Celestia’s sun was shining bright over Cloudsdale Flight Camp, illuminating the breathtaking cloudscape. As the lunch hour had just passed, the foals were out in the yard playing hoofball in different groups.
Off to the side, two young fillies had distanced themselves from the rest and sat talking. To one, this was the best way to spend an afternoon. The other wished she was in sky, the wind passing through her mane and giving her a feeling of freedom that only flight could provide.
But since her friend, Fluttershy, was not the best flyer, Rainbow Dash was content to sit talking. They talked almost each day, covering almost everything under Celestia’s sun. Today, the topics ranging from flying and animal care to aspirations for the future, which had inevitably led Rainbow to a full on tirade about the Wonderbolts.
But, like many times before, their talk was cut short by the soft pound of hoofs proudly trotting toward them. It was another pony, presumably coming to torment them as always. They turned to face the source of the noise, but found a colt neither of them had seen before.
“Well, well, well. Look what we have here: Fluttercry and Rainbow Crash,” the colt sneered as he spotted the two at the playground.
“Eep!” Fluttershy dove behind her cyan protector.
“Hey you! Leave her alone!” yelled RD as she stared down the white pegasus colt. “She doesn't deserve the crap you give her. She’s one of the kindest, gentlest, and caring ponies I've ever met.”
At this Fluttershy blushed enormously. Nopony had ever said such nice things before. Sure she would get complements from Rainbow every once in a while but this was different. This was heartfelt and real suddenly. She felt new feeling arise she had felt inkling of this before the this was something new.
“Oh yeah? I say that makes her a crybaby. So make me stop,” the colt said snapping Fluttershy out of her thoughts.
‘’Ok then.” Dash smiled. “How about a race? I win you stop picking on Fluttershy.”
“Deal, but if I win it’s gonna be hell.”
Dash thought about this; she was risking allowing this jerk to continue to harass her best friend but she was sure she could beat him.”
“You’re on,” Dash said.
The three looked around them. A group of other ponies had begun to form around them, from a small filly who appeared on the verge of tears to a group of young colts urging the little white pegasus on. Rainbow turned to face them.
“You wanna watch? Come on!” She whirled around and took off for the nearby flying track, Fluttershy struggling to keep up.
When the group arrived at the track, most of the foals piled into a section of the bleachers, craning their necks to get a good look. One colt from the group stepped down to the track, standing in front of Rainbow Dash and the white colt to start the race.
“Alright this will be a two lap race.” The colt turned to face the white pegasus. “If Dash wins, you have to stop picking on Fluttershy.” He then turned to Dash. “And if he wins, the taunting will be kicked up a notch.”
Both racers nodded to indicate their understanding. Rainbow Dash shot a quick look to her right, where she saw Fluttershy sitting quietly.
The colt piped up again. “Alright! Get ready, get set, g--” Woosh! Both pegasi shot out from the starting line, throwing the young colt back.
The wind rushed through both foals’ manes as they raced around the track. This was why Rainbow Dash loved flying so much: the feeling of freedom was unparalleled. As she finished the first lap, there was little that could ruin her high.
Then the white jackass raced passed her.
“Oh, it is on!” she screamed, picking up the pace.
First turn. She was starting to gain on him.
Halfway there. Why wasn’t she getting any closer?
Last turn. He was getting even faster. Dash couldn’t catch him.
If there was a checkered flag, it would have waved to signal the white colt’s victory. As the foals gathered on the track to celebrate with him, Rainbow looked over at Fluttershy, tears forming in her eyes. They looked over to see the victor approaching, a broad smile stretched across his face.
“Well, looks like I win.” the colt taunted. “But don’t worry! You get a consolation prize.”
He turned around and bucked Rainbow in the face. As her vision darkened, she could only make out a few words.
“By the way, the name’s Crimson.”
Rainbow Dash slowly drifted to consciousness, her first sight being Fluttershy. The yellow filly was wearing a look of concern that instantly vanished when she saw Dash wake up.
“Rainbow!” Fluttershy screamed. “Oh, thank Celestia you're alright!”
“Whoa, Flutters! Slow down a little.” Rainbow looked around, quickly realizing she didn’t recognize the room in which she had awoken. “Uh, where am I?”
“Oh sorry,” she blushed. “You're in Cloudsdale Hospital. The camp staff brought you here after the race. I was scared you might never wake up, but the doctor said it was only a small concussion.”
The next words Fluttershy heard nearly broke her heart.
“I should have died. I lost to that jerk and now he’s going to make life a living hell for you.”
As Rainbow said this, tears began forming in her eyes. Sensing a breakdown on the horizon, Fluttershy embraced the cyan pegasus. At first she felt the other filly stiffen from surprise, but slowly she began to relax and return the hug.
“Thank you Flutters…I needed that.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, and Rainbow? I was wondering—um, the doctor said you're cleared to leave today—and I was thinking…I was wondering…would you mind showing me some tricks later on?”
Rainbow was slightly taken aback by this. It was unusual of Fluttershy to be so forward. The cyan filly turned to her friend, a small smile playing at her lips.
“Sure.”
*****
After checking with the doctor to make sure Rainbow Dash was okay to fly, the duo went to a meadow to start practicing. Once there, Dash spotted a cloud nearby, and decided that it would work just fine.
The wind began whistling softly. The calm breeze playfully tugged on Fluttershy's mane. The two pegasi reached a small knoll at the center of a tiny patch of clouds. As they caught their breath, Rainbow Dash looked over at her friend.
Rainbow Dash looked at her friend with worry.
“Are you sure you want to do this? I mean no offence, but you're not the best flyer, and I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt.” Fluttershy was touched by this but shrugged it off.
“I won’t get hurt as long as you're here to help me.”
“Alright. If you're sure” Rainbow did not sound fully convinced.
Author's Note
thanks for reading also
BIG THANK YOU to Schizoid Nightfall for co authoring and editing this story
also please give feedback like,dislike comment but if you dislike please tell me why so i may improve this story
The Aftermath
Rainbow stared at her friend for several minutes before speaking.
“Fluttershy, y-you don’t have to do this.”
“I know you're trying to make me feel better for what happened,” Rainbow pleaded. “But it’s fine. You don’t need to put yourself in danger for me.”
Fluttershy sighed. “Rainbow, I already told you: I won’t be in any danger as long as you're here to help me. And I'm not doing this just to make you feel better...I’m doing this because it’s something you always love doing and I want to be a part of that.”
Rainbow smiled and nodded. “Ok, let’s do this.”
She took flight and instructed Fluttershy to do the same.
“Ok. So what should we try first?” Fluttershy questioned.
“I think we should start with some basics such as dives and maybe barrel rolls” Rainbow suggested. “Do you want me to demonstrate?”
“Um...yes please,” Fluttershy murmured.
“Ok watch closely”
As she took off to begin, a loud voice called out. “Ms. Dash, will you come here please?” Rainbow looked down to see one of the camp’s instructors standing below.
“Yes ma’am,” she replied, suddenly nervous. Why is an instructor here? she thought. I didn’t do anything wrong.
“Rainbow” the instructor said dropping all formalities. “I know that you just got out of the hospital but i need to ask you some questions.”
“Okay,” Rainbow replied softly.
“I was looking over the doctor’s injury report,” the instructor began. “And I'm confused. Normally when I see a concussion, I assume it’s from a crash. So I think nothing of it. However, I noticed that he reported nothing else, not even a scratch or bruise, which is odd because if it was a crash or you fell unconscious mid-flight and somepony else stopped you hitting the ground, there would still be at least a small bruise from them catching you at that speed. So I must ask: did somepony hurt you?”
Rainbow hesitated. If she told them who it was and he found out, he would make sure she paid for it. But if she didn’t...Rainbow Dash shuddered at the thought of what would happen to Fluttershy. If he would give sompony a concussion for losing a race, there was no telling what he might do to sompony he wants to see suffer.
With this thought her mind was made up: nopony would hurt Fluttershy as long as she was alive. She looked into the instructor’s eyes, determination in her voice as she spoke.
“It was Crimson.” Immediate understanding flashed across the mare’s face.
“Ah, I see. The new student. Don’t worry: I’ll make sure he is disciplined for his actions. Goodnight, Ms. Dash.”
By the time Rainbow returned, she noticed that it was getting dark and that she would not be able to show Fluttershy anything. She turned to her friend and apologized.
“It’s fine, Rainbow,” the shy filly said. “I don’t mind...we can wait until tomorrow.”
“So is there anything else you wanna do?”
“Um...can can we finish our talk from earlier?”
“Of course, Shy. We can do whatever you like.”
The friends finished their talk then went back to their cabin. Once there, Rainbow climbed into her bed. She was near sleep when she heard her friend’s soft whisper.
“Rainbow? Can I sleep with you tonight? I'm sorry but i'm just really scared because of that bully.”
“Sure,” Rainbow yawned. She moved over to make enough room for her canary yellow friend.
The next day, Dash was called by the same instructor from the night before. But this time it was requested that Fluttershy come as well.
When they arrived they noticed the instructor, but their hearts stop cold when they saw who she accompanied her.
“Hello,” the instructor greeted.
“Sup, Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy,” Crimson addressed them in a far too cheery tone for somepony in trouble.
“Mr. Mist here would like to apologize for what he did before we expel him.”
This news shocked the duo, and even Crimson’s smile seemed to falter slightly.
“Get on with it. young colt,” the instructor said.
“I’m deeply sorry for calling you both names and causing that *coughs* during our race, Rainbow.”
He continued to apologize, and throughout it all he sounded genuinely sorry. But when Rainbow Dash looked into his eyes, she saw what he truly wanted to say.
If I ever see you two again, I swear I will fucking kill you.
Fluttershy of course did not know this, and thank Celestia she didn't, because if she did she would have fainted on the spot.
Author's Note
It's baaaaaack now my good friend and coauthor has something to say
Hello, everybody! I am Schizoid Nightfall, the editor/occasional co-author for this story. If any of you are wondering about the pacing of this story right now, please realize that we both have an idea of where this is going and the pace should calm down significantly. Sorry if you don’t like it, but please be gentle with brony jts. His first story actually has potential.
