“Dash!” Came a shout from a nearby doorway barely audible over the sound of the airbases alarms. Snapping her head up to attention from its resting place atop a very comfortable pillow the azure blue pegasus with rainbow hair squinted her eyes.
“*yawn* What’s the Op?” She began, yawning, as she got out of bed. Taking a second to stretch the knots out of her body she began moving towards the lockers to grab her flight gear, one of her ears aimed towards the doorway as she moved.
“Standard Air Superiority Sortie for the stallions on the ground, nothing special” Continued her fellow Squadron member as they moved to grab their own equipment as well.
“Won’t take too long then. Should be back before the bars close.” Responded Rainbow strapping the last of her flight suit on, her custom made design giving her left side a Silver coloring matching that of her prosthetic wing. Her eyes lingered on her wing for several seconds as she made sure everything was ready.
She could remember that day like it was yesterday. The fire burning along her feathers, the smoke filling her cockpit, the muffled voices coming from her jet’s radio, and then finally the feeling of the air whipping against her body when she was flung from the plane and into freefall. Shaking her head to rip herself off the horrific memory, she grabbed her helmet and began to make her way towards the door of her barracks.
“Maybe this time you’ll leave some planes for the rest of us Ms. Silverwing” Laughed Gulf, her flight suit also made to look like Dash’s Silvery side before grabbing her helmet as well.
Dash didn’t react to her fellow pilot’s comment as the pair began to make their way towards the hangar where their planes were already being prepped for takeoff. Entering the Hangar the pair parted ways as they made their way towards their respective aircraft.
Dash didn’t have to look far before making her way towards her aircraft, with its left-wing painted Silver and her Cutie-mark emblazoned on its nose still distinguishing her plane from the rest. A nice bit of physiological warfare for her enemies and an ego boost for Dash no matter the bad memories behind getting her silver in the first place.
Entering her cockpit she looked down at the flight helmet in her hooves. A Battle-hardened and scared Pegasus looked back at her in her visor’s reflection. How long had it been since these pegasus eyes were full of wonder?
How long had it been since she was the first Pegasus to fly on her own power?
How did it feel to fly without the weight of a Concord against her wings?
Those questions didn’t matter now for this pegasus was about to do what she was born to do. Rainbow began to smile slightly as she affixed her helmet and connected her suit to her plane, her hud soon appearing once she was strapped in. This Pegasus was gonna fly till she couldn’t anymore and not even a missing wing would stop her.
<> Came the Voice of the ATC Operator through her Radio. Rainbow’s smirk simply grew under her helmet before turning on her radio.
<>
20 years earlier. 984 years after Magic (AM)
The distant sound of a sonic boom overhead was music to the little azure fillies ears as she stared up at the sky following the movements of the distant jet with her own little toy one in her hooves. Her little hooves went as fast as they could as she galloped around her backyard, her small azure wings also buzzing in the wind. She jumped several times flapping her little wings as fast and hard as she could trying with all her might to take to the skies and join them. But instead of flight among the clouds, all she got was a trip and a muzzle full of dirt.
The filly groaned as she spat the dirt out of her mouth and rolled onto her back, glimpsing the sky once again. The planes high above now only contrails in the sky. It saddened the filly’s heart to no end. Getting back up on her hooves she glanced sadly back at her own two wings. Why did she have them if she couldn’t fly? It confused her to no end but whenever she asked her parents about why they had wings but couldn’t fly they never gave a proper answer. It was always a ‘Wait until you're older’ but now she is older! And she wanted to know!
Now with a newfound Determination, she turned back towards the porch of the back garden. Only to suddenly yell in fright and fall back on her blank flank at the concerned eyes of her father suddenly looking back at her.
“Are you alright Rainbow? That seemed like a pretty nasty fall right there.” Asked her father concerned before unceremoniously picking Rainbow up and looking her over for any injuries.
“I’m fine Dad, you can put me down now” Answered the small rainbow-maned filly annoyed at her father’s antics.
“Ah. Well, you can’t fault your old man for wanting to make sure his little filly didn’t hurt herself.” He said smiling innocently.
”*harumph*”
An awkward silence began to reign over the pair, but just as her Father was about to head back inside their small Equis-bound home Rainbow asked her question.
”Hey Dad?” She began grabbing his attention. ”Why do we have wings but can't fly?”
”Ah well...I guess you are old enough to get the abridged version and you’ll learn the rest in school soon enough.” Spoke to her father to himself in thought bringing a smile to Rainbows face. Finally, she wouldn't have to rely on those stupid children's books. It may be abridged but it was better than ’ a thousand years ago something happened that changed how our parents make cookies’ or something like that, she only really skimmed it.
”Alright pumpkin take a seat and I’ll tell you a story”
Began her father moving to take a seat on the nearby porch chair. Rainbow followed close behind also clambering up onto a nearby chair with a large smile plastered on her face.
”Over a thousand years ago…”
1 year later 985 AM
“... A creature called Discord rules the planet. He was a being of chaos and all reality bent to his will. Physics? He made it cry in a corner. The laws of the Universe? Locked in his chaotic basement where unspeakable things were done to it. He was Chaos incarnate and thought to be invincible by the creatures of his time. That was, however, until... What happened then, class? Does anypony know?” Asked the teacher to her students. They were all surprisingly attentive compared to their usual lessons.
Several hooves shot up at her question.
“Hmmm, Rainbow.”
“Then the Alicorns Celestia and Luna used the Elements of Harmony!” Answered Rainbow happily.
“Very good! The Alicorns known as Celestia and Luna took on Discord in a battle that would change the whole of Equis. Now class I know many of you have always questioned why someponies have horns or wings but can’t fly or use magic without a Concord. As I’m sure some of you parents work in a field where they wear these strange devices and do incredible things.” The five Pegasi and two unicorns of her class looked at their respective body parts.
“Well, when Discord ruled the land Magic used to permeate throughout the planet, given the ponies their unique abilities. Pegasi could fly through the skies without a Concord. Unicorns used magic for as long as they liked creating wonderful inventions. And earth ponies could make whole fields grow overnight.” Her students were in awe of the abilities their ancestors used to possess. Some of the Pegasi students flapped their wings as well trying to take flight whilst the two unicorns tried to light their horn up only for both of them to fail miserably as nothing happened.
“But why can’t we do the same without one of those Concord things?” Was called in by a small yellow filly.
“Well, Spitfire that is what changed. The battle between the powers of Chaos and Harmony was so intense it changed the fundamental state of Magic, something thought to be impossible by the ponies of the time. The reaction destroyed Discord as well as the Alicorn sisters changing the world by removing the ambient magic across the planet and as so taking their abilities away.”
*RING*
“Ah, well perfect timing. All right, class, we shall continue this lesson on Monday and don’t forget to study for the quiz on Tuesday as well. Have a fun-filled weekend and class dismissed!” The classroom was soon filled with the sound of conversation between friends and the packing of saddle-bags. After packing her book back into her Spitfire leaned over and grabbed Rainbow’s attention.
“Hey Dash wanna come hang out at my place? My parents aren’t gonna be home till later today.” Began the small yellow pegasus smiling widely at her friend.
“Heck yeah! Did you get any new models lately Spitz? Those are always sooo cool.” Responded an excited Dash quickly packing and throwing her saddle-bags on before excitedly galloping towards the door her wings fluttering excitedly against her back. Spitfire followed Rainbow’s example and followed close behind giggling at her friend’s antics.
“Of course I did! You expect moi to have an incomplete collection? Absolutely unacceptable!”
Answered Spitfire before laughing. Dash joining in as they made their way outside, the pair starting to make their way towards Spitfire’s house. The walk was a short one for the pair as they reached their destination. Spitfire’s house was like any other in their small town. Spitz’s house however was situated at the edge of the local forest allowing for many fun adventures for the pair whenever they felt like it.
The next several hours were full of fun for the pair as they played the day away. Later in the day Rainbow and Spitfire decided to play a nice and ‘non-competitive’ game of Dodgeball in the forest. Running through the trees Rainbow was starting to run out of space to run as a large ravine now stood in her way. Quickly breaking she stopped herself several meters away from the edge. Just as Rainbow began to catch her breath a ball whizzed above her head bearly missing her.
“Aww dammit, I almost had you that time as well,” Said Spitfire sadly as she began to move past a surprised Rainbow and towards the ledge. “And now this as well! This just isn’t my day is it.”
“What’s wrong?” Asked Rainbow now having caught her breath as she moved next to Spitfire. Looking over the ledge Dash saw what Spitfire was talking about. Their ball had fallen down said ravine and gotten itself stuck on a small outcrop. In other words, their ball was gone for good. Rainbow, however, wasn’t going to give up so easily.
“Nah Spitz, no need to worry I can easily climb down and grab it” She began confidently, moving towards the edge looking for a path down. The side was very rough and covered in small edges creating an almost natural ladder.
“What? No Rainbow that’s insane, c’mon let’s head back. Once my parents are home they can help us get it.” Reasoned Spitfire trying to get her friend away from the ledge.
“I’ve been practicing my tree climbing Spitz. I could do this with my eyes closed!” And then Rainbow began to slowly climb down towards the ball. Much to Spitfire’s horror as she could do nothing but watch and hope Rainbow didn’t fall. The Rainbow maned Pegasus slowly made her way down her own heart pounding within her chest the whole time. But even then she wouldn’t give up! She was so close now just two more steps.
One step left. She could reach it! She could grab it! She did I-
*Crack*
Rainbows world began to slow down as she felt her body be taken over by gravity, the ledge crumbling away beneath her hooves. Was this it? Would this be how she died? Falling to her death down a ravine. Her short life began to flash before her eyes as the shocked face of Spitfire looked down at her. Then a feeling began to overtake her. She didn’t know what had caused it. Why it was happening.
But all she knew… was that this wouldn’t be her end!
Her body began to almost react on autopilot as she turned herself around and spread all of her limbs. Her wings began to flap like they never had before. An unknown Energy began to fill her as her fall began to slow. She flapped her wings harder and harder and then suddenly the feeling of air rushing past her belly transformed into air pushing against her face. She wasn’t falling anymore.
She was flying.
The air rushing past her face and under her wings gave a feeling of euphoria like she had never known before. She didn’t know how she was flying and right then she didn’t care. She adjusted herself as if by instinct and began to climb, rapidly gaining altitude and leaving the ravine and forest behind her. A draft was caused by her ascent throwing a very shocked Spitfire’s hair into complete disarray as she witnessed the Spectacle. Her brain was simply unable to handle what she is going through, from watching her best friend fall to her death to now watching her soar through the sky without a Concord. At least the ground was soft cushioning her fall as she fainted.
Reaching the cloud cover rainbow laughed as she flew through them, punching small filly sized holes across the cover. This...This was where she belonged. Up in the sky. The deep blue sky above where her distant ancestors used to rule. And she was flying just like them. Using her very own power and not that of a Concord device. This is how it must have felt like a millennia ago. A small flash of light drew her attention towards her flank. And Rainbow’s smile widened exponentially.
A Cutie-mark had appeared.
A Cloud shooting rainbow-colored Lightning and attached to that cloud was a single wing made of silver.
Author's Note
Codex entry 'Concord Device'
Concords are a relatively new design (648 AM) developed by the Concordia Initiative that allows their wearers to use magic like the ponies of old. Unlike the crude and barbaric INSTITUO implants, Concords do not require extensive surgery and body modifications. Concords are relatively inexpensive and are the first device of their kind to allow ponies of nearly all economic classes the usage of magic. Charging stations can be found around most street corners all across the shortfall region.
So there ya have it boyos the first chapter of many in our Project Alicorn.
This has been in the works for a while now and it's time for our universe to start!
-LSTS Connor
<>
-Darthball
Chapter art source
