Dawn's new day.

Today was going to be one exciting Saturday. After a few weeks of school they were finally offering the students our first optional field trip. It was going to be up at Clouds Dale for a tour of the weather factory. Apparently since the City was going to be hovering close to Canterlot the school thought it would be a good Idea to see it since much of the factory also required Unicorn made enchanted machines not just Pegasus magic. Those brave enough, and who's family could afford it, would get a cloud walking neckless for the trip and get to keep afterwards for an incentive to go. I still can't believe so few foals signed up, not even Twilight. At least Starlight is going with me. I'm Glad mom and dam are allowing me to go granted mom was actually super excited and said I was in for a treat.

As I looked over the itinerary for the trip while eating breakfast, I reminisced over the last few weeks. I had spent most of it doing the general school work and improving my magic or hanging out with my friends. A few odd things, such as Celestia sticking close or Lyra's fluctuating mood, stuck out to me. Celestia is probably just dealing with Twilight as for Lyra, that's a hard one to tell. Human Club was also going well and we even managed to get another couple of members, Twinkleshine and Minuette who were somewhat interested though no one as enthusiastic as Lyra herself. I think they just want the club credit.

After Switching my focus back to today I excitedly galloped out of the dorms to the side field where a large hot air balloon was being set up for todays trip.

"Ah Dawn there you are," Gale said while checking my name off her list, as a small group of foals, mostly first years, gathered around her some of which looked nervous. "It looks like we are just waiting for a few more then I can go over the plan for today."

As the Hot air balloon was being inflated by a staff member, another went around and started passing out the cloud walking charms, a round silver pendant engraved with a set of wings on each side dangled upon a silver chain. Starlight along with the last couple fillies eventually showed up and upon receiving their neckless Gale continued.

"Excellent it looks like everyone is here," she reported as she finished checking her list. "Now then, Do all of you have your Cloud walking charms?"

"Yes, Ms. Gale" The group rang out.

"Good, now how many of you have been up to the cloud layer before?" I raised my hoof to her question and found I was the only one.

"Really Dawn? Why were you up that high?" Gale asked a bit jokingly and earning me a few curious looks.

I was proud to say that, "My mom is a weather Captain, She has taken me flying a few times and even up to the clouds on her back. I only got to try walking on them once though."

I heard a few whispers but Gale replied, "Interesting, then I expect you shouldn't have much trouble with heights. As for the rest of you if any of you have trouble please let me know right away. We will be proceeding straight to the factory once up in the air and then having lunch in the city proper to show you all a bit of how Pegasi live. Now then, all aboard. "

We all shuffled into the basket and one of the unicorn staff began increasing the heat so we started to rise. Gale remained on the edge, pushing us along to our destination.

Once close enough to the city to see it we all began talking excitedly about how it looked or what we might see.

"So Dawn, has your mom ever brought you here before?" Starlight asked.

"Once, yeah. My Grandparents, the ones you met before, actually live in Clouds Dale that's when I got to try walking on clouds since my mom knows the spell. They normally just come to visit us back in Sires Hollow since it's easier."

"Really, I didn't know that." She finished as we got closer to the city. "I wish I could have joined you, this will be my first trip this high." She happily said, and eventually you will learn to self levitate.

Once the balloon touched down my schoolmates were much slower to disembark then they were to embark. Our teacher had to cover her muzzle to keep from laughing as many of them experimentally poked the clouds with their hooves. I on the other hoof, jumped from the side of the basket to get around the holdup, bouncing a bit on the fluffy ground. "Chickens," I said under my breath playfully.

As I milled about waiting for the rest of the group who were now receiving encouraging words from Gale to disembark, Starlight trotted over and joined me.

"It feels so strange, is this what it's like for Pegasi?" She played with a bit of the cloud below her.

"From what mom says it is even more comfortable for them since the Cloud walking spell is different." I threw a harmless cloud puff her way.

She giggled then threw one back.

"Alright class, now that we are all ready to go lets continue with the tour." Gale happily said and motioned with her wing towards the large cloud factory in front of us.

Once Inside Gale had us all don safety equipment and we began the tour once our guide arrived and took over. "Alight everypony," The bubbly Pegasus mare said then flared her wings dramatically, "Welcome to the weather factory. Now then lets get this tour trotting, do any of you know what we do here at the weather factory?"

"You make clouds," One of the fillies piped up.

"Correct, but we also do so much more. We actually plan all of the weather for Equestria right from this building. From rain and snow clouds, to rainbows, and even other special weather it all starts here! Now of course, local towns can change a few things on the fly but the overall plan comes from us. Does anyone know why that is?"

None of us could answer and even I didn't know so we all shook our heads.

"Well you are here to learn. It's because we are the only place where cloud seeds can be made in bulk. A cloud seed is the beginning of every other type of cloud, outside of wild weather. Cloud seeds are basically super compressed clouds with our special magic that can then be transported around to local towns and 'unpacked' for use in the local weather." She was showing us parts of the manufacturing process while we walked through the factory.

Another filly raised her hoof and the guide pointed to her, "But can't every Pegasus make cloud seeds?"

"Excellent question, and the answer is not really. Most Pegasi don't have the training to make them properly and even those that can do it, naturally or trained, are much slower than the factory. Now we do have a few specialists who can make clouds for emergencies but controlling existing pre-made weather is much easier."

We all nodded and then continued the tour, our last stop was to the Rainbow factory and where I got my surprise.

"Mom, Grandpa?!" I galloped over to my mom and gave her a big hug while he tussled my mane.

"And here we have a special surprise, the head of the Rainbow department himself is here today." The guide said. I didn't know that's what my grandsire did.

He moved in front of the group, "Hello everypony, my name is Cloudy Breeze and I am the manager of the Rainbow department I'm also this ones Grandpa." He smiled and pointed to me with a wing then proceeded to explain what they did to make rainbows, I was too distracted though.

"Mom what are you doing here?" I nuzzled her as we broke off from the group a bit, Starlight joined us as well.

"Hi Ms. Breeze good to see you again." She joined in on our hug and gave me a wink.

"Starlight good to see you to thanks for not warning Dawn, and I decided to come to the factory since I knew you and Starlight would be joining the upcoming field trip. I just had to visit since it isn't difficult, I am a weather captain after all," she buffed a hoof on her chest, "and your Grandsire works here as well." She finished with sticking her tongue out.

"Wow so you can come and go as you want?" Starlight asked and my mom lightly laughed.

"Not quite, I still have to make an appointment but it isn't that hard."

"Ms. Breeze," Gale had joined us, "The tour is moving on, you are still more then welcome to join us for lunch like you asked in your letter." I looked stunned, everyone knew but me, great surprise.

Starlight and I Spent the rest of the Trip with my family earning us a few Jealous looks and others I couldn't decide on.

"So Kiddo," My Grandpa ruffled my mane, "Is this one your filly friend yet?"

"Dad/Grandpa," Mom and I said at the same time causing Starlight to trip a bit with mom finishing, "Dawn is much too young a colt for that and so is Starlight."

He laughed then picked me up and put me on his back, "Bah, a colt is never too~ early to learn about 'that', how else will he protect himself from the ladies." I laughed at that while Starlight looked a bit red then coughed.

"I resent that Grandpa, I am nothing but a GentleColt," I say with a posh accent which gets the group laughing again and more funny looks.

We continue on with the group until we reach a large Café where we could all eat lunch and continue chatting. Sadly we couldn't stay very long and were eventually forced to head back towards the balloon. Grandpa had already left to get back to work and Starlight caught up with the group so it was just Mom and I hanging back a bit so we could say our goodbyes.

"It was good seeing you sport, tell Starlight it was good to see her too," We share a quick hug.

"Thanks mom it was good seeing..."

"Look out!" was all I could hear before a prismatic blur crashed into me causing me tumble backwards with it and my mom to panic.

"Dawn are you Ok?" My mom asked a butter yellow Pegasus following slowly.

"Sorry, we ran into you," I Could hardly hear her with my head ringing still. ouch.