Memories in the Clouds

Chapter 2: Differences

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Fluttershy looked up as she climbed the bus' stairs to see an overweight and weathered white pegasus wearing a faded blue cap. But on the old cap was a polished circular emblem of golden wings with a thunderbolt striking across . It was the official insignia of Cloudsdale's Flight Camp.

The driver sheepishly turned his head and bellowed in deep voice above the chatter and laughter of the young ponies, "All right small fly get on in! There are other ponies in Cloudsdale you know... wait a minute..."

The driver wheeled his head to look at the new-comer and leaned forward with a labored grunt and squinted his eyes. He looked at Fluttershy's eye long lashes and her father's trademark tuft mane style. A large grin ran across his softly rounded face as his voiced rumbled out in excitement, "Well look what the trade-winds blew in! I can't mistake that mane style! Isn't it THE Lightning Sky's daughter? Fluttershy was it? By Celestia's feathers! My sympathies as well... but it is a pleasure to meet you!"

"Um... yes that's right sir... it is a pleasure to meet you.Thank you... for your sympathy." Fluttershy spoke with the best smile she could put on.

"Oh! don't be shy!... Ah well, no pun intended. Why... I'll tell you, I remember when it was your father walking up those steps! You sure do remind me of him..." the bus driver continued as he gave Fluttershy a wink.

Fluttershy eyes lit with a small interest in the bus driver claims, "You brought my dad to flight camp too?"

The heavy-set pegasus leaned back on his chair and looked out towards the horizon, lost in thought as he answered, "Ah... yes... it seems as it was yesterday...." He continued to lean back lost in an old memory as his seat creaked noisily under his weight bringing him back to reality and to meet Fluttershy's eyes.

He blushed slightly and added, "Well...not literally. Although time seems to pass by around me. It seems I still have use around here... Bah! What am I grumbling about? we have a schedule to keep! Everypony! This is Fluttershy! the daughter of the famous Lightning Sky!"

The Bus driver leaned over again near Fluttershy and whispered, "That ought to get you a good seat... now go on."

The clamoring of voices faded as all the young pegasi looked towards Fluttershy's direction. Their eyes gave way to many emotions. Some in excitement, reverence, and a few whispered unheard words to themselves. As she walked down the center of the bus she saw many smiles,giggling, and even others yelling, "Sit here if you like! come on!" All the attention terrified her and she politely turned down the many offers for a seat as some pegasi shoved one another to make a space. She walked all the way to the back until she finally found an empty seat a couple of rows to the end and climbed up on the seat laying her saddle bag next to her empty seat for good measure. The last thing she needed was an over-excited filly or colt asking her questions about anything and everything.

They began to move again and the attention on her eventually faded. Fluttershy gave a breath of relief when the others began to speak among themselves and left her generally alone. Every now and then she would catch shifting eyes looking at her from a distance. Fluttershy turned her attention away to the babbling masses and looked out the window at a reflection of the bus on one of the silver towers. It was an old bus, probably as old as that driver, it creaked and groaned as it careened down rising and falling streets of Central Cloudsdale passing many towering Cloudscrapers along the way. The towers were crafted from the finest white clouds, adorned with many intricate designs of ancient pegasi of old and had thin sheets of ice-glass windows that refracted the sun's rays into many prisms of colors. Hard to make ice-bricks that didn't melt paved the winding streets. No doubt some unicorn magic was required for such a feat. The streets and buildings glowed with a myriad of bright colors and prismatic reflections.

The bus continued through its route to pick up some new students. A few had some famous Wonderbolts parents and made a commotion by the small tricks their parents must have taught them before heading to camp. Some could even fly a short moment which in turn caused a frenzied riot and hoots of approval. Many of them were the same, high-strung, loud, and boastful. Unfortunately it was a common conception of Central ponies. Fluttershy leaned her head on to the cold bus window and observed the towers started to get smaller and smaller in the distance. Gray building began to approach as the bus headed towards the Cloud making District. Upon passing into the district the driver suddenly bellowed, "One more stop! and we are off to Flight Camp!" The announcement was met with loud cheers.

Fluttershy sighed and added a soft sarcastic, "yay"

As the gray houses came closer the sky seemed to dim and a dark fog enveloped the bus. The glimmering ice bricks gave way to normal cloud roads which made for a bumpier ride. Dilapidated cloud-houses loomed around them as some saw cloud-homeless pegasai sleeping on the curbs. They passed a massive gray cloud factory with large smoke stacks that billowed dark clouds. Fluttershy jumped in her seat as large echoing booms of thunder that seemed to come from deep within the immense building. Along the side of the road she could see a stream of rainbow water flowed from the factory.

"Ack! why are we going here?! Are we getting some more lightning bolts to get the bus charged up?" one of the pegasi yelled loudly.

"Yeah what are we doing at this fog hole?!" yelled another pony.

All around voices echoed similar complaints in an endless white-noise of discontent. Fluttershy ignored them as she continued to look out towards this new world that she was not accustom to. A low-lying fog seemed to hover in this area. Wind-sweepers were not brought here often enough to make sure that the air remained clear.

Through one of the open windows a small mist of fog flowed into the bus. Fluttershy closed her eyes as she smelled the slight scent of rain. When she opened her eyes again she noticed the rainbow river was literally right along-side the bus. The colors were so vibrant as it continued flowed down the ditch and yet it didn't mix. Every single color remained in many separate bold bars. Fluttershy began to day-dream as she watched the colors moved slowly not like a babbling torrent of water but gracefully like a passing cloud in the sky. The day wore on for what seemed a couple of hours until the bus stopped abruptly and Fluttershy heard the bus door open.

"I love you honey... don't forget our promise." a sweet voice spoke from edge of the bus doors.

"Ah! Don't worry about it mom! I got this!" a squeaky cracking voice yelped back in confidence.

"I know you'll do your best. Stay out of trouble!" the mother yelled out as hoof-steps echoed on the bus stairs.

"Alright enough of the mish-mash! we got a schedule to keep! come in and find a seat!" The driver groaned impatiently. Fluttershy's ears perked up in surprise by the driver's changed demeanor.

"Alright, alright, bud don't get your feathers in a ruffle...jeez!" the squeaky voice spoke back.With a disapproving grunt the driver shut the door. It was followed by a little yelp from the newcomer, "Ouch! Watch it! that's my tail!"
"Should have moved faster! Damn factory ponies." The driver grumbled as he began to drive again.

Fluttershy couldn't see behind her chair and stood up to see what all the fuss was about. A small filly, smaller than her stood in the middle of the bus as she did. She had a blue coat and deep cerise eyes. But all that didn't stand out as much as her brilliant prismatic mane. Fluttershy couldn't help but stare at the filly cautiously behind the back of the chair. The blue filly started to walk down the bus as the others started moving towards the edges of their seats so that she couldn't find a spot. All around her the ponies spoke as they denied her a seat.

"Taken!"

"Sorry don't want to get rainbow all over me!"

"Don't you have some clouds to make?"

"Are you here to charge the bus?"

"Who let this cloud-pusher on?"

With all the harsh words filly's eyes filled with anger yelled out openly to the entire bus, "Whatever! I don't care.... you can have your seats!"

Although she kept her head held high Fluttershy could see the smallest bit of hurt on her face. She kept on walking until she realized she reached the end of the bus right across from Fluttershy's seat. The filly snorted as she turned around and stood in a proud composure in the back of the bus.

Fluttershy glanced over to the pony that continued to face forward as the bus bobbed up and down the turbulent cloud streets. The fillies mane was so brilliant and yet it was frizzy and unkempt. Her lashes were straight and it was pretty safe to assume it had never seen a curler in its life. A large bump came up as she yelped softly and almost lost her balance. But as quickly as the bump came, so did the filly regained her strong posture. Fluttershy saw and knew what it felt to have the smallest wells of moisture collect on the edges of the rainbow maned pony's eyes and her mouth quivering softly holding back her distress. It was too much for Fluttershy to bear.

"Um... excuse me?" Fluttershy asked softly as her mane muffled her voice.

The blue filly continued to look forward obviously not hearing her.

Fluttershy moved her mane out of the way and spoke with more force, "Excuse me?...."

The blue filly tensed slightly but didn't move as she spoke through gritted teeth, "What? am I in your space now? sorry pal... I can't just disappear for you."

"No... that's not what I meant... " Fluttershy recoiled in defeat but continued to look at her as a long silence fell between them.

A spark of irritation glinted on the blue fillies eyes as she looked at Fluttershy asked angrily, "Then what?!... What do you want?! You got a problem with me? Because I can knock that goofy mane cut of your head if I wanted!"

Some of the fillies around them made cat calls in lieu of the little stand-off. But it was just more white noise among the massive chattering in the background.

" No... I.. I was just wondering if you wanted a seat... that's all" Fluttershy reassured as she forced herself to stare at the angry pony and slowly took her saddle bag off the empty seat next to her.

"Oh.... I.. uh" anger melted away as the young pegasus's small flaring wings slowly folded to her side. Her expression softened and she looked down in embarrassment and approached the seat. She proceeded to plop herself on to the chair and looked on towards the front of the bus. Her head sank below her shoulders and her mane covered her face and a single tear dripped down her face.

She whispered softly, "Thank you."

Fluttershy looked away in respect to the filly and uttered, "You're welcome..."

Another awkward silence went on as Fluttershy felt butterflies in her stomach. She had no idea what to do now. This wild pony is next to her and who knows if she will still make good on her threat to "knock her goofy mane cut". In that instant, the blue pony sighed loudly and decided to break the ice. She wiped her face with her hoof hiding the tear stains on her face and turned towards Fluttershy and put a hoof out and stated in her proudest voice, "My name is Rainbow Dash! Please to meet you! What is your name?"

"Ah!" Fluttershy yelped slightly startled by the sudden jolt of energy from Rainbow. She looked at the hoof cautiously and looked at Rainbow's face which had an apologetic smile. Fluttershy shook Rainbow's hoof and spoke gently, "Oh... It's nice to meet you... Rainbow Dash... my name is Fluttershy."

"Fluttershy... hmm well you are bit jumpy... but hay! Nice to meet you too! At least somepony isn't a jerk around here... Well Fluttershy, where you from? the rain cloud factories? snow refineries? or no! the thunder shops?" , Rainbow asked in genuine curiosity as she turned her entire body towards Fluttershy in attendance.

"I-I'm from Cen-", Fluttershy held her tongue for a moment. She glanced at the obnoxious Central Cloudsdale ponies and around her and decided it was best not to tell Rainbow where she came from. "Oh...um. No where special... just going to flight camp...." Fluttershy answered as she looked down.

"I know isn't it awesome? I can do some hovering on my own but I can't wait to really fly!" Rainbow egged on as she looked outside the windows to the open blue sky above them. Fluttershy herself couldn't even put out a candle with her wings let alone hover. She wanted to stop talking about it. But deep down she also wanted to know something that she didn't rightly understand.

"Why?" Fluttershy asked blankly.

"Why what?" Rainbow asked in return.

"Why do you want to fly?" Fluttershy rephrased looking at Rainbow in curiousity.

Rainbow put her hoof under her chin, in deep in thought before she answered, "Oh... uh well... why not? That is what we do. It's our... life? Just imagine the open sky and the wind in your face! The feeling of being free? I mean, these wings aren't just here for show you know. " Rainbow challenged as she gently poked one of Fluttershy's folded wings.

Fluttershy nodded half-heartily as she dismissed Rainbow's answer with heavy sigh "I guess so... "

Rainbow looked back at her and noticed her discontent as Fluttershy looked down towards the ground.
"You guess?... Well Fluttershy... I don't know what you think you are... but you sure look like a pegasus to me..." Rainbow assuredly nodded.

Fluttershy looked up and put on the best smile she could as she spoke, "Oh! no... I meant, yes your right... I am excited... can't wait really... I'm sure it will be fun for all of us."

"There you go! Its going to be awesome! it will definitely be fun! especially since I've already made a friend!" Rainbow exclaimed happily as she looked at Fluttershy.

"Oh gosh! really? I'm sorry I could stand up if you want her.. or him to take my seat so you can be together." Fluttershy offered.

"No.. no! you feather-brain! I'm talking about you!....that is if you want to be my friend?" Rainbow asked trying her best to suppress a hopeful look.

"You want ME to be your friend?!" Fluttershy asked in surprise.

Rainbow glanced away in dismay as she mumbled, "Ah I should have known...sorr--"

"Yes!" Fluttershy squeaked as she cut off Rainbow.

"Oh?... Oh! Alright then! Okay...Shy... Can I call you that? you can call me Rainbow or um...Dashie if you like whichever really." Rainbow asked Fluttershy in excitement.

"Yes you can call me that.. Rainbow Da- I mean Dashie..." Fluttershy giggled at the sound of the nickname.

"Cool! Alright Shy!" Rainbow exclaimed as she put a small wing around Fluttershy.

Fluttershy's heart leaped as she felt the comfort of her new friend's wing upon her shoulder. In that moment it everything felt alright. It felt almost normal. In the end they were still going to flight camp, she was still the daughter of the tragic Lightning Sky, and she had no idea how to even conceive of flying. But that didn't matter for this moment. All she was now was Shy and nothing else.

"I promise, we're going to be the best of friends for life!" Rainbow added as she smiled at Fluttershy.

A small pang of pain hit Fluttershy as thoughts raced on in her mind.

I know she can't promise that. But for now... at least for now... she can.