A Girl's First Flight
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A Mare and Her Dragon: Celestial

A Girl's First Flight

Celestial gulped as she craned her neck as far over as she could. It wasn't much, but it was enough, as her eyes shrank, and pulled her head back. "Are you sure this is a good idea? That's a long way down."

Nimbus giggled as she stretched her wings and loosened herself up. "Oh don't be such a worry wort, Celestial. You'll be fine. I won't let anything happen to you."

Celestial gave her companion a flat look. "You're about to jump off a cliff with me on you. How am I supposed to be fine?!"

Nimbus sighed, looking up. She very gently brushed Celestial's blond mane out of her eyes. From this angle, she could just see the unicorn's head. "You're merged with me. Nothing will happen to you. I promise."

Celestial couldn't help but smile, as she settled her head back on Nimbus's scales. It was true. She was only just her head and neck at the moment. The rest of her body had been merged with Nimbus's own.

Even now, Celestial could feel the strength and power of the body the two of them shared. Nimbus's eyes had turned the same shade of green as Celestial's own. They even shared a breath weapon. Celestial's a weaker version of Nimbus's cold.

But this was still their first time like this. Celestial couldn't help but eye Nimbus's claw wearily as it passed very close to her face. She still was getting used to all of this. It wasn't permanent of course. They could separate at any time. But it had to be a team choice. One couldn't do it on their own.

Which was a relief as Nimbus climbed to the edge of the cliff, spreading her wings and looking up at Celestial with a wide grin. "Ready?"

Celestial gulped. "Not really."

Nimbus giggled as she rolled her eyes. "Works for me." And jumped, spreading her wings wide as she did so, falling into her natural state as she caught an updraft from the canyon floor below.

Celestial waited for the splat she was sure that was coming, closing her eyes in fear as she fell. But when nothing happened after a moment, she opened them again, even as Nimbus giggled.

The two of them were still falling, but now Nimbus had adjusted herself so that they now rode the thermals, their wings beating every now and then to keep them aloft.

Celestial's smile felt like it would burst off her face, as she squeed in delight as her golden mane was whipped around her. Her laughter was soon lost on the breeze, but she didn't care. This feeling was amazing. Was this how Pegasi felt when they flew? She didn't know. But she knew that she didn't want the feeling to end.

Nimbus chuckled as she leveled out her flight and soared between the canyon walls. "See. I told you you had nothing to worry about. And you said I was crazy."

Celestial rolled her eyes. "Fine. You were right. Happy now?"

Nimbus nodded happily. "Very. But this place is too small to see what we can really do. I need more room to fly in. I hate small places like this." She looked up at her companion. "Hold on tight. I'm finding some room to really have some fun."

Before Celestial could ask what she meant, she was pushed back as Nimbus put on a huge boost of speed, the walls around them zooming past them so fast now that she couldn't really make anything out except brown.

The wind soon forced her to close her eyes again. After a few moments though, Celestial felt Nimbus slow down to what she hoped was normal speed. Opening her eyes again, Celestial felt her wonder rise.

Spread out before them was the whole of the Unicorn Range. Mountains on three sides receded into the distance, while below them, green fields interspersed with forests and rivers covered the land for as far as the eye could see.

Celestial turned her head to watch the scenery as it passed below them. "It's beautiful. I never knew Equestria looked like this."

Nimbus smiled. "It's why I like to spend so much time flying. You can't beat this view. Only a Pegasus, alicorn, or another Dragon Knight, will ever see Equestria like this."

Celestial bit her lip. She wasn't sure what to think of being called that title yet. "I'm not a Dragon Knight. Not yet. I just lucked into this. I'm not ready for all that means."

Nimbus frowned. She could feel her companion's doubts as though they were her own. And in a way, they were her own. She didn't feel that she was ready for all that went with being attached to a Dragon Knight. For all the two of them had done together, this was still so new to them.

But she pushed those thoughts aside as she looked up at the unicorn. "Let's not worry about all of that right now. This is too much fun to be worrying about the future." She grinned as a thought came to her. "Besides, we haven't seen all we can like this. You're not just a passenger that I merged with. You can choose where we go and what we do. So come on. Take me for a test drive."

Celestial blinked, not sure what Nimbus meant by that, but it felt right what she was saying. But how would she even do anything like she was now? And what would she do first?

Not knowing what else to do, she put more feeling into their shared body. The effect was subtle, but she could feel far more now than she had before. That was a good start. Now what?

On a hunch, Celestial turned her head to the left as far as she could and looked down. Nimbus immediately turned and banked downward and to the left, her wings beating rapidly to change course and angle.

Celestial blinked. She hadn't sent any kind of command so that the dragoness would do that. Yet she had done so without hesitation. Thinking for a moment, Celestial turned her head to the right. Immediately, Nimbus turned to the right, her body adjusting easily to the change in direction.

Nimbus chuckled. "See? It's not that hard. And that's just the beginning. There's another step beyond this. But let's hold off on that for now."

Celestial nodded, as she moved her head back into its normal position. Nimbus quickly pulled herself out of the dive and leveled out. They had dropped by a good distance. The forest below them was much more apparent now to both of them, though they were still far above it.

Celestial looked around, careful not to turn her whole head this time. "Where are we going anyway? You never said why you dragged me all the way out here from Las Pegasus. Not that I'm complaining now of course."

Nimbus nodded. "There's a place out here that I like to come to. It's a perfect spot to watch the sunset. And we did kind of cause a big stir back in the city when I first showed up, remember?"

The unicorn winced. Dragons showing up unannounced did tend to have that effect on ponies. Luckily, the damage had been kept to a minimum, aside from all the ponies scared out of their minds.

Celestial settled herself back on Nimbus's scales, letting her mane fall over her eyes and letting herself relax completely. "Well, this spot better be worth all of this, then."

Nimbus giggled as she adjusted herself a little and set their course to her favorite spot. "Don't you worry, Celestial. It is. You'll see."

***

Celestial opened her eyes as she felt Nimbus land once more. Looking around, she found that they had landed on a ridge overlooking a clear blue river that rose not far away. The sun was beginning to get low in the sky now.

She yawned, surprised at how tired she was. Had she fallen asleep that easily? "How long was I asleep?" She asked Nimbus.

The dragoness chuckled. "A couple of hours. You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you up. But we're here now, so you haven't missed much."

Celestial looked around. "Where are we anyway?"

Nimbus stretched her wings. "Close to where the borders of Equestria and the Crystal Empire meet. I come here a lot. It's out of the way, and no other dragon has ever used it as far as I know."

Celestial nodded before her smile dropped. "And what about me?"

Nimbus sighed, as she looked up at her. "Celestial. You've joined the ranks of something only very few others ever have. That won't change. I can take you back to Las Pegasus. But that won't change who you are now. No more than it will affect me."

The unicorn slumped. "But why me? What makes me so special? I'm just another unicorn in the crowd. I'm nothing special."

Nimbus chuckled. "That is a question every mare and filly who has become a Dragon Knight has asked themselves at one time or another. There is no real answer to it, for I don't know either. I doubt any other dragon has an answer either."

Celestial chuckled a bit at that. "For as much as I still don't know about all of this, I wouldn't change anything about it. It's been too much fun. Even if you did cause quite a stir when you first showed up.

They both broke into hopeless giggles at that, their minds returning to how it had all started for the two of them.

***

Celestial was not a morning pony, as those who knew her could tell you. If there wasn't a reason to be up so early, she could easily sleep till noon if she wanted to. Some of her friends even joked she would even sleep through war if it started early enough.

Celestial didn't mind the teasing. It was all in good fun anyway. And she couldn't argue that she was a heavy sleeper, and always had been. Oh sure, she could get up anytime she wanted. But where was the fun in that? Her performances didn't start until the evening anyway and tended to last long into the night.

She wasn't known as one of the Strip's best up and coming singers for nothing, as much as the idea made her blush.

So when Celestial finally dragged her tired flank down for breakfast, she was naturally surprised at the number of conversations going on. She didn't catch what they were saying, but most ponies seemed to be talking excitedly about something in the Las Pegasus Gazzetta.

She shook her head as she sat down next to her friend and fellow singer, Lavender Rain. Lavender was also reading the paper as well, but Celestial couldn't see what it said. "What's going on? What's everyone talking about?" She asked, quickly place an order for her usual pancake and fruit breakfast on the Food Line.

Lavender turned to her with an excited grin. "Haven't you heard?" She asked, almost bouncing in place.

Celestial rolled her eyes. "I just woke up. So no. So spill."

Instead of answering her though, Lavender scooted the paper across so the unicorn could read it herself. Igniting her horn, Celestial felt her mouth drop as she read the headlines.

'A New Dragon Knight For a Small Town.

In a surprising turn of events, and to the shock of all involved, Ponyville has become the center of attention once more. It was only a short time ago now that Twilight Sparkle became even more renowned as she joined the ranks of royalty and became Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Now though, Ponyville has declared an entire week of celebration as Princess Twilight has joined the esteemed and very small circle of mares and fillies known as Dragon Knights.

"I don't understand how any of this happened. I mean, why me?" Princess Twilight Sparkle is on record as saying in her first interview after joining with her dragon for the first time. "But I will not tarnish the names of those who went before me. I will carry the title of Dragon Knight for as long as I am able."'

Below that was a picture of the mare and dragon in question. Princess Twilight looked as though she was still adjusting to all of this, while her dragon only smiled up at her. The dragon herself was a beautiful shade of gold, while her wings membranes were the same lavender color as Twilight's eyes. The dragon's eyes were also a deep lavender color.

What threw Celestial for a loop, however, was the Element of Magic fused into the dragon's chest. Celestial turned to Lavender. "I thought she and her friends gave up the Elements of Harmony?"

Lavender shrugged, taking a sip of her water. "That's what they don't understand. Apparently, Magic came back all on its own. The rest of the Elements are who knows where."

Celestial nodded, as she turned back to the paper. The rest of the article were interviews with ponies of Ponyville, all as confused as Twilight was, but all agreeing that the honor was well deserved.

Starlight Glimmer, the princess's student, said it best, Celestial felt. "I knew Twilight was special. But I never thought in a million years she would ever do this. None of us did. But I can't think of anypony better who deserves the title of Dragon Knight."

Celestial smiled, as her food arrived and she dug in. That was a sentiment she could get behind, even though she didn't know the princess in question. One thing though stood out. "What does this mean to Twilight being a princess?"

Lavender shook her head. "Who knows? Nopony's said anything about that yet. I bet Princess Celestia's over the moon about it though."

They both giggled at that, before falling silent for a time, their minds on the story in question. Very few would argue that Princess Twilight deserved the honor, though none here knew her personally.

Lavender bit her lip, as something that wouldn't leave her alone finally found a voice. "What do you think it means though? This is the second time now in the last few years a new Dragon Knight has been chosen."

Celestial rolled her eyes. It was true though. It was still big news in the Crystal Empire when a filly of their own had been chosen as a Knight herself. And with twin dragons, no less. "Does anypony know a thing about this? Ponies don't even know why it happens at all, or to who it does."

Lavender shook her lavender mane out of her eyes. "I still think you'd make a great Knight, Celestial. But you're right though. Maybe we weren't meant to know."

Celestial snorted, taking a swig of her water. "Lavender. The chances of me being a Dragon Knight are about as likely as me being made a princess."

They both broke into laughter at that. Neither of them thought that was likely. For the moment though, they decided to put the conversation behind them and focused on finishing their meal. Both had big days ahead.

Unseen and unfelt, a peculiar mark appeared on Celestial's front left hoof, glowing slightly before it faded away to nothing.

***

Far away, another awoke from her slumber, a siren call she couldn't resist, nor did she want to, ringing in her ears. She smiled as she stood and stretched her wings for all they were worth.

This was not something she had ever expected to come her way. But by the Dragon Queen, Nimbus wouldn't change it for any amount of gold or gems. How many could say that they had been in her spot?

Not many, she thought with a giggle, as she strode to the cave mouth, before propelling herself into the air, turning her flight toward Las Pegasus, the Dragon Lands soon nothing but a distant smudge on the horizon behind her.

***

The rest of the day for Celestial passed by relatively normally. Shopping, spending a few hours getting her voice back up to snuff (the night before had gone on longer than they usually did), and then finally, getting ready for her gig at the Salt Lick.

For some reason though, her left front hoof kept itching, no matter how much she scratched it. When she went to look at it, there was nothing there. No bug bite, rash, or anything that would say what was causing it. There wasn't even a red spot where Celestial had scratched at the annoyance.

Odd, but the feeling had begun to die down as the day wore on. If it was like this tomorrow, then she promised that she would go see a doctor. Celestial hoped it wasn't anything too serious. She didn't need that on top of everything else.

But for now, though, she pushed the thoughts from her mind, as she readied herself in the Dressing Room of the Salt Lick. While some of her fellows made themselves up before going on, Celestial kept it to a minimum only sprucing her mane and tail up so that they really shined. Her manager had said more than once she beautiful even without that much. It just added more to her natural beauty.

And seeing that he was married and with children of his own, Celestial believed him. He'd never lead her wrong before.

As she combed her mane into a style she felt would work for the evening, Celestial felt a tiny tremor pass through the room, even as the crowd in the Main Lounge broke into applause. She paid no mind to the slight shake, thinking it was only from the noise outside.

A moment later, River Breeze came into the room, looking rather smug at her finished performance, as she removed her regalia and set it down on her station. "I'm killing it out there tonight. I tell you, Celle, I'll know you off that pedestal of yours yet."

Celestial rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that, River. I don't plan on quitting any time soon."

River only rolled her eyes, even as she saw Lavender enter the room with them. Her silence made Celestial turn around and look to see what had shut the unicorn up. Lavender wore a worried expression, seemingly seeing something that wasn't there.

Celestial and River shared a confused look. For all their rivalry, the three of them were friends, having known each other for as long as any of them could remember. "Lavender? What is it?" River asked.

Lavender shook her head as she looked at Celestial. "There's someone here to see you, Celestial. They're right outside the Main Door, causing quite a commotion too."

Celestial rolled her eyes, as she turned back to her mirror. "Tell them they can wait then. I go on in a few minutes. I don't have time for any fans."

Lavender placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder. "I don't think they'll take no for an answer, Celle. They didn't say anything. But nopony's arguing with them either. They asked for you especially."

Celestial could feel that her friend meant it too as she turned around. "Who are they, anyway? I wasn't expecting anypony to come to visit me tonight."

Lavender shook her head, as she all but dragged the unicorn to her hooves. "You'll have to see it to believe it. It'll be worth it though. I promise."

Celestial sighed in defeat, letting herself be dragged out to the front, bypassing all the main hallways. "Fine. But if this is a waste of time, I'm blaming you for all of it."

The Pegasus giggled as she led the two of them to the Front Lobby, and then out the main door. A wide space had been cleared around the entrance, with a sizable crowd of ponies gathered around, looking at something with awe and not a little fear.

And when Celestial finally saw what they were all looking at, she couldn't blame them, even as her eyes shrank in shock and surprise.

In front of everypony, a massive silver dragon lay crouched, her eyes seemingly set on Celestial. When she finally saw the unicorn, she could only smile. At least, that's what ponies thought the dragon was doing.

Celestial only had one response. "... Meep."

The dragon giggled, a musical sound in of itself, as she leaned in closer until her snout was almost touching the unicorn. "Oh good. I hoped I'd gotten it right. You, are Celestial Rose. Right?"

Celestial nodded, not knowing what else to do. As much as she was scared at the moment, she also felt a strange sense of calm and protection coming from the dragon. "Why do you ask? What do you want from me?"

The dragon blinked. "Want? I don't want anything. I came because you called me. My name doesn't really translate into Equish. But the closest to it is Nimbus."

Celestial blinked, as she and Lavender shared a look. "I didn't call anyone. Least of all you." She flinched at her tone of voice. "Um. No offense."

Nimbus rolled her eyes. "None taken. But you did call me, even if you don't know you did." She pointed with her snout at the unicorn's hoof. "Has your hoof been itching, and yet you can't find what's causing it? Let alone make it stop?"

Celestial looked at her hooves in cofusion. "Yeah? But why-"

She didn't finish, for at that moment her front left hoof blazed in glory as the itch returned in full. But now there came the feeling of something being made on her hoof, before fading away a moment later, as did the itch and the light surrounding her hoof.

Afraid of what she might see, but unwilling to leave it be, Celestial turned that hoof over, and her mouth dropped in shock at what was revealed on the frog of the hoof.

A stylized dragon in flight, its wings spread wide. On its forehead, a pony's head sat, the rest of their body merged into the dragon.

Lavender and River looked at the mark in awe. "The Mark of the Knights. It only appears on the Knight when they first meet their dragon," River said in a hushed whisper. "I have friends in Ponyville. They said the same mark appeared on Princess Twilight when she first met her dragon."

Celestial shook her head. "No. I can't be a Dragon Knight! You have the wrong pony! This is a mistake."

But even as she said it, she knew how hollow it sounded. A part of her knew it was right. But why her? Why now? She tried to push the feelings aside, but it was like fighting against a train.

Nimbus's smile softened "So has said every Rider before you, Celestial. As well as every Rider yet to come." She took a step back. "What happens now is up to you. Our First Flight will say for sure whether this was a mistake. Or whether you truly are a Dragon Knight."

Celestial shared a look with her friends. They could all hear the honesty in the dragon's voice. "And if I'm not?"

Nimbus let her smile drop. "Then I will return you here, and you will never have to see me again. I will not force myself on you. This has to be your choice, Celestial."

"And if she is a Dragon Knight?" Lavender asked.

Nimbus looked at her. "Then we will figure that out when we cross that bridge."

Celestial thought about it for a moment. A part of her was saying this whole thing was utter nonsense, and that she should tell the dragon off, and not even bother with this First Flight, whatever that was. But a larger, and growing, part of her wanted to know for sure.

And she would be lying if she said she hadn't thought of this very thing happening to her. But she had never expected it to. Maybe it was for nothing in the end, but by Celestia, Celestial wanted to at least feel what it was like to be a Dragon Knight. If only for a little while. "I'll do it," she said, smiling as best she could as she came closer to Nimbus. "It can't be that bad, right?"

Nimbus all but bounced happily in place. Who knew dragons could squee? But they could, it seemed, as Nimbus brought her head as close to Celestial as she dared. "You won't regret it, I swear. Just put your hoof with the Mark on my snout, and it will do the rest."

Celestial nodded. Gulping back her fear, she placed her left hoof on the dragon's snout. The scales were much smoother than she had expected, feeling rather pleasant to the touch. There was also a slight chill to the scales, but it wasn't much.

As her hoof made contact, the Mark blazed with power once again. But now, it felt warm and comforting, as if it had been waiting for this day. Celestial giggled as she and Nimbus closed their eyes, letting their bodies become one.

From the outside, ponies watched as Celestial's body glowed brightly, before turning into a sphere of energy, one that bounced happily in place before zooming forward and merging itself into Nimbus's forehead, vanishing a second later.

Nimbus soon opened her eyes, now as green as Celestial's own. Her smile grew as she looked up, watching as Celestial's head pushed its way out of her own forehead. At first, Celestial was nothing but a blob of silver flesh in the vague shape of a pony's head, then slowly forming itself into Celestial. First her snout, then the rest of her head then her golden mane which fell alongside her head in a golden shower, silver tendrils of flesh reshaping themselves into the unicorn's golden locks.

Celestial finally opened her eyes as her head fully formed. She blinked as she readjusted to the strange feeling of being in a new body. She could feel Nimbus all around her, like it was her own body, and yet not hers at the same time. She felt she could take control of their body if she wanted to, but didn't, still not used to all of this and not even sure of how she could even do that.

Nimbus giggled as she looked down at the ponies around her. "You don't need Celestial right now, do you?"

River and Lavender shook their heads, smirking. "I think we got it covered till you two come back," River said, looking up at her friend's head. "Celestial's got more important things to worry about right now anyway."

Lavender nodded, her smirk growing as she waved a hoof at the two before them. "Go on. You two have fun together. We'll still be here whenever you get back."

Nimbus giggled, as Celestial glared at her friends. Nimbus quickly looked up at her companion. "Just sit back and let me handle this, for now, Celestial. I know a place where we can really stretch our wings, and not cause quite a scene."

Celestial gave her a look, even as she felt their wings spread and the crowd of ponies give them plenty of room. "And where would that be?" She asked.

Nimbus grinned. "You'll see."

Celestial didn't have time for a response, before Nimbus pushed off the ground, quickly gaining attitude and clearing the Las Pegasus skyline. Turning her flight to the south, she and Celestial soon left the city behind, the unicorn only able to sit back, and see where her dragon took them.

***

Celestial giggled, as she came back to the present. "I didn't think we could fly that fast."

Nimbus giggled as well. "A dragon can fly as fast as the wind if they want to. I was making too much of a scene anyway, and I was glad to get out of there. At least for now."

Celestial frowned. That brought up another thing. "Did you mean what you said?"

Nimbus nodded sadly. "If you don't want to be a Dragon Knight, I won't force you to. I will take you back home, and you will never have to see me again. Ponies will talk about this no matter what, though." Her gaze turned worried. "Do you still think you don't deserve to be a Dragon Knight, Celestial?"

Celestial thought about it for a moment. A part of her did still think that. But she quickly squashed it flat and threw it away. Her time with Nimbus had done wonders for her thoughts on the whole thing. "No. I am a Dragon Knight now. That will never change. Maybe I'm still not fully ready for it. But I won't run away from it. Not anymore."

Nimbus's grin might have made a certain pink party pony proud. "Thank you. I doubt any Rider was ever ready when their time came. But all grow into it with time."

Celestial giggled, as she turned her head back toward what she thought was the direction of home. "So, um. Now what? There are things I still need to do back home. I can't drop it all just like that."

Nimbus nodded, as she stood and stretched their wings. "Don't worry. I'll have you back there before you know it. It's getting dark now, and I have better night vision, so just sit back and let me get you home."

Celestial nodded, settling herself back onto the dragon's scales, closing her eyes as she felt Nimbus take to the air once more.

Celestial still didn't know what the future held for the two of them. But she no longer looked at it with fear, but with an open mind.

Author's Note

I admit. I did this as how Friendship Tiamat would have been. Had I actually had any idea of what that story would be like. As it is, Friendship Tiamat was thrown together at the very last second.

Not this one. I do have a plan for each character and how they and their dragon came together. They will all meet up eventually, and there will be a Friendship Tiamat. Of sorts. Won't say more though. Too many spoilers if I did.

Cover art was done as a Commission by Not Quite Equine back in July.