Requiem Of the Rainbow

It's been a week since I came to Cloudsdale Flight Academy. Today was the test.

For some reason, the air was heavy with tension, nervousness and excitement. The students were chatting among each other on how they're going to live their lives after passing the test.

I just had to remember to fail, so I could report to Princess Luna on what happens to the pegasi that fail.

The bell rang, indicating it was time to gather into the coliseum. Just as I reached the entrance, something bumped into me and fell back.

I turned to the fallen pegasus, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry. Are you-"

I stopped short as I saw the pegasus that bumped into me. It was a mare around her mid-twenties. Her fur was a light yellow tone. Her long tail and mane were a light cherry blossom pink. Eyes of opal cyan. And a Cutie Mark of three pink butterflies circling each other.

I knew this pony. Princess Luna spoke highly of this mare. What is somepony like the Element of Kindness doing here? Is she here to take the test too?

I extended my hoof to her, "I'm very sorry. Did I hurt you?"

The Element of Kindness took my hoof and got back to her hooves. She scoffed her hoof and tried avoiding eye contact with me, "N-no. It was my fault. I didn't see where I was going."

"Lemon Pie!" I heard a familiar voice shout from behind me.

I froze then turned. It was Star Dream trotting toward us. "There you are. Clover asked me to look for you." She smiled.

I smiled back in embarrassment, "Sorry, Star. I got side-tracked."

"Star Dream?" The Element of Kindness gasped.

Star looked over my shoulder and gasped, "Fluttershy? Ohmigosh! How long has it been?"

"Too long. You're taking the test?" Fluttershy asked.

Star Dream nodded, "Yup. You?"

Fluttershy lightly nodded. The late bell rang. Fluttershy, Star Dream and I hurried to the coliseum.

*Later, At The Coliseum...*
"Places, places, everypony." A massive, buff Pegasus, with light blue mane and tail and lighter blue fur, walked towards the entrance to the coliseum, as we made our way in-line, "We're going to do this by name. Your adjudicators are on the east side of the field. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, fly too far west. If they lose sight of you for any reason, you'll be failed, immediately. Take deep breaths. Stretch your wings one last time. The test will consist of three sections. Weather clearing, Agility, and finally Recovery. Clear the clouds, fly through the hoops, and then fly to the marked elevation. Close your wings for at least three seconds. Any less and you'll fail, but keep in mind there's no 'extra points' for extra seconds. Finally, recover before you hit the cloud floor. Understood? Any questions?"

Everypony was silent with their eyes on the instructor, as he glanced at each of us.

The instructor nodded and looked at his list,"Alright. Starlight Dreamgaze. You're up first. Clear, fly, fall, complete."

Star Dream hesitantly entered the coliseum and looked at the three judges. All three nodded and Star took of with a powerful force. She reached the starting altitude and began with the clod portion of the test. Using her speed, Star cleared the clouds like she was a bolt of aurora lightning. She flew through the hoop course with ease and incredible precision.

I held my breath as she pulled herself up the right attitude and closed her wings. She closed her eyes and started falling.

One... Two... Three... Four... Oh no...

Star opened her eyes, gasped and opened her wings. She tried to maneuver away from the clouds. However, she lost control and landed in a supporting pillar.

The judges all pointed down. Star Dream sulked, freed herself from the pillar and flew toward the west gate of the coliseum. That's not on!

After a second of silence, the instructor shouted, "Silver Wind. Clear, fly, fall, complete!"

A silver-maned stallion in front of me entered. He passed.

"Napoleon Jasper Darkstone. Clear, fly, fall, complete." The instructor called.

Jasper entered the coliseum. The judges nodded and he took off to the starting altitude. He used his powerful legs to take out the clouds, then he zipped through the hoop course. What he didn't notice was the judges were already pointing down. Something was wrong.

I cupped my muzzle and shouted, "Jasper, stop!"

Jasper stopped three-quarters through the course. He looked at me, then at the judges. He raised a brow and asked, "Why? How did I fail?"

The middle judge, a mare, pointed to the cloud course. He missed three clouds.

"But, they fitted the decor so well." He pointed out.

The hooves still pointed down. I rolled my eyes and face-palmed.

"Please! Let me try again. I'll do better. I swear!" Jasper pleaded. But no avail. The judges' decisions were final. No turning back now.

That stallion's fashion sense is going to be his downfall. I can see it coming.

The instructor looked at his list and called, "Clover Nightingale! Clear, fly, fall, complete!"

Jasper joined Star, as Clover made his way to the center of the coliseum. The judges nodded and Clover took off to start the test. He seemed to have inherited his aunt's speed. He cleared the clouds so quick, the clouds became vapour before vanishing into nothing. He flew through the hoop course with little trouble.

However, his fetlocks caught a hoop, causing him to lost control of his flight momentum and crash into the center with a loud snap and thump. That's not a good sound to hear.

Out of worry, Star called, "Clover!"

Clover recovered from his crash, but he winced as he tried to fly, but his left wing gave out. Three hooves pointed down. That's not fair!

"Soaring Flames. Clear, fly, fall, complete!"

Clover turned to make his way to where Star and Jasper sat, but he fell under the weight of his broken wing. He couldn't move and nopony was bothering to help him.

"Fawkes Trailblaze. Clear, fly, fall, complete."

My heart burned in anger on the pony's behavior. We Bat Ponies have a rule that's been in our Code of Honor for centuries.

'A Pony never leaves another behind.'

"Lemon Pie. Clear, fly-"

"No!" I shouted, cutting the instructor off. The other pegasi turned and stared at me in shock.

The instructor strongly pointed to the coliseum, "Get out there and take the flight test now. You don't want to make the judges angry."

I stood my ground, "Let them fail me! I'm not going to stand idly by as you let other ponies refuse to help another!"

"Into the coliseum now!" The instructor demanded in a strong, deep and stern tone.

I narrow my eyes at him, "Make me!"

Clover looked at me. I ran over to him and put his broken wing over my back. I looked at the judges. Angry expressions and all three hooves pointed down. I didn't care. I'm a terrific flier. My mission was to fail anyway.

"Fluttershy Andrea Breeze. Clear, fly, fall, complete!" The instructor shouted.

I helped Clover to the west gate, as Fluttershy entered the coliseum and started the test. She did well with the clouds and hoops. However, when it came to the falling part of the test, Fluttershy just dropped and fell into the coliseum with a flump.

Fluttershy looked at the judges and all three hooves pointed down. Oh dear. That's not good.

Fluttershy sulked and joined me and Clover to the west gate. Tears were welling up in her eyes. I put my free wing over her shoulder.

"You did very well, Fluttershy." I assured with a genuine small smile.

Fluttershy gave me a small smile, but sulked. Clover, Fluttershy and I joined Star and Jasper then walked toward west gate. The west gate lead to a dark hallway with a poorly written sign. 'Test Failees'.

Star Dream and Jasper gathered around Clover, Fluttershy and myself. I was the first to enter the hallway. The others followed behind me. Afraid and unaware of the dangerous place we were going to.