Chromatophage

I spent the day flying again. I decided that I would try flying outside. It was such a nice day. Warm sun, gentle breeze and lift! I caught my first thermal today and it was so amazing! Up to this point I had only theory, but actually catching one, riding up as high as it would take me, I felt like I belonged there. High above the palace, looking over my people.

Outside really tested everything that I've been studying for a long time. I felt the drag and pull of cross breezes and headwinds. I relished in the boost of a tailwind. I would have stayed out there all day, except that the guards saw me.

I was too far away for them to make me out, but they spotted me in the air and ran to investigate. Kudos to them for being brave enough to protect against the unknown. But before they could get to me, I dove down the side of the mountain, wrapping my path through some of the lower crags in order to completely lose them.

I wish I hadn’t done that. I ended up in The Pit.

For those in the future that might read this and not know, the Pit is our tragedy. We have a cliff here, in Zephyr Heights, where ponies used to fling themselves off to their deaths. I never fully understood it myself, but I knew that problem was bad. I begged my mother and a railing with posted guards was set up about two years ago. The guards were there to stop any attempt at jumping and guide them to some help. But some still got through.

The smell of The Pit was something that I wasn’t expecting. It didn’t smell like rotting flesh. It didn’t really stink at all. Possibly because most of the bodies here were well over two years old. But the smell that was there was definitely a smell I will forever associate with death. I landed among the bodies and gave them a moment of silence. Anypony hurting that much deserves at least that much. I then noticed that one of the bodies had a note tied into their mane. I took it and I’m transcribing it here:

To Whoever Finds Me,

My name is Cloud Crusher. I tell you this because it’s reason enough for me to jump. Not only am I a pegasus that can’t fly, but my parents gave me a name that I will never be able to live up to.

I hope finding this doesn’t break you like how I’m broken. It’s too late for me, but it doesn’t have to be too late for you. Go and live your best life. I wasn’t strong enough, but I hope that you can be.

This letter made me angry. It made me angry with my mom for not actually trying to figure out where our magic went. It made me angry with our ancestors that lost the magic in the first place. But most of all, it made me angry with myself for being so selfish these past couple of days.

I didn’t do much else today. I went back to the terminal and set it up for tomorrow. I have a lot of work to do.

This is for you, Cloud Crusher.