Hush Now

Willow Beam tucked her messy pink mane behind her ears as she turned the page of her book over. Daring Doo was her favourite novel. Even if it was just written by her neighbour and would never be published, Willow loved the stories, and was always asking for more. It was about the pony that went out and explored. She didn't need anypony. She was invincible.

A rush of wind flicked back her pages and her mane blew over her face once again. She looked up, but saw nopony around.

"Good job" she muttered to herself, relocating her place in her book. "If my parents knew I wasn't at school..."

Willow Beam was a dreamy pony. With a peachy white coat and pink eyes set in her delicate head. She wasn't disliked by anypony - she was as sunny as her sun and cloud cutie mark! Nor was she rebellious. She just enjoyed her own company more, and occasionally... would find herself flying far past school and sitting on a cloud overlooking the large forest below before coming round from one of her day dreams. As long as her parents didn't find out she was sure that missing a day of school here and there couldn't be too bad.

Another gust of wind sent an icy chill down her spine. She found herself looking to the large looming building placed on a storm cloud in the distance. Boy was she glad that she hadn't been sent there! She knew that a pegasus from her flight camp had been sent there. A black colt with a fire patterened mane and tail called Rapid Dash. Good for him, she supposed.

As she kept staring, she noticed something that she had never actually witnessed before... the big metal gates at the top of the building opened. She had to get a better look at this!

She closed her book - removing her worn old bow from her mane to mark her page - and left her little resting cloud. She flew slowly and quietly, as not to attract any attention from anypony who might see her and tell her parents. Her hooves occasionally bumping over bits of cloud, she steered clear from her school and went round the outskirts of town. She was certain that as she drew nearer to the building, she was getting colder. She knew that they always kept it slightly cooler, but she was freezing her tail off!

At a safe distance that had a good view, Willow dug in the clouds to make a pile for her to crouch behind and watched as several rather scary looking young pegasus ponies flew into the air above her in a strict formation, following an even scarier older pegasus, although there seemed to be one empty spot in the otherwise flawless group. Willow Beam saw the old pegasus notice this as he darted back into the building. She jumped as she heard a booming voice followed by a loud thud. The older pegaus reappeared at the front of the flapping formation. Willow gasped in horror as she saw a dark sillhouette struggle to join them. It was another pegasus colt, though he looked so thin and battered. His wing looked crippled, and his head drooped, as if he was struggling to lift it. Had that old pegasus just...? She didn't dare consider it.

Willow heard the lead pegasus bark an order and the group immediately began an amazingly complex set of acrobatics in the air. She was absolutely amazed as one pony backflipped, just avoiding hitting the clouds only a few feet away from her. After a few minutes of just staring in awe at the talented ponies above her head, Willow decided that she had probably outstayed her visit. Sooner or later, somepony up there would spot her and she didn't want to face up to the pegasus who was standing on a cloud yelling abuse at the flyers.

Come to think of it, she thought as she slinked slowly backwards - belly pressed low against the cloud, she hadn't seen that darker pony that had looked so hurt earlier since the beginning of the acrobatics. She hoped he was ok... All of a sudden, a navy blue heap cumpled in the dust right next to her.

"Oh my gosh! " Gasped Willow Beam, galloping over to the bruised colt. "Are you alright!?"

He didn't say anything in response, he just put a hoof to her mouth and directed his sky-blue eyes at the instructor to see if he had noticed. Luckily,his head was turned, yelling at a red pegasus filly who had landed too early.

Without a single word being exchanged, Willow Beam knew that he was asking her to get him out of there. She tried helping him up but he just couldn't stand properly, a glance at his leg showed her that it was in no state to gallop anywhere quickly, and his wing didn't look any better. Willow Beam took as much of his weight as she could, but he was a muscular pony and she was no body builder. They made a few yards before she crumpled under his weight, panting.

"Don't worry" She whispered into his ear. "I'll get you away from here."

He closed his eyes and a single tear escaped from his bruised lids. "

"Thank you" He mouthed, weakly. Resting his head on the cloud.

All of a sudden, the mist shuddered beneath them as a giant looming figure landed centimetres from the pair.

"Gazer" The instructor snarled "I see you are resting with your fillyfriend here"

"P-Please sir!" The terrified filly stuttered.

"SHUT UP YOU STUPID FILLY" The giant boomed. "Gazer, get back to your bunk. You and I are going to have a little chat"

The dark colt suddenly found some strength from some unknown source.

"You," he started, the rage present in his voice "CAN'T CONTROL ME"

Quick as a whip, Willow saw two back hooves strike the instructors face, causing him to collapse in pain.

"QUICK" Gazer yelled, pulling a bewildered Willow Beam who was still in shock.

Next thing that the pair knew, the clouds had disappeared from under their feet, and they were falling down, down to the large forest below...