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“I feel like hope left me when I first failed to fly,” Fluttershy sobbed. “I’m a failure. I’ll never be able to come down now,” she told Angel, who patted her head. “I know I should try harder, but I can’t! Flying is just too hard!”

Angel smacked his head and said a few things to Fluttershy. “Oh, but how can I show them what I want if it’s not something they want for me?” she asked. “Well, Rainbow Dash is my friend… Yes, she has… I suppose she might be able to help me again… Would she really be willing to do that… Right… You’re right, I can’t give up hope now! I can show Mom and Dad just where I need to be!” she exclaimed, soaring into the sky.

“Thanks for helping me, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy said.

“Why wouldn’t I?” she threw back.

“Well, it’s just, you’ve helped me once, maybe twice, already, and I don’t see why you would help me again,” she replied.

“That’s not how our friendship works. I can help you as much as I want, even without you repaying me,” said Rainbow. They landed on Fluttershy’s doorstep and Rainbow Dash knocked.

Mrs. Shy was at the door. “Hello, Rainbow Dash. Are you staying over tonight? We have salad and bread rolls!”

“Actually, Mrs. Shy, I’m here to convince you that Fluttershy belongs on the ground, whether you like it or not.”

Fluttershy and her mom gasped. “Rainbow Dash, I told you not to be harsh while doing this!”

Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes at Fluttershy as Mr. Shy walked to the door. “What’s all this commotion about?”

“You’re making Fluttershy stay away from where she belongs. I’m here to tell you that she needs to be on the ground!”

“I’m sorry about Rainbow Dash, Mom and Dad, but she’s right. It was a hard decision. I love my family as much as I love the ground, but I should be free to choose, and I’ve chosen to live on the ground,” Fluttershy persuaded.

Rainbow Dash nodded. “It’s true,” she agreed.

“I want to follow my destiny, like you did. Dad, you earned a cloud cutie mark, collected clouds, and now you live on a cloud. Mom, you’ve grown so many beautiful flowers, just like your cutie mark is telling you to do. I want to live with the animals, just like my cutie mark says. It’s what feels right,” she said.

Mrs. Shy took a deep breath. “You’re right, Fluttershy. I shouldn’t tell you what to do anymore. You have your cutie mark, and your own path.”

“Yes,” Mr. Shy agreed. “Your mom and I understand if you want to leave.”

“Thank you!” Fluttershy hugs her parents, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“But,” Mr. Shy continued, “you still need proper flight lessons. Once you graduate from the beginning flight school, I think you’ll know enough to leave.”

“Just do well!” Mrs. Shy added.

Fluttershy packed her bags. It had been a few years since she had gotten her cutie mark, and yesterday she had finally completed the beginning flight lessons.

Rainbow Dash was at her house, helping her friend pack. “I’m proud of you, Fluttershy!”

“Thanks,” Fluttershy smiled. “I just wish I could’ve been a better flier, maybe even go into the Junior’s Flight School.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Rainbow Dash said, holding Fluttershy’s “Never Give Up” trophy she made for her on her birthday. “See this? All that matters is you tried. You tried, and you succeeded. I’ve never met anypony as persistent as you.”

Fluttershy chuckled, walked over to her parents, and gave them another hug. “I’ll miss you,” Mr. Shy said.

“Good luck! I hope I see you soon!” her mom bid goodbye to her.

“Bye-bye!” shouted Zephyr.

Fluttershy stepped away and dried her eyes. “I’ll miss you all, too.” She gave one more hug to all of them.

She looked at Rainbow Dash. “I hope you’ll consider moving to Ponyville sometime, too.”

“I’ll be in the clouds for a while, to continue my flight lessons,” she explained, “but I’ll see you in a month-for my birthday.”

“Do you mind coming down to the ground for that?” Fluttershy asked.

“Of course not. Maybe it would be better, because no bullies will be there to ruin the fun,” she joked, making everyone laugh.

Fluttershy fluttered off, holding her pet close to her heart. “You can be my reminder of my life in Cloudsdale, Angel.” It was hard for her to leave her old memories so high, so far away from here, but in her heart, she knew that she couldn’t wait to make more memories.