Crashing Angels

Luna's night settles over Ponyville, bringing with it a sense of peace and tranquillity to everypony and their family.

Luna herself glided silently from far above, enjoying her night with a slow glide over the town. She cruises past the border of the town, toward a small, majestic cloud house floating in the sky. Despite the proximity to the Everfree Forest, it is clear that no creature had attempted to harm the dwelling or the family who lived inside. A small rainbow pool is embedded in a cloud attached to the side of the house, twinkling merrily in the starlight. There are tiny rainbow coloured hoof marks dotting the clouds nearby. Somepony small had obviously been playing in it today. A smile breaks out across Luna’s regal features as she spots it on her pass. She circles the house slowly, taking her time to drink in the beautiful sights.

Spotting a cloud some distance off, the royal alicorn slowly flies across to it. She shunts it along slowly, placing it within line of sight of the bedroom window at the back of the house. Satisfied, she seats herself down on the cloud to witness the spectacle taking place inside.

Two proud pegasi stand over their rainbow-maned daughter as she drifts off to sleep in her small cot next to her parents bed. Their scarf-like wedding bands fit snugly around their necks as they nuzzle each other gently. Both bands are the colour of their lovers coat and are each adorned with the other’s cute mark to accompany it, showing the world to whom they belong. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash watch for a few more minutes as their small yellow bundle of fluffy joy slips off into Dreamland. Her multicoloured mane has the occasional fleck of pink mixed in with the rainbow and her parents smiled as she played with it in her sleep.

After a few seconds, Fluttershy could feel her mate putting a wing over her and guiding her past their bed to the window Luna was looking into. Once ‘Shy saw Luna, she smiled warmly, remembering the alicorn’s kindness toward the young couple. The three ponies shared a knowing moment of silence before a satisfied Luna spread her wings and lifted off, floating away toward the Ponyville library.

The two pegasi remained for a few moments more, looking out over Ponyville. Fluttershy felt a shiver run across her back as the chilly night air made itself known. Noticing her discomfort, her marefriend pulled her in closer under the embrace of her strong cyan wing. With a contented noise, Fluttershy nuzzled Rainbow Dash, quietly enjoying their moment of peace. The nuzzle slowly turned into a passionate kiss. It was the perfect way to top off the day for Fluttershy and she felt her heart soaring. Her wings fluttered excitedly under the feathery cyan cover she was protected by. She had everything she could ever dream of and more, her animals, friends, and most importantly, the young family she and Dashie had been given the opportunity to start a few years ago. After a few moments, Rainbow Dash pulled away slightly to stare lovingly into Fluttershy's eyes. They hold each other's gaze for a few moments before Rainbow drew in close to Fluttershy's ear. Fluttershy feels like she is in heaven as her marefriend’s muzzle brushed against her own.

"You remember what tomorrow is?" Dash asked before grinning slyly and giving Fluttershy a playful nip to her ear. This elicits an adorable little squeak from the quiet pegasus who blushed slightly before nodding in response.

Rainbow turned toward the cot where their young filly was sleeping and Fluttershy followed her gaze.

"I still remember my first day at school. You were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen."

Fluttershy darts past the cot and straight into their bed fleeing under the covers to cover her rapidly heating cheeks. She also did this to cut Dash's flattery short. After a few quiet moments, she felt the cloud they slept on move slightly as Rainbow slid in to join her from the opposite end of the bed.

They snuggle down to sleep in each others embrace. Neither mare has the energy to continue their little moment of fun as their shared warmth seeps into their bodies. They nuzzle each other gently as they let the call of sleep slowly take hold. A cute little squeak of joy emanates from the cot at the side of their bed, followed by the sound of a filly sucking on her hair in her sleep. Both mares break out in delighted grins as they attempt to picture the dream that managed to get such a reaction. They roll over to face their daughter, Rainbow Dash using Fluttershy’s neck as a pillow as they gaze down on their little miracle. The sight of the adorable fillies smile as her dreams play out in her head causes the couple to relax into each other. They roll back over, their tired bodies reminding them of how much energy they had expended in the task of parenthood.

'I remember…' Fluttershy thought to herself as she drifted off to sleep. Memories of the first time she crashed into the mare of her dreams drifted, unbidden into her tired mind and continued to entertain her even in her dreams as she held her dearly beloved close.

It is a beautiful morning in Cloudsdale. The sun is shining, the rainbows are flowing and the clouds were nice and poofy underhoof. All this is all lost however, on a gangly yellow filly with a flowing pink mane who is walking shyly alongside her Mother, a mare with a deep yellow coat and flowing red mane. Fluttershy is nervous about her first day at school. She would be spending time in a strange place, surrounded by strange ponies and she would even have to sleep in a strange bed because her house was on the other side of Cloudsdale.

The very thought of it made her want to run home and hide under her blankets. She again remembers that her pillow is in the saddlebags her mother is carrying and inched closer to her mum, trying to make herself invisible to the pegasi flying overhead.

The wide open streets narrow as they walk, the cloud buildings becoming smaller as they pass more and more houses. They round a corner and  head toward a pair of large cloud gates. A blue and rainbow streak appears out of nowhere and blindsides Fluttershy. The yellow fillies mother turns at the sound of a surprised squeak to find two fillies tangled in a mess of rainbow and pink manes. The smaller blue coated stranger immediately disentangles herself from Fluttershy and cuts off her whispered apologies.

"Hey there, sorry about that. I need to look where I'm going sometimes."

The stranger pauses for a moment to take in the cute mess in front of her, cocking her head to the side inquisitively.

"What’s your name by the way?"

Fluttershy immediately hides behind her mane, still sprawled on the ground, too nervous to get up. Realising the filly she smacked into is not as bold as she is, the cyan filly softens a little, offering her a hoof to help her up. Fluttershy feels herself slowly unfreeze at the touch of a gentle nudge from behind. Her mum motions toward the strange blue filly. Fluttershy swallows nervously but allows the stranger to help her up.

"So… what is your name?"

Fluttershy looks nervously at her mum, who smiles warmly down at her then takes off to stretch her wings, leaving the fillies for a moment. Fluttershy turns toward the friendly stranger, trying her best to make sure she is heard.

"Flutter.."

Her quiet voice falters, leaving the blue filly with a questioning look on her face. The stranger leans in toward Fluttershy, filling her vision with the spiky rainbow mane and her friendly, expectant face, pink eyes shining in the sun. Waiting.

"Fluttershy."

A nervous squeak follows causing the cyan filly to burst into a fit of giggles, a huge grin spreading across her blue muzzle.

"Cool. My name’s Rainbow Dash, and I'm going to grow up big and strong and become the fastest flyer in all of Equestria, just like my big brother!"

The smile on the face of the speed talking filly is contagious, causing Fluttershy to grin too. Suddenly the day appears brighter and more colourful, just like Dash's shining rainbow mane. The cyan filly flutters her wings for dramatic effect, showing off.

"I can't fly yet. But I'm still practicing. How about you Fluttershy, can you fly yet?"

Fluttershy shakes her head sadly, staring at the ground. Rainbow Dash gently lifts Fluttershy's head with her hoof to gaze into her amazing aqua eyes.

"Hey, its ok… I'm sure we'll both learn soon enough. So where are you off to anyway?"

Fluttershy's mother chooses the moment to rejoin the pair. "She's off to her first day at school. Are you going too?"

Rainbow vigorously shakes her head. "No way. I'm not quite old enough yet. But school sounds boring anyway." Fluttershy feels herself grow sad again. She had almost made her first friend and it looked like she is going to lose the opportunity already. Rainbow notices the change and pipes up.

"I'll be a big filly soon. In a few months time I'll see you at school. Okay?"

Fluttershy nods, she feels her smile reappear. "Yay…" She quickly hides behind her mane again with her signature squeak, blushing slightly. Rainbow barely contains herself from rolling on the clouds laughing at the cute yet hilarious display in front of her. Fluttershy feels her mother give her a nudge from behind. Rainbow notices the hint too.

"Well you have fun, I'm off to go play some cool pranks at my dad’s work."

A mischievous grin overtakes Rainbow’s face as she talks. She trots off before the shy filly can answer her again out loud, waving goodbye and flapping her wings in the breeze as if she were flying.

"Ready now?" Her mum asks, a warm smile plastered all over her kind face.

She can see her filly has found her first friend. It brings warmth to her soul to finally witness the sight she had hoped to see for a long time. Fluttershy nods nervously and resumes following her mum to school. She looks over her shoulder to try and spot the rainbow moving in the crowd but it’s too late. Dash had disappeared. She could not help but look forward to seeing the cyan filly again in a few months time.

Rainbow Dash awakens with a start in the night, but relaxes again as soon as she feels Fluttershy's warmth. She wriggles around in bed to get more comfortable, turning her head so she can stare into the face of the sleeping pony who had found a special place in her heart long ago.

She gently lifts the pink mane out of the way, letting it fall gracefully to the side. As her hoof gently grazes Fluttershy's head, the sleeping pony mumbles something in her sleep and snuggles in closer, nuzzling Rainbow Dash a little. The daredevil flyer smiles warmly, her wings twitching in excitement as Fluttershy dreams her sweet dreams. Although Rainbow Dash feels she cannot not sleep now, she doesn’t want to awaken the sleep-snuggling beauty she was holding. To compensate, she lets her mind wander back to when she was reunited with her dream mare.

A rainbow mane flaps in the breeze as its owner looks out over Cloudsdale. Rainbow Dash watches the sun slowly dip below the horizon, bored out of her mind but unwilling to go home. She is sitting on top of a small ridge of cloud her mother had made for her. It is specially made so that foals who can't fly can still make it to the top and enjoy the majestic sight of Cloudsdale. The sweeping cloud landscape dissolves into houses on every side, making the ridge an excellent vantage point for spotting her next prank victim.

Her thoughts wander to the cool but shy filly she had met few months ago and she wonders if Fluttershy even remembers she exists. 'She probably has a whole bunch of new friends by now,' Rainbow thinks to herself and sighs. Then a new thought invades her mind, 'Maybe not, she was awful shy when I last saw her. Maybe I still will have a chance to make her my friend. It would make my life about twenty percent cooler if she was my first friend. I just hope she's ok.' Shaking her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts, Rainbow Dash realises something.

"About twenty percent cooler, I gotta remember that one. It's so… cool."

That puts a smile on the face of the seemingly infallible filly. She flicks out her wings in a manner she imagines looks cool and attempts to take off from the cloud ridge she had climbed to. She flies a few feet before her wings give out completely and she plummets to the clouds below. Detaching herself from the cloudstuff that had suddenly became stuck to her, she flutters her wings in an annoyed manner, stalking off toward home, thinking of how easy her brother always made it look.

She isn't fond of home. All the other foals in the area have cool parents who take them places and give them awesome birthday parties. She knows hers is in a few days time and is certain of how it will go. Always the same old boring family party where all the older ponies in the family get together for a few drinks and forget about her. Her, the super awesome Rainbow Dash! She lets out a sigh, thoughts of her absent brother driving her mood down further. Her mane almost hitting the clouds beneath her hooves, she slogs onwards. That was problem was having parents who were so old. They just didn't understand what it was like to be young anymore. Even Soar' seemed to forget, ever since he had been accepted into the advanced flight academy.

Strutting through the small cloud streets, heading for home, she puts her family out of her mind. The amazing cloud houses, all hoof made box her into the small streets she is traversing. Dash dips her head in time with a tune that enters her head, doing her best to hold her air of awesomeness. She rounds a corner and almost drops it in shock, her heart stopping as she spots a group of 4 rough looking colts. They all are wearing scraps of clothing covering various parts of their hides and where there are no clothes, scars and tattoos show. Rainbow Dash knows she has been spotted by the nastiest gang in the area. Fear bubbles up her chest, she she fights it, forcing herself forward trying not to break into a gallop, knowing that running is useless. The two parties met in the middle of the street. Rainbow holds her head high and attempts to continue on her way nonchalantly. The gang colts flare their wings, creating a wall in front of the fearful filly.

"Look what we have here, colts."

The gang leader, a tall, muscular pegasus colt who has every hair on his young frame painted dark colours speaks up, puncturing the troubled silence with his mocking voice.

"It's Rainbow Crash."

Rainbow stops, her wings flaring in typical pegasus fight or flight fashion. Her entire frame takes on the stance of a petrified filly making it clear that it is the latter course of action she is wanting. However from muzzle to eye, her features transform into one of hatred at the sound of the name.

"Its ‘Dash’ you featherbrain!" Somehow she finds her voice. It is coloured with fear and fuelled by the dislike for the colts standing in front of her. One of them snickers at the insult thrown at his leader. The lead colt gives Rainbow Dash an intimidating stare, which is returned in earnest by the cornered feeling filly. A few more tense moments follow, then the gang continue to shepherd their prey closer to the cloud wall at her back.

Chuckling softly yet menacingly, they slowly advance upon their victim. The colts gradually back her up till she hits cold, hard cloud with her rump causing her to suddenly stop. Spotting this, cruel grins plaster themselves on the features of the aggressors. The smell of fear seeps into the atmosphere as Rainbow Dash feebly cowers. She is doing her best to keep up appearances in the face of the looming evil but can feel what was left of her mask lapsing.

Rainbow Dash's imagination starts telling her what the beating would feel like, past experiences rising, unbidden to mind, and she resolves to win this time.

The lead colt enters hoof range and receives a swift delivery of cyan hoof to the face as a frightened Rainbow Dash lashes out.

"Get her!"

Barked command causes the others pile onto Rainbow Dash, laying her low on the cloudstuff where they continue to beat the stuffing out of her tiny frame. She bucks and kicks with all her strength, quickly losing as the overpowering stronger, older colts tear her down. Her body cries out in agony as blow after blow lands on her small frame.

Suddenly Rainbow Dash feels the attacks cease. Her mind blurred, reeling, unbelieving of the events that are unfolding. Somepony is yelling but she shuts them out, willing herself to get up. She staggers to her hooves, sore wings flapping to assist her rise. She focuses on the muscular stallion now standing in front of her and a groan escapes her. Uncle Raincloud towers over Rainbow Dash. His short greying mane, flecked with shades of dark blue-black, sticks out in every direction drawing attention away from his cornflower blue coat, flecked with white. Patches of fur are missing from random areas and a black raincloud cutie mark adorns his old, yet muscular, flank. His lightning bolt yellow eyes scan the cyan filly before him checking for signs of a major injury. Rainbow feels a wash of annoyance. Of all the ponies in Equestria, it just had to be him flying past, her tough as steel uncle.

"Hey, filly. I know you like this as much as I do, but unless you want to get beaten to a pulp again, you will follow me and explain to your mother why you are out late like this."

'Great.' Rainbow Dash thinks to herself but complies, trailing along behind him, knowing that Raincloud will follow up without a moments notice. Despite his age, she knew that nopony around the area wants mess with him. This becomes exemplified once again by pony they encounter. They all cross to the opposite side of the street or take flight to avoid him as they march along. Rainbow is forced to canter to keep up with his swift pace but does so in fear of getting left behind. They march along, the clouds getting successively darker and dirtier looking as they near Rainbow's home. Many clouds look like they need replacing and there are the occasional holes in the road.

She arrives at the small house she is forced to call home. The clouds that make it up are the same boring grey colour as the cramped houses on either side. She turns her gaze to the industrial zone nearby, noting that nothing is out of the ordinary then pushes open the door. Her senses are immediately invaded by the smell of cider and the low bass snoring of her dad. Blaze has an inferno red coat with a greasy rainbow mane that hits the floor. He is sleeping in his usual position on the cloud couch, dead to the world around him. Empty cider bottles are strewn around the floor nearby. A flash of annoyance crosses Rainbow dash's face, that is all he seems to care about. Cider and sleeping. 'And work too.' She thinks angrily to herself. She notices he hasn't cleaned himself up at all since coming home from the rainbow factory where he works. The evidence is easy to spot. Small smudges of multicoloured goo are scattered all through his coat and stain the cloud couch he is sleeping on.

Her uncle enters behind her and stops at the sight.

"Well I see your old mum isn't home. Guess I'll just go. We don't want to wake sleeping beauty from the nap of the century."

Rainbow Dash nods in agreement. A grin spreading across her annoyed features, only to be killed by the parting comment.

"I'll see you on Sunday, young one."

Rainbow Dash turns to watch him leave, a frown covering her features. She turns back to bombsite that is the family living room. The box like room is the largest in the small house and apart from the litter strewn across the floor, is as empty as always. She wrinkles up her nose as she sneaks past her dad toward the kitchen where she hopes to find something half decent that a filly can eat. The small, tidy kitchen includes the dinner table in the same room. The place looks like it is in need of some love and care but Rainbow knows that will never happen. She looks around the small store room in the corner with a lacklustre look in her eyes, not expecting to find much. She quickly gets bored of staring at the same old food and picks something up that she figures looks ok then proceeds to wander off toward her room snacking on it.

The cyan filly wanders down the cloud hallway letting her eyes briefly flick through the photos on the walls. The joy in couples eyes as they hold their first born colt with his pale blue coat and dark blue mane causes a smile to break out on her face. Her parents first family picture still seems to still hold the magic of the moment, eighteen long years later. She passes several frames eventually reaching the ones that include her, noting how old everypony seemed to get before she entered their lives and made the world a cooler place to live.

She awakes from a nap that she didn’t realise she had fallen into. After few seconds she realises somepony is leaning over her. Her eyes slowly focus on two jade orbs hovering in space, belonging to her mother. Gust Dash waits patiently in front of her, flight goggles still hanging around her muscular neck.

Gust gives her filly another gentle prod to check she’s awake. Rainbow Dash rolls over, facing away from her mum. The concerned looking storm cloud grey mare with a wind whipped black mane, waits painterly for her daughter to awaken fully. She remains in place, using her presence to ensure that Rainbow Dash doesn’t fall asleep again. Rainbow puts on a show of sleeping, attempting to fool her mother into thinking she is still asleep. Gust smiles knowingly, deciding to play their little game. She prowls to the doorway before turning and slowly walking out, calling to Rainbow over her shoulder.

"Good to see you’re finally awake dear. Dinners ready. We don't want your father to eat it all now, do we?" The reaction is instantaneous. Dash leaps out of bed and zooming out of her room, leaving a small rainbow trail in her wake. She speeds past her mum who smiles mischievously then waltzes after her, satisfied that she has won again. Rainbow Dash speeds into the small dining area currently occupied only by Blaze, who was already stuffing his face. He ignores Rainbow Dash, intent on his big meal. Amethyst eyes locked hungrily onto the food in front of him. Rainbow speeds across to the opposite end of the table, almost knocking everything onto the floor and proceeds to enjoy her small meal.

"I see you two started without me. Again."

Blaze turns and spots Gust standing behind him, a massive piece of cabbage hanging out of his mouth. His 'I'm busy eating.’ expression quickly dissolves into a sheepish one as he spots his mate and the look she is wearing on her face. He quickly devours the cabbage and gives her an apologetic kiss on the cheek. Gust sits down next to Blaze, intertwining her tail with his. She joins in with his meal and the two share what's left of it together. He compensates by draping his unkempt wing over her, gifting her with some of the rainbow coloured muck on the tatty wing. Despite the mess that now staines her coat, she doesn't force him remove his wing. She instead nuzzles him lovingly and he reciprocates, a look of immense pleasure covering his ageing red face. It is clear that his earlier uncaring attitude he displayed when his daughter walked in has been washed away as he loses himself in the moment with Gust.

Witnessing the show of affection makes Rainbow Dash feel like she wants to gag on her food as they continue to engage with each other. She hates it when they do this at the dinner table. It annoys her even more that only her mum can break the lazy stallion down. She speeds up her pace, quickly cleaning her plate with one last lick to just make sure she is finished. Rainbow Dash looks inquiringly at her mother who gives her an affirming nod before returning to her shared meal and the stallion who is now putty in her hooves. Rainbow slowly makes her way to her room, feeling content with a full belly and happy to escape the scene in the dining room before it gets any worse for the unwilling spectator.

She plonks herself down on her small bed, gazing up her posters of the Wonderbolts. She glances at a small picture close to her bed of her older brother, dressed as wonderbolt for the tryouts. Although the awesome blue outfit covers most of his body she can still make out the light blue wings poised for flight. His look of calm pride covers his face, reassuring Dash that he will be home soon for her birthday party. She lets her gaze wander to the big poster that claims the centre of attention above her bed. She grins widely as she imagines herself and Soarin' on the poster with them, both dressed in that awesome flying outfit. Her wild imagination takes over, her small wings unfurling before leaping about her room, pretending to fly. She bounces off the walls using her wings to ease her falls, completely lost in her own world.

Suddenly the door to her room opens, breaking her concentration. She slams into the opening door and hits the cloud floor. Gust gently picks her daughter up then places Dash on the clouds to face her.

"Your father and I can see you have been in another fight today Rainbow Dash. Who was it with this time?"

Rainbow feels herself freeze under her mother’s withering gaze.

"Uh… it… it was Rocky and his gang, but Uncle Raincloud saved me."

She tries to smile like nothing’s wrong. The look on Gusts face tells her she doesn't believe her.

"Right. Well I guess I'll just check with him when he arrives for your birthday party then. Goodnight sweetie." Gust leans in and lightly kisses her daughter before walking out. Blaze lingers in the doorway, seemingly unsure of what to do after his mate’s departure.

"Good night Rainbow. You have a big day coming up."

With that, he walks out, closing the door and leaving Rainbow Dash to her thoughts. The filly quickly decides on bedtime. Sleeping always held an appeal for her. 'I suppose it's one good thing I got from my dad,' Rainbow thinks to herself as she plonks herself down on her bed, drifting off into Dreamland.