“Dad, how big is all of Equestria?” Sunny asked her dad.
“I have no idea, Sunny. To the North, there is the Crystal Empire, inhabited by translucent ponies. To the South, we have the Badlands that is a huge, inhospitable desert that nopony ever crossed. The Luna Ocean is to the West, and the Celestial Sea is to the East.” Argyle paused, as Sunny is a bit confused. “Equestria is big, Sunny. It expands well beyond everything we know today.”
“But dad, what shape is Equestria?” Sunny inquired.
“Sorry, Sunny buddy, but I don’t have an answer.”
Sunny was still bothered by this single question that her father, Argyle, was unable to answer. If a pegasus soared to astronomical heights, maybe they can see the whole world!
Zipp is the perfect pony!
A short trot to Zephyr Heights later, Sunny was welcomed into the castle. On the last visit, Sunny had been ordered around by guards, so she did not have the chance to take in the full view. Entering with a slow trot, she turned back to look at the decorations.
Pipp’s fury regarding the recent drama and loss of her fans can be sensed from below, even though Zipp was the only pony descending this time.
“Hey, Sunny. What’s up?” Zipp, instead of sitting in her seat, landed right in front of Sunny.
“Hey, Zipp. How’s Pipp doing?” Sunny decided to start with small talk.
Zipp shook her head. “She’s still upset about this whole thing, and how we ‘ruined’ her show for nothing. Does that pony care about anything but fame?”
“Maybe you should talk to her. She’s still your sister!”
“I tried! She either snap at me or straight up ignore me to browse on her hoofpad! Anyway, you can’t have trotted all the way just to make small talk. What’s really on your mind, Sunny?”
Sunny tentatively asked, “How high can you fly, Zipp?”
“Looking for a flight? You came to the right pony.” Zipp replied.
“U-um, maybe?” Both mares’ cheeks turned crimson from how it would go. Zipp will have to carry Sunny in her forehooves - one of the most romantic gestures for a pegasus is to take their earth-bound friend flying, barring intimate activities such as preening or clop. Sunny continued, “I want to see what it’s like, but, if you’re uncomfortable, you can just tell me what you see.”
“Phew. Why though?”
Sunny sat down on her haunches.
“Dad?”
Sunny nodded. “It was a question he can’t answer: how big Equestria is.”
“Oh. I can take you up then.”
“But, didn’t we just -” Their cheeks reddened once again as they looked into the eyes of each other.
Zipp broke the stare by turning away. “I’m fine with it - as long as nopony sees us.”
Pipp took the opportunity to drop from above. She approached the pair with a heavy stomp and stared right into Zipp’s eyes. Sunny tilted her head at the mental clash between the pair of siblings, ready to interrupt yet also unsure if Pipp should let it out. Pipp decided to slap her sister as hard as possible with her gold horseshoe.
“What was that for?” Zipp also did not comprehend whatever signals Pipp was sending.
“You. Ruined. Everything.” Pipp snapped.
“Pipp, look, everypony can fly now. Isn’t that more important than some number on your hoofpad?”
“That. Number. Means everything to me. You. And you.” Pipp pointed at Zipp and Sunny, simply to stop speaking. Pipp galloped backstage, sobbing.
“Well, that’s that. Can’t get through to her.” Zipp said matter-of-factly
“No, Zipp. She needs somepony to be there. Especially you. You’re her sister, and you should be the one by her side at all times. Even if she doesn’t listen, just being there is sometimes what can turn a pony around.” Sunny motioned for Zipp to lead her to the sobbing. “That’s what dad always told me.”
“Alright, fine. If this doesn’t work, you’re not getting the flight.”
“Deal.”
Pipp, through tearing eyes, looked at the numbers of dislikes on the Glowin’ Up video increase every second.
That featherbrain. Zipp just had to give everypony the ability to fly. Now we aren’t special anymore, and nopony wants to go to my shows! Pipp stomped her hooves as she thought. And Sunny! She promised that I’ll have my fans back, and look at me now! Followers decreasing by the second!
Sunny and Zipp quietly made their way behind Pipp, who now rested on her sofa bed. Pipp turned around, snarling, “Go away!”
Zipp asked Sunny in a whisper, “So, just standing here is going to work?”
Sunny nodded.
“What are you standing there for!” Pipp growled. Receiving silent treatment, Pipp started screaming at no one in particular. “You don’t understand anything! I’ve worked so hard to accumulate this amount of fame, and now I can’t even start over! Everypony thinks I was just being a ‘phony pony’, and yes, I was lying to them, but it’s for their good! They feel safer knowing that only royals can fly…”
Pipp trailed into a whimper, then became lost in thought. She straightened up again. “That’s not important!”
“Pipp, don’t lie to yourself. I know you better than that.” Zipp said. “Everypony wanted to fly, and they’d be glad to learn that you are a part of bringing the magic back to them.”
Pipp simply buried her head in the closest pillow.
Sunny tapped Zipp with her hoof, and the pair left the room. “Didn’t you say we should be there, Sunny?”
“No, keeping your space is important too.”
“Are you sure she’ll be fine?” Zipp questioned.
“Yes. Now…” Sunny found Zipp gazing at her. “Don’t look at me, you know who suggested it.”
“Now?” Zipp had missed the last part as her gaze shifted away from Sunny’s eyes, towards something much lewder.
“Sure.”
The two ponies made their way into the old station, which was on the back of the castle. Nopony ever goes there, so Zipp decided it was the best place for the pair to take off. If anypony sees what she and Sunny were doing, she’d be dead. Reporters.
As a last-minute change, Zipp decided that Sunny can lay on her back. The pegasus’ head may be an obstruction, but it risks ponies taking it the wrong way. She will be just carrying a friend.
From the view of the average citizen, a white dot and an orange dot can be seen slowly floating upward. It can’t be discerned from a stray balloon, and nopony questioned it. However, unbeknownst to Sunny or Zipp, Pipp had followed them after pretending to facepillow in frustration. She held out her phone to stream this; however, the lack of followers and a sudden sense to stop made her put it back in her wing.
“This is amazing!” Sunny exclaimed as the pair rose higher into the atmosphere. From her point of view, everything below was getting smaller and smaller, until other ponies were no wider than the wall of a hoof.
“I know. Pipp never flies though. She’s missing out.”
“Can we land on the cloud structure over there?” Sunny asked.
“Land… on a cloud?” Zipp was confused. “Won’t ponies just fall through? It’s just water vapour.”
“Pegasi have the magical ability to walk on clouds. That may be why the ancient city of Cloudsdale was abandoned.” Sunny said. “Dad told me all about Cloudsdale. They had the largest cloud stadium in all of ancient Equestria, and also a factory for all the weather! I don’t think I can walk on clouds though, so I’ll stay on your back.”
Zipp started accelerating forwards, so Sunny braced herself around the pegasus’ neck. Zipp hovered above the cloud and slowly lowered herself, not trusting her hoof to touch anything solid. However, she was soon feeling the cloud pushing back. She stopped flapping, and the pair stood there. The pair stayed still and took in the view.
“Able to go any higher?”
“All day!”
Zipp ascended further up. Exhaustion came sooner than last time, so she asked Sunny, “Do you feel a bit light-headed?”
“Yeah.” Sunny replied. “This should be enough.” At this point, the entire castle was smaller than a hoof.
Sunny looked towards the Horizon. The curve around Equestria is quite obvious, but Sunny thinks her eyes are playing tricks on her. “Do you think Equestria is round, Zipp?”
Containing her foalish excitement for the newfound ability, Zipp tried to focus on the horizon. “You’re right! The horizon seems to be curved! Equestria might be round!”
“And you’re a marefriend I can count on all year round.” Sunny blurted. “F-f-friend! I meant friend!”
Author's Note
Another midnight writing piece I decided to publish. Please comment on any errors you find - there are probably lots.
No, it was not supposed to become shipping.
