***Two Seconds Later…***

**Cup**
**094 Spring CC**

My little colt slowly crawled toward Flo's foal and got his nose right up to hers. She looks like she's going to be fully awake soon. Little ones always seem to need a little while to shake off their naps. I wonder how many foals his age he's ever interacted with. He must be curious to see another pony about his size.

He takes a bunch of sniffs, and his tail starts swishing back and forth. She makes a big yawn with her cute tiny mouth. If he was older, I'd say he was marking her scent, but they're both foals -too young for that. He's just inquisitive. Maybe this is the first time he's seen another foal.

Flo's smiling broadly -a proud mother. "Oh~ she's going to be such a heart breaker-"

That's when he starts with a flurry of foal-kisses. Our jaws drop, and little Spitfire's eyes go as wide as they can from those rapid-firing little-licks. She's definitely awake now and has a look in her eyes that is so typical of pegasi: the spirit of competition and a challenge accepted. The little filly doesn't take the assault lying down for very long before she starts to struggle, giggle, and squeal against her swaddling while returning like-fire to the colt.

Sweet Harmony, I'd give my tail for a camera right now.

*click*

Seems like Flo had one ready. “Ah’ll need a copy of that,” I say, and she nods in agreement.

As the little filly slowly begins to emerge from her confinement, he slowly scoots back but maintains his muzzle within artillery range of hers.

*sigh* Pegasi.

Only pegasi would turn affection into a competition. I'm going to have to have lots of talks with Flo about how to raise one -maybe when they wear themselves out and take their next nap- and probably get several books on the subject.

Once she finally frees herself, her wings flare out, and they enter a temporary ceasefire for this friendly foalish face-off while they begin to stare each other down -muzzles glistening from the first skirmish in this battle. First round goes to the colt; although, he had a distinct advantage over the partially immobilized filly.

Both of their tails are wagging happily. His frame is a just little smaller than hers. He opens up his larger wings, and she gives pause before they start circling each other there on the floor, wings out, tails wagging, and eyes dilating and focused upon their rivals. Flo looks taken aback. I have no idea what kind of game these yearlings are playing -never seen this before.

Little Spitfire makes a few false-starts; but the little colt keeps his motions smooth and paced, and he doesn't give in to the goading. Then it happens: Flo regains herself and taps her hoof on the floor. With the signal, both bolt and start chasing each other around the house. The pitter-patter of hooves coming and going reverberate throughout the apartment.

"What. Was. That?"

Flo moves back next to me on the couch smiling at an inside joke, “I never thought I'd see two yearlings do that." I raise an eyebrow and wait for more. "It has a couple names: pegasus pirouette, paradise promenade, or… a pairing prance."

"Wait..."

"It~ doesn't mean what it sounds like at this age. They're not betrothed,” she gives a pause and glances around, “yet. Maybe if they were to do this ten or fifteen years from now. At this age, it's just a sign of natural friendship -originating from their basest early foalhood instincts. It's actually quite rare for foals -especially yearlings- to do that. Their First Friendship."

"First Friends?" I ask. Nature-ponies don’t have an intrinsic tradition like the movements the foals just performed instinctually, but we -like all the tribes- have a concept of First Friends. While ours doesn’t kick off quite as aggressively, nature-ponies cherish the special relationship of First Friends.

She looks at me and smiles, "First Friends. It means they're natural friends and the first for each other..." Wow~! "And... maybe rivals..." Oh? Nature-ponies don’t usually mix those two things together. “It might be worthwhile to talk about arrangements for them at some point.” Oh!

"Well~ as long as they're friends," I say, and Flo nods in agreement. I think everypony likes a good competition but to revel in rivalry… I do know that pegasi thrive on the reciprocal testing between two or more parties. Friendly contentions breed camaraderie -or something like that.

Our ears flick and twist around as we follow the sounds of giggles and happy squeals mixed with tiny hooves thumping all around the apartment -sometimes getting louder as they get closer and sometimes muffle as the battle ebbs away.

They tumble together back into the sitting room wrapped in legs and wings in what I can only describe as competitive nuzzling.

Flo looks like she's witnessing a pure, unadulterated, and concentrated expression of cuteness and *click* is teetering on the verge of a squee. Her wings are vibrating a bit, too. I'll have to add wing-language to my growing list of pegasus-related research topics and questions to ask her.

***Flash Forward***

Wonderbolts HQ, Cloudsdale
Freshly promoted Captain Lieutenant Spitfire, commander of the Wonderbolts, is having another day of her dreams. Early morning PT followed by a celestial tonne of paperwork. The other Bolts are either in classes or shining their own desks right now.

She swivels her ears to determine if anypony is coming back to her office. Seems clear.

The mare retrieves her drill whistle from her chest fluff beneath her uniform and twists the top off. From within her beloved whistle, she removes a small, hoof-lathed ball bearing and places it into a spherical indentation in her desk drawer. A brief glow of runes and lines travel across the drawer resulting with a quiet click of an internal locking mechanism.

She opens the drawer, and extracts some hoof-sized picture frames, a glass, and a bottle of the good stuff. After setting up the frames to sit upright all in her field of vision on the desk, she throws back three shots and sets up a double for her to nurse while she loses herself in her own mind.

The door flies open with a bang. Spitfire tosses her drink with a squawk and a curse and grabs everything on her desk into a pile between her forelegs. The pony at the door yells, “Captain, you’re needed on the runway, ma’am!”

“Buck! Fine, Fleet. Give me a minute!”

They both stare at each other frozen for a moment when Spitfire asks with a commanding but quietly seething tone, “What did you see, Fleet?”

A shiver runs down the Wonderbolt’s back and she quickly answers, “N- nothing, ma’am! I didn’t see you staring at your c- coltfriend again!” And even quicker, the pony flees.

The captain’s voice follows the retreating cadet -who passed advanced qualifications and officially signed on to the team just recently- down the hallway, “Good! … And he’s not my coltfriend~!” Bucking cadets. I swear to Celestia, I’m going to PT the Tartarus out of them, “Until their bucking wings fall off!”

Spitfire huffs and collects herself as she gathers her pictures back in their secure location and, as she locks the drawer with one last glance at the ponies on the photograph, says to herself, “… or he will be. I have to find that slippery bucker and get my hooves on him first… and I ain’t lettin’ go next time.”

***End of Flash Forward***

Those pictures are going to be worth gold one day, I can feel it.

I knew I was definitely unprepared for a pegasus foal, but I am starting to feel that inadequacy right now.

As the momentum of the foals' rolling began to dissipate, they launched off of each other, and their formative frenzy of fledgling friendship and fun flowed forth afresh. I can't help but feel and reflect Flo's radiating pride for her foal's First Friendship finalizing faw fuh fwe fuh… What? Everything tasted like purple for a second...

I was worried about him -my colt- at first, but he looks so happy playing with little Spitfire. It's like all of that mess he was dealing with has all melted away -even if it's temporary.

I don't know much about the Pegasus Pirouette as a nature-pony, but I do know about First Friendships from learning in school and my own experience; and we didn’t have a crazy game of tag-and-lick to commemorate it. Although, that’s not a bad idea…

Regardless, these are significant milestones for any pony. It shows they've a connection to others in the grand herd of our species which is facilitated by Harmony through all of us. Unfortunately, it does not happen for everypony, but those left out are a minority and friendship can still grow for those ponies. It just takes a little more patience and effort.

I have no doubt that Spitfire has encountered other foals since she was born, but First Friends are different than newborns rolling around and babbling. It means they'll always have a special relationship together and individually have reached a special cognitive stage where they can start to interact with others and begin to retain the lessons of Harmony. They've taken the first step out of infancy into childhood.

I think my little colt may have been processing things beyond his level before this milestone, but the mixture of him and Spitfire looks like it has done something in both of them. At least, that's what it appears to me.

Their next breach into the sitting room shows the colt is tired -huffing and puffing and quickly shaking his wings to push air over his barrel like a pair of fans. He plops down while the little filly stakes claim to her victory atop her pooped petite pony prize. Her trophy wraps her in a hug. She looks to her dam and receives smiles and words of praise from both of us. "Good job, Spitfire. Did you make a friend?" The filly babbles a bit in response.

"Well done, filly."

“To have such dominant feminine instincts at that age,” Flo says with pride, “she’s going to have no trouble showing her future herd that she can provide and protect for the herdstallion.” She adds, “he’s quite the trooper himself, you know. If he stays like that, he’s going to need a real mare’s mare to keep him reigned in.”

“Bit of an enigma. Ain’t he?”

“Can’t say I don’t see the appeal.” I look at Flo. She looks back. “What? There’s nothing wrong with a janefilly as long as he lets the mares be the mares. All the other stuff that comes with a janefilly will just keep things spicy. Don’t tell me you don’t like a little,” she nudges me with her elbow and lets out a few short whistles, “with your stallion once in a while.”

I roll my eyes, “Mah stallion is plenty spicy, Flo. Besides,” I add, “you think little Spitfire’s going to be interested in farming?”

“Your hometown is within a pegasus’ commute to most places -including Cloudsdale and Canterlot.”

I concur, “Ah’ll stop by the post office today. Need to send word back home anyhow.”

“Do you need help paying for a rush delivery?”

I ask in response, “This is really important to you, huh?”

“Come on, Cup. You know what it’s like out there for mares looking for stallions even if you never had to deal with it quite like the rest of us. Competition’s fierce out there; it’s never too early to secure your offspring a good future. We can’t all grow up next door to a colt and fall in love at first sight.” She explains with a wink and a nod.

I retort, “Tell ya what. I’ll pay for the rush on mah letter; you take care of dinner and watch the foals while I’m out-“

“-Deal.” She answered that fast.

“-and Ah’ll let you know what Ah decide after Ah get mah stallion’s input on it.”

“Mm,” she hums, “Good call. Best to let him have a say otherwise he’ll hold that over your head forever.”

“It’s just good manners to communicate, Flo.”

She says with a smirk, “That, too.”

Flo and her filly both look triumphant as my colt snuggles his conqueror, and the foals catch their breath. Flo's right: if they were five or ten years older they'd look intended. Dear Harmony, please let my little colt's prepubescent decade stave off forever.

I've only had him for a day, and I’m already planning his future and to give him away! I am not ready to think about any of this.

Flo and I take our time letting this scene burn into our memories as the foals bask in triumph, and their breathing returns to normal. One might have lost the battle, but they both won a friend.

Flo indicates to her daughter that it's time for her breakfast. The filly notices and agrees by escaping her new friend's grasp and walks like a winner over to her dam. He briefly looks dejected until he sees Spitfire's destination.

Flo says, "I suppose it's time to step up the weaning now that she's made her First Friend. I've given her some soft solids, but it's about time to get her off the liquid diet."

I agree, "Ah think the colt is probably ready, but Ah'm going to see if he can put on some weight first. That little romp looks like it took a lot out of him."

She nods, "Not a bad idea. He'll catch up quickly, I think, given how big his wings are. And he's definitely got some nature-pony heritage, by the looks of him. A little more energy for the muscle won't hurt him at all." She then changes the subject, "Are there any cloud-parks nearby?"

Cloud-parks are regular parks but clouds can be brought down to the ground so that young pegasi can practice flying or cloud manipulation in a metropolitan environment without the foal risking a major fall or crash from a significant height. Most cities or towns have clouds down low by most parks for young pegasi to learn and play. These have to be accounted for specially, because they’re not for weather purposes and have to be replenished when strong weather sweeps them off.

Flo is from Cloudsdale which is an all-cloud city.

There are challenges to cloud-cities and cloud-districts when it comes to young pegasi learning how to cloud-walk and fly. Pegasus foals are not born able to fly or cloud-walk indefinitely. They can usually flap around a house from day-one, but their young wings and feathers have to develop to a certain degree for prolonged flight and reliable cloud-walking. Until then, foals need to be brought down to the ground for safety's sake until they're old enough to learn how to use those their wings and magicks to safely return to the elevated settlements.

"Is she -are they- ready for that?" I ask.

Stormy answers, “There are several normal factors to consider: feather development, wing size, and cognitive development. They both still have some precocial down feathers left on their backs, wings, and barrels; but I can see they both have plenty of fledgeling plumage. I feel like I should consider their First Friendship pairing prance like a rite-of-passage." She looks down at her little one. "I didn't think we'd be starting today of all days, but I have a good feeling about it." My colt starts getting up and stretching. "I think he's plenty ready, and it would be good for these First Friends to learn together."

"Okay. Well, if we take a left at the end of my street here, go three blocks, and right two, there should be a park. Although, Ah don't know if it's regularly stocked with clouds. Ah could go with you on my way to drop off my work cart -then to the post office, then the Harmony Shrine- in case you need to grab some clouds so the foals won't be left alone? And you’ll be okay watching them both while Ah go do those errands we discussed?"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful. Yeah, I think I can watch them. Can we head out when Spitfire finishes?"

"Of course! Oh, Ah should get one of the colt's feathers to bring to the Harmony Shrine."

She giggles, "Plenty of those floating around after all that roughhousing." I get up and grab a few with my mouth. The colt takes immediate notice and seems to realize for the first time that he has feathers on his wings -focusing intensely on the appendages as he flexes his wings and young feathers. I put the loose green fluff in my saddle bag.

"Flo?"

"Yeah?" She asks as she starts inspecting the condition of Spitfire's little wings.

"I'm going to need a lot of information about raising a pegasus."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"For starters, Ah've never heard of that pegasus promenade. Ah don't know about wing or feather maintenance. Mah nature-pony understanding of pegasus culture seems to be lacking. Ah've never seen nature-ponies or unicorns engage in such aggressive nuzzling before either."

She laughs, "Yeah, I guess I can understand that! You wouldn't see that type of thing unless you were in a pegasus household, I suppose." Flo thinks for a moment. "I can tell you some things, but we're just visiting for a day or so. A book and a local pegasus for when you get back home would be better for the long term. We can visit there, and you can always write. Maybe we can stop by a library or store later? Maybe tomorrow?"

I nod and ask, “How long does it take for a pegasus foal to learn cloud-walking?"

She shrugs, "It should be mostly intuitive and instinctual if they're old enough to do it. If they can, then we will work on bouncing, wing movements, and flying. We’ll do that with some development games until they run out of energy; but for the first time, they'll probably just start out bouncing around the cumuli until they tucker out."

I nod, "Ah'll get some snacks and drinks packed. I'm not sure how long Ah'll be at the Harmony Shrine getting him a name after I bring my work cart back to work. All the walking around Ah have to do should be an hour by itself."

"Thanks, Cup." Flo finishes up with Spitfire's wings as the filly finishes with her meal.

**The Colt**

Holy Harmony. What happened? One moment I'm getting my first close-up inspection of an actual canon character of the show, then the next moment I'm having the time of my life from a nuzzle-fight crossed with a game of tag with Spitfire… and an unexpectedly high volume of saliva. The Spitfire: future captain of the Wonderbolts!

Mom went into the kitchen. Sounds like she's getting some stuff ready for something. It's probably for her and... oh, what was -is- Spitfire's mom's name... Flare-something. Stellar? Stella? I think mom used the word Iful. Maybe that's the Flare part?

Looks like Spitfire's all finished up. I'm going to have to teach her how to show her mother proper post-nursing gratuity. Etiquette is important, you know.

Hey, come here, Spitfire. I didn't even have to wave her down. She came right to my open arms -forelegs. Wow. I never would have guessed Spitfire to be so affectionate. I wonder if that's pony-culture or an age thing. She didn't seem that way in the show, but she was only shown on-the-job as a well-trained stunt and military pony. We never got to see her off-duty.

She could have been a drill sergeant from Tartarus at work and a super sweetheart at home... Maybe... or maybe she was the same no matter where she went.

Snuggling up next to those blocks. I forgot about those.

I don't know why I feel so impatient about learning the language and culture so fast, but I really feel it right now. It's not something I can do overnight. That type of thing takes time. Lots... of time... years probably. D@mnit. That grinds my gears, and I don't have any good reason to feel that -I think.

*sigh* Can't do anything about things beyond my station, and my station is that of a foal.

*yawn* Nap time incoming.

What can I do? Use what I have, I guess.

Oh! And they taught me some words earlier. I can practice a bit before I conk out.

"Fkhorend-i. Fkhorend-i Shpr-ifr." The filly hugging me giggled and starts babbling with such a look on her face: victorious with a touch of joy. Iful is looking at her daughter and me proudly. Iful... "Iful." She looks at me and a moment later a look of mild surprise melts into her expression. "Iful. Shpr-ifr."

"Ny, Kek?" The pegasus mare asks towards the kitchen where mom is.

"Kek," I say. "Kek. Mem."

Mom replies to Spitfire's mom, "Iful, sheh?"

"Haw-pum. Shpr-ifr," I say. I think I'm getting good at these first few words. Could definitely use some flash cards, though.

"Eh-ehueh drehden-een, hy-beh?" Asks the mare.

"Mm~ kh." Mom says from the kitchen.

"Haw-pum. Mem. Iful." *yawn* Slowing down some. "Shpr-ifr."

"Fleigh?" Iful saw me yawn. Maybe she's asking if I'm sleepy?

"Ay," I reply thinking that's a 'yes' as I lay right down, and Spitfire yawns and joins me slowing her babbling baby-talk to sleepy quiet. Being a foal sucks. Can't stay awake very long ever. Naps all the time. Iful shucks a bit, gets up, and covers us with a blanket. Look at that: happy, sleepy Spitfire. Making friends in this world is awesome. *yawn* And she's warm.

...How camest thou by Our pris'n above the World am'ngst the heavens...?

Author's Note

Princess Luna codified the terms for most units and measures for Equestria prior to her banishment. The most standard unit used for domestic and international weights for the transportation of goods is the, ‘celestial tonne,’ (CTn). It is equal to two, ‘lunar tonnes,’ (LTn) in weight. Who would list their products or shipments in a LTn unless you have that exact amount when it would be so much easier to use the CTn?

I suspect Spitfire has other photos and copies in her home, but I haven’t been able to sneak into that place to verify as of yet. Believe it or not, but Wonderbolt members have tighter security on their domiciles than Headquarters.

PT is a military term for, ‘physical training.’

I am assuming that foal maturation times -even between the tribes- are not the same as human or ponies-of-Earth. The average range of the pubescent decade starts at Cutie Mark acquisition and tends to start around 5-10. Earth equines are adults around 2-5 years depending on the species.

This was the first chapter / draft where I discovered the need to differentiate between earth-ponies and 'ponies from our Earth'. (6/10/23) Got it: nature-ponies! (6/11/23) <- I have been working on these drafts for a while.

MC is trying to listen to Cup and Flo (Stormy Flare) when they talk to pick up as many words as he can. I recognize that not many will be interested to read my made-up horse-language, and I try to lessen that as he becomes more competent with the language. He's only got about 10-15 words right now which is not much but pretty good for about 24 hours of exposure, I think. I tried to post my vocabulary list in a blog post but the typing app FimFiction uses does not like to make columns; I don't think a single-word-wide list for 100+ words is pleasant to the eyes for reading. I may end up posting it anyway if anyone wants.

Getting the frame of mind to write alien-dimensional cultural phenomena is… interesting. I have some new respect for Star Trek but also less respect, because I find it odd that entire planets would develop homogeneous cultural systems regularly.

With the introduction of the First Friendship, I imagine it could explain the significance of Starlight's friendship with Sunburst: an extra special Harmony-acknowledged, magic-blessed unicorn relationship would cause an extra special kind of pain if that were to rip apart and be especially acute for impressionable prepubescent foals. I could attribute this type of relationship to Pinkie and Maud, Twilight and Shining, and maybe a few others...