1 Trying out your new wings.
Return of the Night Wings
By The Pony Eclipse
“Moomm! My wings cramping up!”
“Eclipse, darn it, hold still and quit twitching! I have to get the angles right for each feather! Besides, your the one that said you wanted to go to Chinae with your father. And if you really want to go that bad, you have to look and at least try to fly like a normal pegasus. He’s not going to carry you the whole way you know.”
“And let’s not forget, your 10 and in your 5th year of martial arts. If you can waste a perfectly good day sneaking in a few more hours practice in your room instead of sleeping like your supposed to, you can handle a couple hours while I glue these longer feathers on your shafts.”
Even with her son laying down a thick mat of blankets on the floor of his room, the hoof falls still came through the floor and were clearly herd by his parents every day at bed time.
Eclipse cringed, “busted again.”
Lunar Rose winked with a smile as she slipped the larger shaft of a navy blue feather over the trimmed shaft of her son’s original feathers to give his wings the width close to that of a normal pegasus’ wing. The light green mare had finally relented to her son’s pleas to join his father on an upcoming trip out of Snow Valley into the world at large. For millennia the race of Night Wings have hidden themselves away in exile, daring not to show their true selves least they be hunted into extinction once again. Any who strayed from their secretive refuges only did so under careful disguise so as to blend in as normal pegasi.
“By the way, I know you really want to get your black belt before the rest of your team, but what’s the rush? Isn’t it bad enough your sleepy and falling behind in sky dancing? If you spend all your time on the ground, your wings aren’t going to be strong enough to reach the jet stream and you won’t be stratus surfing with your father at the end of the year. Combat competence is one thing, but Night Wings fly at the TOP of the sky. Or is Alicorn height good enough?”
Busted, times two.
“They got cooties. Every time I screw up, they try to kiss me cause they can’t beat me in a fair fight. I don’t see why I have to be stuck with 3 girls when all the other teams are 2 on 2.”
“You got stuck with them because you 4 lazybones were the last to show up to the first day of class. You know perfectly well your stuck with them and you’ll be the best long range patrol team when you grow up because all 4 of you are the best gliders.”
“By the way, I know Blue Streak and Bright Eyes aren’t thrilled with you either, but Light Touch keeps them in line. How’d you earn Her favor mister Eeww, you got cooties?”
“Yeesh mom, grill a colt why dontcha.”
“Well ok, if you insist. First i’ll have to pluck all these feathers out, then shave your fur… have you seen what your father did with the barbeque last week?”
“MOOOMMM!”
Rose gave her son a glare while licking her lips, a wicked smile curling her lips. Eclipse looked at his mother wide eyed, then snickered.
“Almost gotcha” she said with a more motherly smile.
Rose let go of the feather she was adding and added a dab of quick set glue to the inner shaft of another feather adding it to the next, angling the plume so it lined up with the one previous. By slipping each longer feather over his still attached and trimmed shafts the longer feathers worked just like his natural feathers, giving him all the sensory input and control but with just a little more length and weight. It also added a little more agility like a normal Pegasus wing with the added wing width at the expense of speed and glide distance.
“Almost done sweetie. Only 4 more and your done. So why don’t you review your history and why we do this to take your mind off your oh-so-tired wing.”
Eclipse rolled his eyes as he recited his mothers lesson for the umpeenth millioneth time this week as they prepared for he and his fathers trip.
“7000 years ago the Night Wings were the best fliers in Equestria and protected our pony kin as evening fell. A Pegasus can beat us in level speed flight, agility and lifting weight, but with our Peregrine falcon shape and Albatross like length they can’t match us in glide, long range flight or dive speed. We can stay aloft for days at a time by locking our wings flat and sleeping at stratosphere height since we can handle cold and low oxygen better. We’re also longer lived, slightly larger than a common pegasus, but thinner than an earth pony and share many traits as the blessed Alicorns, just not as horny...”
“Eclipse, show respect!” his mother sternly glared.
“Well they all have a horn! And why do we have to show respect? They let the pegasi drive us from our homeland and nearly into extinction!” The Night Wings of Snow Valley are the last of our race. There’s barely 300 of us left in this dang caldera. An extinct volcano in the arctic isn’t exactly Equestria you know!”
“We still don’t know if the Alicorns were in on it. All we know is that they were also jealous that we could fly higher and they didn’t think anypony should be above them, even in the sky. Jealousy is one thing, but genocide? I still find that hard to believe justifiable. Now continue please.”
“We are feared because we are unique. Our greatness was our undoing because we forgot humbleness, humility, generosity and mercy. We hide where others can’t live and don’t take chances because the threat is real even if the perpetrators are history. Discrimination and jealousy are our greatest enemies. We hone our bodies into the finest weapons to defend our homes and the ones we love. A downed Night Wing is a dead Night Wing but our ground game is just as deadly. Our weaknesses are our strengths. We use them to our advantage. Stealth, cunning and deception are our allies. Our love conquers hate. We can not control others if we can not control ourselves, so we spend our lives seeking self perfection that we may lead by example. Never shall we leave our sanctuary below the stratosphere. We trim our feathers and use the outlanders’ that we may blend in. to live in isolation is to live in stagnation. Know thine adversary and brave the future for one day we will return to the skies of our homeland. The night skies and the future belong to US!”
“Well done my son, and by the way, your done” Rose said.
She had finished the last few feathers before Eclipse finished his recital knowing full well that he had locked his muscles in the glide position. He was twitching because he was bored waiting for each feather to be glued on and held in position for proper look and flight. Eclipse drew back his wing, turned to face his mother and went through the full range of motion and gave them a flutter to see how they settled in.
“They fit ok, but it’s going to throw off my balance” he complained”
His mother smiled as she cleaned up her supplies. “You’ll get used to them. Just don’t try stunt flying or carrying heavy stuff until the glue cures properly at least. And please, please take it slow to start until you DO get used to the added length before trying out Pegasus techniques. Now go play while I start dinner, it’s almost 3am and your father will be home soon.”
“Ok mom” said the young colt and he dashed outside to show off his new feathers. Once outside his home, the full moon shown brightly and the crisp clean air greeted him. Finally, he could clear his lungs and nose from the smell of glue. First stop… the park.
Eclipse slowly flapped his wings and rose off the ground, testing the balance of the longer feathers as he made his way northward to the center of the village, doing easy rises and dips as well as a few lazy turns noting how his wings felt and responded compared to having his natural feathers. It was a little awkward, but doable.
As he glided around the park he noticed some of the kids from school, a few of the teams from the dojo and several families out moonbathing or finishing up their picnics. As usual the cootie crew as he called the girls of his team were all there in the north east corner practicing their hind hoof kicks with a hoofball aimed into a basket. The goal was to have one pony kick the ball to you from a random position on the run, then you had to kick the ball into a basket on it’s side just hard enough to get the basket to sit upright.
Eclipse was gliding in behind Bright Eyes as Blue Streak was kicking her the ball, her blue fur and dark red streaked lavender mane in sharp contrast to Bright Eyes’ own white on off-white fur and hair colors. Bright Eyes was facing the ball and basket watching it come to her. As it neared, she hopped to the right and lined up for the kick. Just as she was rearing up to forward kick, Eclipse landed behind her and yelled “HEY!” just before her hoof made contact, sending the ball careening away from the basket and straight into Light Touches light purple chest where she caught it easily with a hoof. Bright Eyes screamed and jumped back from Eclipse turning and landing in the ready position, hooves staggered, wings half furled and forelegs bent at the knees, ready to launch or strike as Light Touch and Blue Streak laughed heartily since they saw him gliding up.
“Thanks a lot jerk, I was about to go 10 for 10!” she said angrily she started edging forward ready to pounce on her teammate again.
“Then I got here just in time to save you” smiled Eclipse as the two started circling each other.
“Save me from what, being better than you at kicking?”
“No, saving you the pain in the neck from having an even more swelled head than you already have!” Eclipse blew a raspberry at the filly and winked slyly.
“That’s it!’ she shouted and lunged as the colt reared up and unfurled his wings at her, standing his ground instead of jumping back like he always did. Bright Eyes pulled up quick, eyes widening at the unusually brave look and how more massive he suddenly appeared. Light Touch and Blue Streak also taking note came forward. Something was definitely off. Eclipse wasn’t that big when he left class this evening. Eclipse just stood there, eyes narrowed and smiling, letting them get a good look at his wings, forelegs at the ready in case Bright still wanted a go.
The girls closed in and looked at his wings. “Oh my gosh you got your long feathers! They squealed together as Eclipse leaned forward, turning around and moving his wings to different positions to give them a good eyeful. They bounced happily and gave him a three filly hug.
“Alright! First in our class! Wait, your dad’s taking you to Chinae, when are you going? And where did he find all the right length and shades?” asked Light Touch, brushing her dark grey main out of her eyes.
“My dad got most of them his last 3 trips out, my MOM got the last 4 in Yack Yackistan the week before last. My mom just finished gluing them on just now and my dad is bringing up the new blueprints for a retro temple from his work in Icelandia. Major payday here we come!”
Bright Eyes pouted. My dad says I’m starting another growth spurt, so now they have to give my feathers to someone younger and start collecting all over again when I level out in a few months. I’m stuck here for at least another 7 months” she complained. “But I’m still happy you get to go. First on our team and first in this semesters class. At least you get to be first in Something” she said with a wink”
“Ya, bout time you quit bringing up the rear,” teased Blue Streak.
Eclipse scoffed. “I’m 7 months ahead of all of you in martial arts. Just cause your better sky dancers than me doesn’t make you better pony’s.” Eclipse glared at them.
“Then maby you should spend a little less time fighting and a little more time flying. Especially with the added weight and friction of the longer feathers. I’d be all kinds of jealous right now if you had AND could out fly me,” she said with a wink. “We’ll tutor you more if you’ll help us get past the test for our next belt and teach us your snap roll. I still can’t figure out how you do those insane 90 degree turns at speed with such a small turn radius. we’re supposed to be a team remember?” Light Touch narrowed her eyes trying to look stern.
Eclipse just looked at her out of the corner of his eye putting on his most swave and confident look. “First, the snap roll is a trade secret, second, I practice my martial arts an extra 2 hours at bed time every morning. Third, I’d rather kiss a yeti than you cootie collectors. So quit trying to kiss me when I screw up in practice and maaabeeee I’ll think about helping you get your next belts. I am 2 ahead of you after all. Fair trade for the sky dance practice. One hour for one hour. Deal?”
Bright eyes and Blue Streak sat back and watched the “negotiations”. They looked at each other and mouthed 3, 2, 1…
“Your mom caught you staying up late to practice fighting and slacking in dancing again didn’t she?” Light Touch glared and smiled at the surprised look on his face. “Jeeze eclipse. You are so predictable I don’t even need to read you!”
“Wha? No! I...” Eclipse just hung his head and sighed. “Yes”.
“Thought so” she said triumphantly.
“Ok, so leme see if i’m getting all this” Bright Eyes interjected. Now we’re going to school, 1 hour break before hitting the dojo, 1 to 2 hours with I’m assuming all 4 of us now of study, and we’re going to top it off with an extra hour sky dancing and another of martial arts?”
“Seriously, when do we get to play? And what about dinner?” Blue streak looked at her team worriedly, glancing from face to face.
“Nice to see you got your priorities Blue” Said Light touch.
“Hey, I’m a kid it’s my job” she smirked.
Light Touch just sighed and tilted her head towards Eclipse to give him an exasperated look. “Do we have an accord?”
“We have an accord” said Eclipse and they shook hooves.
The four shared a group wing hug to seal the deal and spent the next hour chatting about Eclipses upcoming trip.
Author's Note
As a young colt Eclipse is finally getting a chance to stretch his wings outside the nest. or in this case the caldera of an extinct volcano that his village has made their homes in. The irony for a race of pegasi thought to also be extinct. Things aren't always what they seem.
