set and a counter with food and drinks on it.
Spitfire is lying on one of the couches, when she hears me enter, she stands up.
“Hi there Flamesoar! How are you?” she asks.
“I’ve been better” I reply and Spitfire smiles kindly.
“Now to get straight to it, I wanted to tell you that some pony told me that some pony told them that some pony told them that I was to start a little group of three mares who were struggling with either mental or physical problems, and that you were volunteered to be one of these mares.”
Spitfire pauses letting it sink in and I nod my head slowly. “You are going to be paired with Rainbow Tornado and Firebird”
My mouth drops open “But Firebird is my sister! We haven’t spoken since the accident”
“All the more reason to show up, it starts tomorrow same place” she says and trots out of the room.
I stand in shock for a moment before going back to the lobby. I’m about to leave when the secretary stops me and calls me back.
“Spitfire told me to give you this” and passes me a bag. I pull the contents out. There is a pamphlet restating everything Spitfire said and a swimming pass.
“Do you have a pool?” I ask and the Unicorn smiles.
“Straight down this hall way here and down at the end. You can’t miss it, says Pool right on the door.”
“Thanks” I say and walk down the hall way to the pool door.
I open the door by swiping the pass and walk out onto the tiled deck. I throw off my cloak to leave it on a deck chair and walk to the edge of the pool. My mechanical leg is covered in an orange water proof cover so I can still get it wet and so it matches my coat. It’s removable so I'm lucky I put it on today.
I look at the pool, the water is clear and clean and completely still. The deepest it goes is 20ft. The shallowest is 1ft. There are four ways to get in, a ramp, stairs, a water slide and a diving tower.
I take the ramp. Not the most exiting way to get in but when you’re always in pain because of an overworked right back thigh it seems just fine.
I wade in up to my chest and sigh. The water is the perfect temperature. I walk out further until my hooves can no longer touch the hard tile bottom. I kick out and swim around, due to my still heavily muscled legs from jumping I can swim strong for long. I stay in without touching the bottom again for an entire half hour.
Then I decide to get risky I go down the water slide a few times, then get up the nerve to jump of the tower.
I stand at the edge of the tower looking down 10ft to the 20ft deep water down below. I close my eyes and step off. I hit the water and slide below the surface.
I come up gasping for breath. I huff, I'm done here. My mane is flat and wet lying on the neck and across my forehead. I shake myself off and exit the pool room with my cloak back on my shivering body.
When I make it back outside Celestia’s sun is beating down on me quickly drying my wet mane and tail. I reach my apartment perfectly dry.
I walk up the stairs and unlock my door, trot in and hang up my cloak.
I stand with my horn up against the door debating whether to go or not. I stare at the boards under my hooves and sigh. I don’t want to see Firebird after all these years we have spent apart. I don’t know what happened to her after I got hurt because I haven’t seen her since. For all I know she doesn’t even remember me. I remember Spitfire’s words “all the more reason to show up” maybe it is a good idea.
I bang open the door to my apartment and jump down the single flight of stairs in one go. A bit of my jumping flare returning to me. My leg squeaks as it compresses to take the shock before quickly springing back.
I open the door to the street and trot out onto the wet cobble stones. It must have rained last night. I decide against walking and wave down a cab. I climb into the cushy interior of the black cab “To the Wonderbolts main office please” I say and the cab jerks off.
I gaze out the window wondering what will happen to today at the first meeting. What has happened to Firebird to make her eligible for this? By the time the cab arrives I’m shaking with nervousness. So much so that my cab driver gives me a weird look when I pay him, most likely wondering where that metallic clanking is coming from.
As I walk up to the building I realise that Firebird is probably really close now.
I open the door to the lobby and there she is.
An orange Pegasus with a phoenix on her back is talking to the secretary.
I’m planning on sneaking up stairs but the secretary waves at me and Firebird turns to look.
Her mane is flat with a slight curl up at the end unlike how it was the last time I saw her with it up identical to my own. It looks like my own mane wet now. Firebird gazes at me with clouded confused eyes.
“Hi, I’M... Firebird” she says and I look at her with my mouth slightly open.
“Yeah I know”
“How?” she asks stupidly and I roll my brown eyes.
“What’s happened to you!?”
“Who?”
“You!”
She blinks. I frown; she reminds me off Derpy Hooves who I meet when she fell through my roof last year.
“Can you take her up with you?” asks the secretary and I drag Firebird up stairs to the common room. I look at the phoenix on her back.
“Hi, Louis” I say to the phoenix who I knew before. He is Firebird’s pet phoenix who she’s had since she got her cutie mark; a phoenix. She named him after a member of a band.
When we reach the common room, feathers are floating around the room and we stand dumb struck looking at them.
Rainbow Tornado stands in a mess that used to be a couch. Spitfire is trying to get the bloody feathers off her.
“I was suspended from the Wonderbolts to work with you!” she yells at us as we enter.
“Okay, Tornado hold your gales I wasn’t going to give you guys a supervisor but I think you need it. Feather will be here soon. She can also help you clean up this mess” says Spitfire looking at the ground before she marches out.
“Suspended? Doesn’t that mean you get to go back though?” says Firebird almost sounding like her normal self.
“Yes it does but there was this really cool show coming up and I was going to be in it. I need to train!”
“And you’ll do it, with us” says a sweet feminine voice behind us and we turn to see the Alicorn I saw yesterday. “You mean I still get to be in it! And I get to train with you!” squeals Rainbow Tornado. Feather nods and summons a broom from a closet. She is wearing her Wonderbolts uniform unlike when I saw her yesterday. The dark blue and yellow goes perfect with her long mane which is flipped back Wonderbolt style. She starts to sweep the feathers and wood pieces into a pile.
I pick them up with my magic and dump them in the trash, Feather smiles at me gratefully.
Rainbow Tornado picks up the wood pieces and tries to get Firebird to help but she just wanders off.
When we finish cleaning up Feather goes to talk to Firebird.
“Hi Firebird, who is this?” she says gesturing at Louis.
“That’s Louis, he’s my phoenix and my cutie mark” she says showing Feather her cutie mark.
“That’s pretty and I'm sure your sister thinks so too”
A tear comes to Firebird’s eye “My sister is dead” she says.
“I think you’re wrong Firebird, you see Flamesoar is right here.” says the blue Alicorn.
“No, I now she died, but no one will tell me the truth, that pony is just a look alike” Firebird turns away.
So she thinks I’m dead, well this is just great, I think sarcastically.
“Well, I’M sorry to hear that. I think we’ll go to the castle garden now and we can talk there” says Feather and invites us to go outside. It’s a short walk to the garden but Feather suggests we run or fly the long way.
I run lightly under the winged ponies that fly slowly above. It turns out that despite earlier assumptions that Firebird is to depressed to fly, she quite a strong flier. Louis flies beside Firebird and they do a few tricks together.
When we reach the garden Feather explains what she decided we are going to do together. We lie on the soft green grass in a circle under a willow tree and look at her.
“So during our program we are going to try and make a friend who is not in the group. We are also going to attend various Wonderbolt shows and visit Cloudsdale and various other places with all sorts of different ponies.”
“How am I supposed to get to Cloudsdale? I don’t have wings.” I say.
“Don’t you worry I have a plan” answers Feather smiling.
“But most importantly we are going to help each other heal”.
Heal I think that’s a weird way to put it. The branches of the willow sway in the light late spring breeze.
“Today we are going to the Castle jumping course” Feather says and stands up and I seriously think of running away back to my safe apartment.
“Come on its really close!” she says and gallops off “bet you can’t beat me!”
“Oh yeah!” says Rainbow Tornado and streaks off with that famous Wonderbolts trail of black smoke with lightning. Rainbow’s shows a bit of rainbow in it though; it’s the same as Rainbow Dash’s, the trailing occurred for her after she joined them.
I figure I have nothing to lose and gallop as hard as I can after them. They forgot I was once a famous jumper with strong legs from such. I am able to keep their pace even with Tornado flying and Feather walking with her wings flapping.
We reach the course quickly but have to wait for Firebird to catch up because she forgot to run or fly.
We stand catching our breath’s for a minute before we continue.
“So who’s first? What about the professional?”Feather says clearly talking about me.
“Oh no by all means some pony else go first” I neigh quickly and step back.
Firebird starts to hum a song by the band Louis is from and Tornado volunteers to go first.
“Okay but no wings okay, you would get a wing penalty” says Feather.
Tornado nods “Can I wear your goggles?” gesturing to Feather’s goggles she is still wearing on her head.
‘Yea, one minute” she says taking off her uniform “I must look ridiculous in this” she says and magic’s her goggles onto Tornado’s head.
Tornado readies herself at the start line “Go!” yells Feather surprisingly loud and Tornado streaks off around the brightly coloured course.
She finishes with 12 faults meaning she knocked 3 rails because each rail you knock is worth 4 faults. Firebird refuses to go next and so Feather does and ends with 4 faults, not bad.
“What about you Flamesoar?” she says “why don’t you show us how it’s really done”
I look at the course and bite my lip. I’m about to say no when I realise I said that I vowed never to enter a temporary stadium again “Fine seeing as it’s not in a stadium” I say and trot up to the start line. This is first time I have jumped in two years so it should be interesting to watch. But I also think that my jumping methods have been engraved thoroughly into my brain. “Go!” yells Feather and shoot off, my leg squeaks at being over worked today as I near the first jump. I even out my strides and take deep breathes. I time the jump perfect and clear it. Leaving a flaming trail as I soar over, what I am famous for. I clear the rest of the jumps ending with no faults.
“I don’t know why I stopped” I say “This is what I live for. I forgot about my signature trailing, I highly regret quitting and am willing to retrain”
I think my little speech is pretty good but everyone is not looking at me but at Firebird.
“My sister did the same thing” she says and I notice that she shows a slight hint of recognition before her eyes go back to their clouded confused way.
Feather makes a sad smile and we decide to leave and call it a day and what a day it was.
When I get home I look at my flank. It’s blank. Still nothing, but I just got back my jumping confidence today.
I go to bed tired from our day of running around. Spitfire was right this is a good idea.
The next day we meet back at the Wonderbolts office.
“So, today we are going to go to the Wonderbolts derby training session, I will do the honors and get you some wings Flamesoar” she closes her eyes and her horn starts to glow.
“Wait!” I say, Feather stops and looks at me.
“Are these wings going to be the same as the unicorn from the best young flier’s competition?”
“No, I’M using the same spell but the wings change depending on who the pony is. Yours won’t be the same” I nod and Feather closes her eyes again. Her horn glows with turquoise magic and a stream of it surrounds me lifting me off the ground. I feel a stinging in my sides and then it’s over and I fall to the ground.
I recover quickly and turn my head to look at my wings, to my relief they are you’re normal run of the mill Pegasus wings.
Feather sighs and gestures for us to follow her. Flying is really easy to do for me but the spell might be helping me along. We fly up for a bit before leveling out and soon the derby training stadium comes into view.
“Now, the real derby is held right up close to the ground so the earth ponies and unicorns can watch but we like to train in a more secluded area. Today we are going over techniques and you get to wear Wonderbolts outfits. Tornado, yours is already here I had it brought up, any questions?”
I look around at the white cloud pillars and lanes in the center where Wonderbolts are shooting around the rings. My eyes land on Feather’s flank, on it is an open book with a quill writing in it. On her uniform was Wonderbolts symbol like everypony else but I wonder why she got accepted with a cutie mark like that.
“Kind of off topic but how did you get on to the team and why are you an Alicorn?”
Feather smiles “I thought you might ask you see I’m a close relative to the Princesses. I don’t live at the castle but I live in Canterlot with my friend Diamond Sparkle who is Celestia’s daughter. My mother is the Princesses” long lost sister’s child. A bit of a mouth full I know but no pony ever pays attention to that and I’M glad too. As for getting into the Wonderbolts I did it like every pony else I tried hard, despite my writing cutie mark.
"Any more questions?”
“Yes” says Tornado “Can we have no more questions?” Feather smiles and leads us off to dressing rooms where we change into the tight Wonderbolts outfits I strap goggles onto my head and walk awkwardly out of the changing room letting the door snap shut behind me. The rest of my group is outside waiting for me.
It took me longer because of my leg and I almost ripped the fabric.
“So first, before we start flying we are going to go over strategies” she stops because Firebird is crying again.
“What’s wrong Firebird?” she asks. “My sister used to love to watch the Wonderbolts even though she could never be one” I blink, how could Firebird remember this and not me. I forgot how much I loved to go to see the Wonderbolts with my friend Wishalicious who moved to Baltimare.
“Okay girls, what makes a good start?” says Feather bouncing slightly on the cloud floor.
“Be ready and alert so you don’t get off to early or too late, seconds are everything” says Tornado “You want to start slow and go as fast as you can at the finish”
“Right, I hoped that you knew that, does anypony want to go first?”
“I will!” says Tornado and flies to the starting line. She stretches out her neck puts up her wings and sticks up her rear. Her ears prick and as she waits for Feather’s signal.
“Go!” yells Feather and Rainbow Tornado streaks of leaving her dark rainbow clouds behind her.
As she touches down afterwards Feather congratulates her, “30 seconds, not bad” she says.
Tornado smiles and looks back at the ring where a Wonderbolt who I identify as Fleetfoot is doing laps. She is doing well until she smashes into a pillar. Everything seems fine until the pillar topples over.
Pillar after pillar crash into each other and all in all the entire stadium starts to disintegrate. Screams fill the air as the peagusi desperately try to avoid getting crushed and suffocated by the tons of heavy cloud material. I fly and run and jump around leaving my flaming trial behind me.
Out of the corner of my eye I spot another flame, Louis. I gallop with him and the danger fades away, all I am doing now is running in a white void with my sister’s bird. I feel a slight tickling in my flank but keep running after Louis.
I reach the end of the void and jump down all the way to the ground. I land with a fiery splash onto the grass below. I flap my strange wings and fold them at my sides. Louis lands on my back for some reason and I look up at the sky where two shapes are coming down carrying a third. Rainbow Tornado and Feather lay Firebird on the grass.
“Congratulations!” says Feather suddenly nodding at my flank. I turn puzzled, my cutie mark!
A flame like shape has appeared on my flank and I sigh with relief, no more trying to hide my blank flank.
“What happened to Firebird?” I ask.
“She got over whelmed and fainted, right after you took off and your flame trail appeared. I think she remembers you, she yelled your name as you ran away” says Feather.
I walk up to Firebird who has curled up subconsciously. “Firebird!” I whisper in her ear “Firebird get up!”
“What?” she says jumping up “Flamesoar?” she says truly confused.
“Yes, who do you think I am?”
“But, you’re dead! This can’t be. Go away, stop haunting me I didn’t do anything.” She collapses on the ground covering her ears and squeezing her eyes shut.
Tornado turns red, “She is not a ghost for Celestia’s sake! You are wrong! Before you thought she was a look alike but who else has a flaming trialing like that? Ghosts can’t do it, ghosts don’t even exist.” She stops to hoof Firebird over the head.
Feather gasps, “Tornado!” she cries. Firebirds eyes corkscrew around and she shakes her head.
“Who are you?” she says looking at Feather and Rainbow Tornado. She looks at me “Flamesoar, who are they?” she does a double take. “Wait, where did you come from, where am I?”
Together we fill Firebird in on everything and then we call it an eventful day. I, Firebird and Louis walk to my apartment together.
When we enter drenched from a sudden storm tracking water all over the once clean hardwood flooring.
“I’m sorry Flamesoar, after you got hurt no pony would listen to me, no pony would tell me anything they where to busy looking after you. I felt so lonely then one day the ponies that where around you stopped coming all at once and I thought for sure you where dead. I guess I just went into a state where there was nothing left in the world for me knowing that my sister was dead” She brushes a bit of her soggy mane out of her face as it swings away water confined in it splashes out onto the wall. She blinks her hazel eyes at me and I see a drop of water roll down her cheek. Is it a tear or water from her mane?
“It’s my fault too not trying to track you down”
I don’t know what it is but I pull Firebird into an embrace.
“It’s good to have you back sis” I say to my soggy sibling’s mane.
“I missed you” she says and she gives a faint sigh as Louis lands on her back.
After a minute or two we pull apart, “Do you have any mane gel? I guess I was too crazy to buy my own” she snickers at me.
I smile and we head towards the bathroom but before we get far there is a knock at the door.
I glance at Firebird and shrug my shoulders “Who could that be” I wonder out loud.
“Don’t know I don’t live here” replies Firebird and together we go to the door.
I open it slowly, catching sight of an orange mane open the door quicker.
“Spitfire!” I exclaim as a soaked Spitfire steps in.
“Hi, I thought I'd stop by to see if you’re okay. I heard all about what happened today, Hi Firebird” she says nodding at Firebird who has a hoof to her head messaging in her gel. Louis isn’t helping her at all, moving around unbalancing her occasionally flapping his bright orange wings.
A flash of lightning lights u the room and the lights flicker out. “Horse apples!” I exclaim scrambling around in the dark, I crash into Spitfire and I light up my horn.
“Looks like we lost the power” I say flipping a switch up and down.
“Sweet Celestia, how am I supposed to get back home in this weather?” growls Spitfire peering out the window at the ever dampening streets below.
“Why don’t you spend the night?” I suggest “I have magic so we’ll have light and heat. Much better than trying to make it home” I focus my magic on fixing Firebirds messy mane for a minute then turn back to Spitfire to hear her response.
“I really should go...” she says trailing of glancing at the window again.
BANG the room lights up again as another round of lightning and thunder split the sky.
“On the other hand, it’s not that important” she says smiling.
Together we make a bed for Spitfire seeing as Firebird can share my bed, we make a perch for Louis out of a broom, close hangers and a few nails.
We settle in for bed after about an hour of preparation.
“Well, goodnight girls, thanks for letting me stay Flamesoar” says Spitfire glancing up at me from her makeshift bed on the floor “hope this weather clears up soon the peagusi sure have it in for themselves”.
It doesn’t take us very long to fall asleep; after all it has been a very eventful day. I settle down with my new cutie mark and my old sister.
“Come on we’re going to be late!” I yell at Firebird who is dizzily trying to keep up with me, she is stumbling sleepily after me Louis has long since disappeared into the distance. Spitfire left at the crack of dawn.
I shake my head and remember my wings that I still have from yesterday. I fly back to Firebird and lift her up to me with my blue telekinesis. I struggle to hold her weight, and grit my teeth “flap your wings” I growl and manage to finally make it to the Wonderbolts office.
When I heave Firebird into the common room Rainbow Tornado is sleeping on one of the couches she hasn’t demolished and Feather is lying on another couch watching a baseball game.
“Good you made it” she says without turning to look at us.
“Only just” I say looking at Firebird who has fallen asleep on the floor. I move Firebird out of the way and go to lie in front of the T.V.
The Fillydelphia Phoenixes are playing the Baltimare Blue Birds; the score is 2-5.
We watch the game progress and I begin to think about Wishalicious, just another pony that I have lost connection with.
I turn my attention back to the screen. I look on as the pitcher whips a ball at the batter, it rams the mare in the face and she reels back blood dripping from her face staining her blue outfit. Feather sighs “that’s a shame, Breeze is such a good batter, she has an 83 batting average” I look back at the bloody pink and blue unicorn.
“Feather, can we go to Baltimare?” I ask.
“To see the next baseball game?” She says confused
“No I have a friend who lives there”
“I guess we could, it’s not that far” she trails off “do you even know where this friend lives?”
“No but I want to find out” I change my position and look at her.
“Fine we can go tomorrow while you still have your wings” she smiles at me and turns back.
The game ends 3-7 and the blue birds are delighted, Breeze continued to play and starts to embrace her team mates despite her bloody front.
When the rest of our group wakes up Feather tells us to go home and I dig up a photo album.
As I flip through I find a picture of me and a group of childhood friends. A blue Pegasus with a pink and yellow mane is sitting on a cloud above the group looking down at them.
A Pegasus mare with a greyscale rainbow mane is flying slightly below the blue mare and is wearing a hat on her yellow beige head. Below her an earth pony with a white and pink mane has her pale green hoof around me. Then beside me is a white and pink Alicorn.
I remember these ponies, Thistle Whistle a shy blue Pegasus, Daring an adventurous Pegasus, Wishalicious is the green and pink and white earth pony and the Alicorn is Diamond Sparkle.
Why didn’t I make this connection before! Diamond Sparkle was mentioned by Feather. She said she was her friend and that they lived together. Maybe I can bring this group back together.
I quickly exit the apartment leaving Firebird sleeping in bed. I dash of to the Wonderbolts causing ponies to cry out in alarm as I leave my signature flaming trial behind me.
I stumble into the lobby and trot up to the desk a different pony is at the desk then usually but I’m still on my mission. I have to find Diamond Sparkle.
“Excuse me, Hi” I say as the pony at the desk looks up.
“Can I get the address of Feather please” I say.
“Sorry miss but that is private information. If you can prove you know her I can tell you but I have never seen you before.”
“I’m here working with her. I’M probably on that fancy computer you’ve got there, I’m Flamesoar”
The stallion just stares at me, “You going to look it up or what?” I say “this is important!”
Somewhat reluctantly the stallion taps something into the computer. He frowns “Is this you?” he says turning the screen towards me.
“Yes! Now can you tell me where she lives?”
“48 Pine street” he says “Thanks” I say fast and gallop off again.
“Forty eight Pine” I mutter running along Main Street. “Ah Pine” I say looking up at a sign at the base of Pine Street. I trot up to the top and look at the house where Feather lives. It has gray siding and a bit of blue at the top, there are three steps up to the door inset on the porch.
I climb these steps and ring the door bell. I wait in anticipation for a few seconds before the door opens. A large Pegasus pony opens the door.
“Hello, how can I help you?” he says.
“Hi, I’M Flamesoar I wanted to talk to Diamond Sparkle. You must be Feather’s father”
“That’s me, but I’M sorry to say you just missed Diamond” I blink “Oh horse apples! Which way did she go? Sweet Celestia I can’t believe this”
“Calm down sweetie she went up the street not long ago if you run you might catch her”
“Thanks!” I yell as I shoot off up the street. It doesn’t take me long to catch up to a white mare with wings and a horn surrounded by long pink and white hair.
“Sweet Celestia!” she exclaims as I pop up beside her “What are you doing!”
“Diamond Sparkle! Long time eh?” I say.
“Sorry, who are you?” she says clearly confused. “It’s Flamesoar!”
“Yea sure, you look like her but she has three legs, her cutie mark is a show jump and she’s a unicorn not an Alicorn.”
“Silly, Diamond Sparkle the wings are fake and sweet Celestia you haven’t heard about my accident yet? Don’t worry I can prove it’s me” I step away from her and run around and around and around her.
“Stop! Flamesoar, stop” I screech to a halt. “I know it’s you now, no pony else can do that but you. I’M sorry I doubted you. Now look what you’ve done to the ground you silly filly” she says and puts her hoof on the black scorch mark on the ground. A tear leaks down out of her eye.
“I can’t believe you’re here! I thought you had left forever, eh? We all sort of scattered you know” she swallows.
“I don’t know what happened to us but I want to bring us back together, promise you’ll come tomorrow to Baltimare to find Wishalicious okay, I can’t leave Firebird for long. She’ll be wondering where I am, I’M sorry we couldn’t talk longer. Promise you’ll come!” I yell as I run away.
“I promise!” she yells after me waving a hoof above her head.
I fall exhausted onto the bed beside Firebird. I snuggle up into the blankets and fall asleep almost immediately.
I wake blinking away the sleepiness from my eyes. I heave myself out of bed and whack firebird over the head “Ouch, Flamesoar, I need that!” she exclaims rubbing her head. I glare at her and she rolls out of the bed. I ready myself for the flight today and yell at Firebird to hurry up.
“Flamesoar. It’s 6 in the morning we don’t even leave until to 7.’
“Ah, but you don’t understand. Diamond Sparkle is going to be there!’
‘You mean that model that used to be your friend?” replies Firebird finishing her mane.
‘Yes! Come let’s go!” I say and drag her down out on to the street. I force myself to walk to the office where the unicorn mare is once again occupying the desk. I wave and head up stairs to the common room with Louis who has chosen to ride me. Firebird trots behind me frowning.
I magic open the door and trot in holding it open for my sister.
“Hi girls!” says Feather who is sitting on one of the couches with Diamond Sparkle on the other.
“Hey! Is Tornado here yet?” I say setting down my saddle bags which I brought with my album in them.
“No but she’s close. Listen, you can hear her” says Diamond Sparkle pricking her ears. I prick my own and listen closely. I can hear a whistling noise. I furrow my brow in confusion but then the door flies open with a bang and in shoots Tornado the remains of her trailing dispersing creating a dramatic scene as she stands in a cloud of rainbow smoke in the door way.
“Sorry I’M late, ready to go?” she says coolly. We nod and trot outside onto the street.
“Ready to board the Rainbow Tornado express ladies?” says Tornado adjusting her goggles over her eyes.
“Rainbow express?” I question her.
“Here is how it works just stay behind me and barrel roll slowly, got it?”
‘Yea, I guess” I say hesitating a bit. “Good lets go, goggles, goggles, goggles” she says giving us each a set of goggles save for Feather who has her own.
We adjust our goggles over our own eyes and follow Tornado up into the air. “This is what I’M famous for so don’t worry you’re pretty little heads one bit” she says and I make out her wink through her goggles. She positions herself and starts off, slowly at first be gradually gaining speed. After we reach a certain speed she starts to barrel roll at such a speed she is just a rainbow tornado in front of me.
Oh right this is a rainbow tornado, I feel myself being sucked into the pull spinning around and around again. Eventually we are inside the center of the tornado going at a really high speed I have no idea what it is.
After a minute Rainbow Tornado slows right down, so fast that I go flying out of the tornado over the streets of Baltimare. I think she expected this because she catches me in a cloud gentle slowing me down.
I sigh as I hit the cloud; it doesn’t buffet me like the wind in that cyclone did. I sit in it for a minute before jumping down to join every pony else.
“So where ma y I ask does Wishalicious live?” says Diamond Sparkle.
“That’s the problem I have no idea” I reply and look around the clean cobblestone streets of Baltimare ‘Why don’t we go to the town hall and ask there they probably have a record of every pony to ever live here. We’ll have a good chance of trying to find her there” and we trot off together our hooves echoing as we trot along a side street with close walls on either side. When we reach the end of the side street Tornado peers out on to the main street and we hear her gasp.
‘Wow, the streets here are so busy” she says as we round the corner. What looks to be about 100 ponies are milling around the large main square. The noise is defining as ponies talk and walk both noises bouncing of the shop walls. Today several farmer ponies are selling their produce in the square.
“Look there’s the town hall!” exclaims Firebird gesturing at a circular building near the center of the square.
“Come on!” I shout and we quickly fly over the bustling square below to the door of the town hall.
We trot into the quiet building cool marble wall glisten with cleanliness. A dark mahogany desk is unoccupied at the far side and there are two rooms, one to the left and one to the right.
To the left, what appears to be a library, to the right offices. I trot up to an empty slot at the desk and ring the bell with my hoof. A door in the wall on the other side of the desk opens and out comes a stallion wearing a pair of spectacles.
“How can I help you miss?” he asks peering over his specs. “I am here in Baltimare to see a dear friend of mine and I desire her address” I say trying my best to be polite and proper.
‘Who is it that you would be wanting to see miss?’
‘Wishalicious please” I say and the stallion disappears back into the room. He returns a moment later with a file suspended in his magic.
He sets it down and flips slowly through the papers. “Ah, here we are.” He pauses ‘24 highland road is where you can find the earth pony of the said name. She also works at the bakery so you might want to check there first. Good luck” he says as we leave back out into the hot street. I glance at my friends and notice that Feather is gone.
‘Where’s F...” I trail off as she comes out of the hall a book suspended in her bright blue telekinesis.
“Hey girls that was fun check out this book!” she says and passes it around.
I read the cover, A Journey Through Time: everything you would ever want to read about time travel By: Feather
I snicker and hoof it to Firebird.
“So, to the bakery?” I ask. “To the bakery it is!” exclaims Feather tucking the book in her saddle bags and we trot off in the direction of where the baker is upon Diamond Sparkles crude instructions.
We eventually make it and Wish isn’t there. Next we climb up to her house on highland road with its big yard and she isn’t there either.
As we walk down the hill along a fence separating the dirt road from an open field we hear laughing and a burst of dandelion seeds float up with the breeze.
‘Wish” I say. ‘You can only wish if you catch them” says Tornado.
“No, Wishalicious her talent is dandelions” I jump over the fence and across the field towards the source of the laughing. As I come over the rise I see them, two ponies are playing in a field of dandelions. Both are earth ponies one is a creamy orange brown colour with a dark chocolaty mane who is smaller. The other has a straight mane in the same style as Twilight Sparkle Celestia’s faithful student. Her mane is pink and white like diamond sparkle but her coat is a pale green colour.
As the bigger pony spins around she catches sight of us, gasps and runs up the hill with a giant smile plastered on her face.
“Flamesoar! Diamond Sparkle! Long time no see I missed you so much” she cries in her accented voice “I was so sad to hear about your leg Flame, you getting on okay!” exclaims Wish and I stick out my leg for her to see.
“This here is Carmel Candy, my sister” she says pulling Candy into an embrace “So what brings you folks up here?”
‘We wanted to see you of course, bring the group back together, come on you must agree, we always had so much fun together” says Diamond.
“That’s really sweet of you, who’s next?” she asks.
I don’t know but it appears that Diamond does. “Thistle Whistle, we’re going to see a Wonderbolts show in Cloudsdale the day after tomorrow”
“How fun! I can come right?”
“By all means we wouldn’t want to leave you here"
“I’ll come right now I just have to go drop off Caramel first” says Wishalicious and canters of back up the road with Caramel close behind.
When we leave Feather renews my wings for three more days then gives Wishalicious a pair. We use Rainbow’s Tornado to go back home and when we dizzily make it back Wishalicious checks into a hotel and waves us good bye until the day after tomorrow, Feather deciding that we need a day off.
My hooves touch down on the soft cushy cloud streets of Cloudsdale. Peagusi are flying and walking around excited for today’s show. Tornado and Feather are both not present due to the show, seeing as they were both selected to be in it.
Where are we going to find Thistle Whistle in this place of clouds where only Diamond Sparkle and Firebird have been here before?
Ponies zoom low over our heads “Sweet Celestia, watch what you’re doing!” yells Wish after the Peagusi who pay no heed to her. She shakes her head disapprovingly and we walk around the streets of Cloudsdale.
We pass a book store, the Daring-Do series is displayed in the window and the author’s name catches my eye. I do a double take, Feather, it reads under the title.
"Wait, Feather wrote these too?” I ask turning to Diamond. ‘Yeah she was friends with Daring too. She knew most of the ponies in the group, what did we call ourselves the Soaring something’s"
“Soaring Wishes” I say “Soaring, represented the Peagusi and me, Wish represented Wishalicious.”
“Right, I remember now the Soaring Wish Diamonds out to conquer the land of Equestria!”
‘We were ridiculous, shoo oo woo” I cock my head to one side that wasn’t any of us.
“Look up!” whistles the voice again and we all look up the pale blue Pegasus above us.
Thistle Whistle touches down on the ground her yellow and pink mane waving slightly.
“I thought you’d have to come see me again sometime” she whistles quietly, Thistle always so shy.
“Check her off the list Diamond! One more to go!” I say.
“Ah, but she’ll be the hardest we could wait for months for Daring to show up. I can’t believe you didn’t know that the Daring-Do books were written by Feather based on the real Daring-do!’
“I really had no idea!"
Thistle suddenly gasps "we’re going to be late for the show! Let’s go! You guys are so lucky V.I.P passes!” she exclaims and leads us off to the stadium gates.
"You have a ticket too Thistle?"
"Yea totally” she whistles and hooves over her ticket to the guard who scans it and lets her through. We let him scan our passes and together we invite Thistle Whistle to come to the V.I.P box with us.
The greeter lets her in no problem and we gather at the railing of the box to watch.
The show is opened by Spitfire and Soarin'” followed by the rest of the Wonderbolts, Rapid Fire, Silver Lining, Windy, Surprise, Blaze, Misty, Fire Streak, High Winds, Wave Chill, Rainbow Dash, Rainbow Tornado, Feather, Hurricane Fly and Fleetfoot who seems to be fine after her accident the other day.
They do loops and turns and Rainbow Dash Finishes the show with her famous Sonic Rainboom, a beautiful sight. All the colours of the rainbow bath the stadium in bright multi-coloured light.
We meet near the Wonderbolts changing room form which Feather and Rainbow Tornado emerge from; they are followed by Rainbow Dash and Hurricane Fly who nod at us and continue to a bunch of squealing fans.
“Hi, you must be Thistle Whistle, I’ve heard so much about you” says Feather and offers her hoof.
“Pleased to meet you, Feather, I’ve read your books so many times” whistles Thistle shaking Feather’s outstretched hoof.
“So, we still have time in the day, anyone up for a trip to Daring’s house?”
We mutter and nod and some pony says yes so we rainbow tornado back to Canterlot.
“So where does she live Flamesoar?” says Thistle Whistle “Ah, well she lives in a big house up near the castle. Don’t worry you’ll know it when you see it” I reply and we walk off towards the Castle.
“She lives here!” exclaims Wish in surprise “She never even invited me over!” she waves her hooves wildly at the big house surrounded by cast iron fencing. She snorts and walks up to the gate, “How do we get in?"
I give her a look and press a button on a microphone. /speaker stuck to a red brick pillar. I hold it down “Hi Daring? It’s Flamesoar and company.
A recording answers me back “Hi, I’m not home right now or I’m too busy to come talk to you. If you need further information my museum is just down the road! Thanks for stopping by, Daring-Do”
“To the museum?” I ask and everypony heads reluctantly down the dirt road to a brick building in the near distance. We trot down the road to it and open the door.
A grey earth pony with a blue and black mane is sitting at a desk. Another grey unicorn with a red and pink mane is gazing at a computer screen.
“Hi, do you know where Daring-Do is?” asks Diamond Sparkle.
The ponies look up; “She’s not here” says the pink one
“Out adventuring” says the other
‘Without us” continues the unicorn
“But we’re here” says the earth pony
“I’m Talon Rose” says the other
“and I’m Silver Orca” replies Silver Orca
‘We work with Daring” says Talon Rose.
‘When she doesn’t leave us behind” they smile together.
“Nice to meet you” I say hardly matching their complicated spiel.
"What do you need to know?” asks Talon Rose.
"Where is Daring-Do?"
‘We have no idea we have to wait for her to contact us or come back. Tell you what leave us your number and we’ll tell you anything we find out.” Says Silver Orca hoofing us a piece of paper.
I take it and scribble out my number pushing it back with my telekinesis.
We exit without another word.
On our way back to our homes we discuss things to do we decide to go to the Castle tomorrow and I’M really excited because it’s sort of and insiders tour Diamond Sparkle being the Princesses daughter we are sure to see Princess Celestia.
I wake the next day to find Firebird already getting ready. I look her in surprise but don’t say anything and get myself putting my leg back on because I took it off last night. I walk across the wood floor to the bathroom where only half the pills I took earlier on are sitting.
Firebird turns on some music as we get ready and she ends up grooving around the bedroom.
As we leave the apartment I smile knowing how much my life has improved, Spitfire has never been more right.
We trot along the cobblestones our hooves beating out a fast rhythm as the 7 of head towards the looming building that is the castle.
We trot right through the front door and Diamond Sparkle waves her hoof at a guard who smiles back obviously familiar with her.
“Um, where is my mother?” she asks sweetly.
“In her study I believe your highnesses” he answers.
“Thank you sir” she replies and heads off again closely followed by us. She trots up a few flights of stairs before knocking politely on a door.
“Come in” calls a voice that is clearly Celestia’s.
Diamond Sparkle shoulders her way in and gestures for us to follow.
“Hi mother, these are my friends. They were hoping they could meet you and get a tour of the castle.” Diamond says.
Celestia is sitting on a large pillow on the ground and has a book open in front of her. A fancy cup filled with tea is sitting nearby.
“Hello Ladies, I cannot give you a personal but I’M sure either Luna or Medley can spare you some time.” She smiles.
“Thanks Mum” says Diamond and we exit.
“Right” she says and trots off again stopping at a door with a moon on it.
She raps on the door “aunt Luna!” she calls the door glows with dark blue magic and flies open.
“I suppose Celestia told you to come see me and that she is too busy” says Princess Luna her dark slightly transparent mane floating around her head. ‘Well she was wrong about me not being busy. Medley or Cadence can look after whatever you need.” Says Luna flipping of the lights and turning back to whatever she was doing. When we don’t leave right away, she slams the door.
Diamond Sparkle snorts “Now we have to go find Medley, hopefully she’s not too busy” I want to ask who Medley is but Diamond is off again.
We don’t go far before she stops and knocks at a door with a music note on it.
“Come in” says a sweet slightly accented voice.
Diamond opens the door with her magic and walks into the room, an Alicorn mare is sitting at a desk writing something. Her wavy sparkling blue and platinum blond slightly transparent mane flows down her back. Her pale blue coat gleams with good health bringing out the dark blue of her sparkling music note cutie mark.
“Oh, hi Diamond Sparkle how are you? Who are they?” she says leaning over a bit to get a better look at us. Her big turquoise eyes scan us before settling back on Diamond Sparkle.
“These are my friends Medley” says Diamond stepping aside so we can move forwards. “They want a tour and you live her 24/7 I don’t so can you? Every pony else is busy.”
“Sure, I’M not busy I can totally give you a tour.” She says and gets up and her mane falls down to her knees. “Come on” she neighs and leads us off.
We trot through the halls of Canterlot, to the garden, the hall of harmony, the statue garden, the party halls, the wedding hall, the dining hall, the library, the pool, the dance floor.
We walk through the mess of stairs and rooms and buildings. We accidentally walk in on Cadence having a bath and she chases her sister and cousins out.
When the tour is over Medley has basically joined the Soaring Wishes she is laughing with Wish and blowing dandelions, flying with Thistle Whistle, and pouring out questions to me.
‘You know what; I have an important announcement to make girls!” I say clapping my hooves together.
“I would like to invite Princess Medley and Princess Feather to join the Soaring Wishes! Do you accept?’
“Of course!” they answer accepting the honor.
The other members stomp their hooves on the ground and Medley blushes red. Feather smiles and flaps her wings slightly.
“Congratulations” says Firebird not looking the least bit disappointed. She never really one of us, she had her own friends.
We break up preparing for a night of sleep and a trip to the Daring-do museum of special artifacts.
I stare at the blue sculpture before me. With its two jackal heads made entirely of sapphire it must be worth more than everything I own. I look at the next and blink at the boring cup; I can’t believe Daring likes stuff like this.
I’m about to move to the next when I hear a weird sound. I look up questioningly and my friends shrug their shoulders. I walk to the door of the museum and stick my head out.
A beige-yellow Pegasus is trotting towards the museum, she removes her hat and her greyscale rainbow mane showers down onto her damp shoulders. She starts to whistle but stops short as she spots me.
“Hey there Flame s'up” she says to me pulling me into a firm embrace. ‘You read my books yet? Feather wrote them you know, you know the pony that wrote that time traveling book?’
‘Yea I might know her” I say and walk indoors towards where Feather is.
When Daring sees her she snickers and gives me a playful punch.
She shoves a book at me and I read the cover. Daring-Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone I read.
“Read it!” exclaims Daring excited. “Do you want me to read it out loud?” I ask unenthusiastically.
“Sure!” says Daring and plops herself down on the floor. She blinks expectantly and I open the book with my magic.
“As Daring-Do trekked through the tropical jungle the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step.
If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up into the cool blue sky but her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days “A few days might as well be a few months or a few years.” She mutters to herself.
The mosquitoes buzzed loudly the macaques cried from the high trees yet all of these distracting noises where not enough to cover the sound of the predators following her every step. A clan of wild cats circled Daring growling and hissing a space appeared as a little white kitten jumped in. Daring-Do grinned and shot of towards the cat the others on her tail. She raced through the green jungle trees but skidded to a stop at the edge of a gorge. Glancing behind her she saw the cats barreling down on her and took a giant leap to a vine hanging from the canopy. Safely landing on the other side Daring finally allowed herself a moment to breath. She turned around to find herself face to face with the long lost temple she sought tirelessly for over 60 days and nights!
The smell of decay and danger hit Daring-Do as she peered into the dimly lit entrance of the ancient temple. Daring walked cautiously down the corridor unknown creatures moved in the dark near her hooves.
Her hoof set off a trap and she ducked just in time as axes whizzed past her head. The floor split and she stretched and flipped away from the flames protruding from the hole. Alligators hung from the ceiling and she crawled forwards. She jumped over a swing axe and dodged arrows. Spikes shot up from the floor and Daring-Do flipped and ran zigging and zagging back and forth towards the quickly descending wall. She ran faster and slide through the gap.
She sighed and whipped sweat off her forehead. Then groaned as more traps were set off, she dodged, jumped and flipped and finally made it to the other side. She took off her hat and brushed off the arrows stuck into it. She canvassed the area and her eye was caught by a beam of light sweeping the room. It landed on a blue statue on a pedestal. Daring-Do stood at the entrance to the central temple chamber at last she was face to face with the legendary Sapphire Statue!
Daring was about to step in to the chamber but stopped herself as she noticed the tiles on the floor. She glanced around and noticed holes in the walls. She frowned and spotted a stone on the ground. She kicked it and it landed on a hawk tile, arrows shot from the holes and stuck into the wall on the other side.
“Hmm there must be a pattern here, what do all these animals have in common?” Daring looked at the tiles there were coyotes, lions, cats, hawks and rats. “Aha these animals are all predator except...rats!” Cautiously she stepped on the nearest rat tile.
Nothing, she breathed out the breath she had been holding. Daring-Do flipped and jumped towards the pedestal. She wobbled on a tile but quickly recovered. She climbed up towards the statue and removed her hat. She stared at the shining beauty of the statue and her eyes sparkled. She tested for traps, waving her hooves over it and looking at it from all sides. After a minute she relaxed and grabbed the statue of its stand. She turned and put the Statue in her hat which she replaced on her head. She froze, there was a rattling noise and she spun around to see the place where the statue was rising, then it dropped down again.
The temple shook and rubble tumbled down at her. She tried to go back the way she came but the tiles fell away to reveal boiling lava. It hissed and raised, the pillars around her tumbled over into the lava and Daring hopped onto the pedestal. She noticed a hole in the roof and hopped on the pillars to reach it. It was to low she pranced around on her small space then spread her one good wing and launched herself up towards the hole. She grabbed the edge with her mouth and pulled herself up. Then the steam was so strong it sent her flying into the air. Daring landed face first into the ground the statue flew from beneath her hat and thudded onto the ground. She glanced up to see Ahuitzotl towering above her.
“You thought you could evade me and capture the relic but you were sadly mistaken Miss Do and now you shall meet your doom!” He blew his cat shaped whistle and the cat clan jumped from the bushes. Daring crawled towards Ahuitzotl but he laughed evilly next thing she knew she was tied to a stone table
“You won’t get away with this Ahuitzotl!” she exclaimed.
“But I already have” he answered and pulled a lever on the wall.
“Not again!” she said through clenched teeth. Ahuitzotl waved at her and left the room the door slide shut behind him and the cats. Spikes came out of the walls and they slide towards her spiders crawled out and cobras slithered out of a hole in the wall.
They crawled over her and then “Quicksand!” she said as it poured in.
“It feels that the harder I struggle the tighter the ropes get.” She mutters thinking quick she knocked off her hat put it over her hooves she grabbed the edge in her mouth and pulled then let go. Her hat shot off twirling, flipping and bouncing. The quicksand enveloped her head and she waited for some long seconds, short of breath to see if her plan worked.
She heard a faint click as her hat flicked the lever. The spikes and quicksand receded; she broke the ropes and gasped for breath.
The door lifted “Another day, another dungeon” Daring mutters replacing her hat on her sandy head.
“With Daring-Do out of the way the world will suffer mightily at my hands! I AM VICTORIOUS!” yelled Ahuitzotl lifting the Sapphire Statue into the air.
“I’ll take that” said Daring swooping down to grab the statue.
“What? No!” Exclaimed Ahuitzotl.
“Better luck next time Ahuitzotl!” said Daring tipping her hat at him.
“Curse you Daring-Do” he yelled after her as she trotted away. And so with Ahuitzotl defeated and the sapphire statue secured the world was safe and sound once again thanks to Daring-Do!” I read. I gasp for breath through my dry throat.
“Isn’t that the greatest book ever?” Says Daring happily taking it back, she looks at it then gives it back, “For you” she says and I accept the gift happily.
“There are more books eight to be exact but I think they need to wait for another day. I think I’ll treat you all to dinner at my place.”
I look at the soup in front of me; I already stuffed myself with bread. I know there is more to come so I take little spoonfuls of it, delicious. I end up eating the whole dish.
I’m starting to feel sick by the time the main dish arrives. How can Daring eat all this. I look at her and realize why, she doesn’t. She takes tiny bites of each thing but not enough to fill her up.
“You know what girls; I’m going to take us on an adventure, to find another artifact for the museum!” says Daring after we are finished eating.
“It’s a bit of a short one but that’s all we can handle with so many ponies. 11 ponies are quite hard to transport everyplace.” She says clearly hinting that some of us should stay behind.
Firebird takes the hint “I’ll stay but I want Louis to go if Flamesoar can take her”.
Silver Orca and Talon Rose look at each other. ‘We’ll go next time, it’ll be easier with fewer ponies” they neigh clearly giving up their job is hard for them, but Daring appreciates it.
“Now that we’ve got our group down to a reasonable size, we can go right now!” she exclaims and trots from the room. It takes the 7 other ponies a minute to realise that they have no choice and that Daring isn’t kidding.
I pull Firebird into an embrace for a minute before she pushes me away and gives me Louis, who happily perches on my back as I walk away with the rest of the group.
I stand outside on a runway where a large green camouflage seaplane is sitting. I look back at Daring’s house thinking of Firebird, and then I remember something I was going to do.
“Gather around everypony” I call and when everypony is present I start “I feel that Rainbow Tornado is a valued member of this group and herby ask her to join the Soaring Wishes. Do you accept?” I ask and the other members wait in anticipation for her answer.
‘Yes, Rainbow Tornado courtly accepts your invitation” she says all proper.
We stomp on the hard gray cement until Daring stops us by yelling through a mega phone.
“Mind coming on?” she says after putting it down.
We stop and climb into the plane with her.
“Let’s get this show on the road!” she exclaims and gears the plane forwards. She flicks a switch and turns a dial turning on some music.
Medley sings along with a few and we discover how brilliant her voice is.
We fly to who knows where when Daring asks us to brace ourselves. Soon after we hit the water, it sprays up at the window and Diamond Sparkle and Thistle Whistle jerk back in surprise.
We giggle together but Daring is not impressed she gets us out of the plane and into the water before we can do anything else.
I gasp as Daring pushes me into the chilly water. Tornado asks to fly over but Daring pushes her in while explaining that it is too dangerous to fly over and that we might get spotted doing so.
What she fails to explain is who would see us out here in the middle of nowhere.
I paddle through the water in the direction Daring indicated; I heave myself out of the water on the shore.
This isn’t what I signed up for; I wait for the slower swimmers to catch up and shake out my soaking wet coat.
Diamond Sparkle heaves herself out shaking dripping with water. She shakes herself out and I get wet all over again. I stick my tongue out at her and walk away to shake out my coat again.
‘Wow you’re mane looks weird!” says Wish running her hoof along my long wet mane. I bat her away ‘you’ve seen me wet before’. ‘Yea but not like in a long time” she says and dashes away to meet Daring who is helping Feather out of the water.
“So cold” chatters Thistle Whistle “I didn’t think it would be like this, I’M not the outdoorsy type” she looks at the trees and vines in the humid forest we are in.
‘We are in the Amarezon I want to see the alligators and most importantly get the emerald alligator!” she exclaims and looks around at us cold and wet standing on the muddy bank. “But I realise I may not be able to function at my normal pace” she makes an attempt at a smile but I can tell this is going to be hard for her.
“Come on ladies, walking will keep you warm” I say trying to encourage the others. Daring gives me a thankful glance and trots off leading the way. “Don’t worry! I picked a really easy mission and I landed the plane really close, closer then I normally would. It’s just around the corner” neighs the Pegasus.
We don’t trot far before Daring stops us and motions for us to get down. She looks through the binoculars from a rope around her neck then continues on towards what appears to be more trees until Daring-Do stops at the edge of a hole.
“Right down here” she says and jumps down through the hole.
I gasp in surprise, “Daring?” I exclaim looking down after her.
When she doesn’t answer I take a deep breath and jump down after her. I scream out of instinct as I slide and roll through the dirt. I end at the bottom with a mane full of dirt and worms; I shiver and shake it out.
I get pushed out of the way by some unseen force who I’m guessing is Daring because Rainbow Tornado comes shooting down next. ‘You’re horn, light up your horn” hisses Daring and I obey illuminating the small space. Just in time because next comes Thistle Whistle a little more gracefully because she must have flown down, she is followed closely by Medley Diamond Sparkle and Feather.
‘Where is Wish?” says Feather “Right here” says Wish who comes tumbling out next, with no wings or magic she got a rough ride down.
Now that we’re all here Daring starts off again down the only tunnel there is. If this place is supposed to be protected it isn’t done well like how when you fall down a hole there are about 20 different ways to go.
We trot for what seems like forever, our hooves beating out a steady rhythm. Suddenly Daring stops, we are completely silent behind her, so much so you could hear a pin drop. Without saying a word Daring carefully moves forward not making a single noise I follow suit carefully not using my mechanical leg.
There must be some sort of noise trigger trap here. “Ep” says some pony and the walls explode.
“Run!” yells Daring and we charge away from the tons of snakes pouring out of the walls.
We don’t get far before the snakes engulf us there is no biting but it is still pretty bad. Getting suffocated by these wriggling things is not the way I wanted to die.
The snakes cover my mouth and eyes; I become heavy and collapse onto the ground with the weight. I continue to struggle through the heaving mass but without luck.
I’M starting to get short of breath when the room lights up through the snakes and they are blasted back, Medley’s horn is glowing with magic, her eyes are closed lightly and it is clear that the snakes are getting repelled by her.
When they are all gone I look around at my friends they seem fine but Daring is covered in blood, and I suppose she was trying to bite the snakes away from her.
‘Wow, how did you do that?” questions Daring looking at Medley.
“She’s a Princess, Luna’s daughter to be exact; the princesses have more power than regular old unicorns, that help them with their duties” says Feather answering for Medley.
“But your talent is singing, it’s not like you lift the sun or moon every day” says Daring not convinced.
“I was supposed to be the water princess, like Cadence is the love princess or my mother the moon princess. But instead I got a music cutie mark; I still have that power I didn’t lose it. That’s also the reason my full name is Medley Splash” explains Medley.
“Right we should continue but please stay quiet this time” hisses Daring her voice low. Thistle Whistle blushes the same bright pink as her mane.
We trot in silence down the winding stone tunnels dreading more traps. We make it finally with sore hooves to a room made entirely of glittering emerald.
“Horse apples!” exclaims Daring looking around “How are we supposed to find the alligator in here! Although I have to admit, this is really smart” the yellow Pegasus runs a hoof along the green walls.
They are bumpy so the alligator is going to be hard to find. The Alicorns and myself light up the emerald room with our magic and we begin to search carefully. Shuffling around feeling with our hooves.
After what seems like forever. At that moment when I am about to give up, Wish gives a little squeal and we hear the clack of stone on stone. Wish scans the ground and ducks down straightening with a piece of emerald in the shape of an alligator in her jaws.
“Oh, yes!” says Daring and takes the Alligator she spins it around in her hooves then places it carefully on her head under her hat. “Come on ladies, we can leave now. I was going to suggest we take a short cut by blasting the roof of this place but I think its better we leave it untouched” she continues and leads the way back up to the surface.
We make it back to Daring-Do’s place by the time the sun is rising above the horizon. She escorts us all home and when I walk into my apartment Firebird is sleeping. I look at her body lying out of the covers curled up in a little ball. I cover her up and climb into bed myself.
I fall straight to sleep after a long day not to mention exciting and slightly scary.
I wake the next morning to find that Firebird is gone. I panic and search the whole apartment, the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room even under the bed. A tear streaks down my cheek, she wouldn’t leave without telling me, would she?
I collapse on the ground; there is no sign in the entire place that another pony had lived here.
I decide to go to the Wonderbolts office eve thought it is already mid afternoon. I drag my hooves across the cobblestones and I notice how worn they are. Weathered but not broken. Almost like me but I am broken. My sister broke me twice, once when she left me oh so long ago and now, breaking me again along an already fragile line.
When I reach the common room all my friends are there to meet me. I had gotten my hopes up that Firebird would be here but she isn’t.
The Soaring Wishes are quick to notice my mood and immediately try to comfort me.
‘What’s wrong? Where’s Firebird?” asks Feather her sweet voice calming me enough to tell her.
“I don’t know, she left” I cry out leaning against Feather’s shoulder. “A re you sure?” asks Feather “She didn’t leave you a note or anything” while she is talking to me she gestures for Tornado to leave and she does.
I puzzle over this until she returns with a piece of paper in her mouth which she drops in front of me. ‘You must have missed it” she says and steps back letting me see it. I flip over the note and read the writing.
Dear Flamesoar,
I am so glad you found your friends but know I think I need to find my own. I have never and will never belong in your circle.
My address is 16 Silver Birch avenue Seaddle Equestria
Your loving sister Firebird
P.S. Louis and I will visit often don’t worry about us have fun!
I smile and more tears come to my eyes but they are happy tears, I and my sister belong in our own lives, and I am glad. I never relive the worst moments of my life again.
The End
