A stadium in the clouds sat patiently as they awaited the show they had all payed to see, sitting in silence as they anticipated the events of the future. A faint whistle and a slight cracking was barely audible to the audience. Some began poking their hooves into their friends as they heard the telltale sound. It was about to happen, and some knew it. It was just a matter of time before the clouds would break, and the greatest Wonderbolt show ever would commence. At least, that was how it seemed to Cloudshine, a seafoam hued foal. She was ready to finally see the ones she practically worshiped right in front of her face compared to being limited by a cold, lifeless, TV screen. Her deep blue eyes were locked on where she had always seen the Wonderbolts emerge from, mouth hanging agape. She was ready for them, but not in the right place.
A thundering crack echoed from the other end of the stadium, the Wonderbolts ripping through the clouds with unfathomable speed. Without hesitation, she swiveled her head on a dime with some disappointment she hadn’t been able to watch the spectacular entrance, but overzealous that they had finally came. The smile that had grown upon her lips was one of the greatest Cloudshine could ever come to remember, making this one of the happiest moments in her life.
Streaks of Rainbow, electrified clouds, and an orange light tunnel streaked through the middle of the stadium, the three wonderbolts splitting towards the far end. With that they disappeared once more, each travelling in their own directions. A gloomy expression sat upon her face, thinking the show was already over, thinking that this had to be one of the shortest shows in the history of the Wonderbolts. Spite held strong across her thoughts as all she wanted was a real show, not some overrated flyby as they had come and done. In her mind, it was over. There was no more hope left for the ‘fools’ Cloudshine called her heroes, when out of what seemed to be thin air, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash appeared at either end of the stadium. Cloudshine glowed with excitement, forgetting all of the nasty thoughts she had held in her mind mere moments before. There was however, one little detail that almost exclusively caught her eye.
What she saw was two Wonderbolts who were headed on a straight flight path to destruction at each others hooves, a collision imminent in the very near future. Pushing her way through the stands, shoving ponies aside as she could and ducking between the legs of others, she stood against the guardrail, waving her hooves frantically.
“SCOOTALOO!” Cloudshine yelled with worry as her eyes grew wide, “Scootaloo! GO UP! You need to GO UP!”
Her eyes were locked on her idol, as her heart dropped into her stomach. In a bewildering moment that questioned everything she had ever known, Scootaloo looked deep into Cloudshine’s eyes, those deep violet eyes barely visible through her goggles. Scootaloo winked at Cloudshine, filling her with bliss, just calming her enough where she was under control of her own body. The world seemed to move in slow motion as her eyes followed Scoot with pinpoint precision up until the point of impact, when she pressed her hooves over her eyes. Or at least, what Cloudshine thought would be the point of impact. The thing was, there was no thundering crash or ponies screaming in terror, but rather cheers of elation.
Tearing her own hooves from her eyes, she became witness to one of the greatest, and never before seen, tricks in the history of the Wonderbolts. From her perspective, it looked as if both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo had infact collided, but with a grace of sorts. They were flying stationary in the middle of the stadium, the orange light path of Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash’s immaculate rainbow trail coming together with perfection as they spun in circles. What they were doing was almost rather simple, or would have been had their airspeed been considerably less. With each moment, the intensity of the light grew exponentially, getting so bright that many ponies had to cover their eyes with their very hooves. As for the Cloudshine, she stared directly into the origin of the light, uncaring for whether she went blind or not. For all she cared, she was there - and thriving in the moment.
She continued to watch, eyes always open, even as the pair of Wonderbolts shook the entire stadium with a reverberating roar. With eyes wider than ever, and pupils slowly dilating back to normal, she watched as a rainbow, infused with Scootaloo's light streaked across the midday sky, more than bright enough to see even against the sun. The Wonderbolt duo reunited at one end of the stadium with the third after their spectacular light show, this time flying right next to the railings, giving ponies high-fives as they passed along. Stretching out as far as she could, and with all of her might, Cloudshine stuck her hoof out in hopes she would get a high five from Scootaloo. Even with as far as she could reach, it was no match for the influx of ponies stacking in on top of her, her hoof hidden behind the wall of others.
Hanging her head in sheer disappointment, she began to retract her arm from the crowd, and ready to end the day right then and there. To her complete surprise, she felt a hoof tugging at her own, and thinking it was the crowd sucking her back in, she used all of her strength to pull and tug her way out.
“Hey, kid,” she heard a pony call out to her. Turning around slowly, the realization struck that it wasn’t just anypony, it was Scootaloo looking directly into her eyes. Cloudshine’s mouth dropped down, surprised that her idol would have ever taken the time to stop for her. Just as quickly as the moment had started, it had stopped - Scootaloo winked to her with a smile, and headed away with the other Wonderbolts.
After pushing and shoving her way through hundreds, maybe even thousands of ponies, Cloudshine was determined to find her. It was one of the main reasons for her even coming to the show. On the off chance she wouldn’t be able to acquire the autograph, she would likely never bathe in fear of washing Scootaloo’s essence off of her hoof. There was one flaw in her entire master plan, however, and that was actually having something to be autographed in the first place.
Raising a hoof to her face, Cloudshine scoffed, “How could I have possibly forgotten something to have her autograph?”
A deep sigh escaped her lungs as her eyes caught a glimpse of one of the many posters throughout the hallways. A perfect Image of Scootaloo with her standing and practically facing whoever would look towards it, the famous Wonderbolt logo stamped on the bottom, right under Scoot’s hooves. Perfect! She thought to herself, as she ripped down the sign, neatly rolling it as to not have any more major defects. Starting on her way to find Scootaloo, a gruff voice echoed behind her.
“Hey, kid! That’s stadium property!” an older pony with a scruffy beard yelled, walking at a fast pace that slowly escalated to a trot.
For her, this was no time to be held back by any means, and the first thing that crossed her mind was to run. Running away from a security guard, however, was easier said than done. Quickly gaining ground behind her, it was quite apparent that he trained well or has had to chase many a children around these halls. Running as fast as the hooves below her would go, she glided around corners almost as if she was drifting. Even then, with her more ‘advanced’ tactics of sliding around corners, the older pony was still able to keep up without a single hitch. Squealing as the Security pony stepped on her tail, yanking out a few strands of hair, her body kicked into overdrive. There was only one place that could offer any sanctity, and that would be safety in numbers.
Somewhere near, there was a crowd of ponies, as one would have been able to figure out based upon the incessant chatter that echoed through the marble walls. Continuing to run with the poster held loosely in her mouth, Cloudshine came upon a break in the hall; it was either she go left, or right. The crowd had become much louder than it had been in the time before, but the sound seemed to be echoing from all around her, as if the ponies she seeked refuge with were both behind her, and in both directions in front of her. There was no time to hesitate, it was either now - or be caught by the Security Pony that was chasing after her. It just so happened that the latter was not an option, so she threw her body into a full sprint heading down the left hall.
She hurriedly dashed out of the hallways and crashed into a large crowd of ponies. All of them were waving flags or holding notebooks, photos and various things she recognized as coming from the gift shop. I can’t let them get in my way, she thought to herself. She used her size to her advantage and ducked through the legs of the grownups and teenagers, and in moments pushed her way into the front of the mob, with her chance just out of hoof’s reach.
As soon as she had emerged from between the legs of the ponies who had hindered her chances to meet her idol, Scootaloo was standing a mere few feet away. Her mind and body froze, pinning her to the ground on which she stood. Ponies flocked over her, using her size to their advantage while they stepped and jumped over her. They surrounded Rainbow Dash, while she stood alone gawking at Scootaloo. It wasn’t just the ponies who had passed over her that were admiring one of the great ponies named Rainbow dash, Scootaloo acted as if she had never seen so many ponies flooding over Rainbow. With all the commotion huddled around Dash, Cloudshine could watch over her own idol without any hassle.
Cloudshine heavily hangs her head, a wave of shock sweeping over her. “I-I can’t believe it... I g-gave up my chance, and I m-messed it all up,” She stuttered aloud. Holding back tears, she broke her own will. Sulking as she walked away from who were her idols, Cloudshine faintly hears Rainbow Dash whisper something about a fan. With the shock in her body replaced with curiosity, Cloudshine slowly turns around, half expecting somepony getting an autograph from Scootaloo. Every breath is taken out of Cloudshine’s small body as her eyes lock with Scootaloo’s, the gentle mind flowing into that of her own. A minimal smile cracked upon her lips, almost telepathically taking control of Cloudshine.
Her eyes dilated, with the pupil reflecting Scootaloo’s smile and the world around her. Elation filled Cloud’s body, pinning her to the ground as Scoot skittishly approached her.
“Hey kid, you alright?” Scootaloo asked Cloudshine, her lower jaw drooping down, the corner of her eyes pinning up as she smiled.
This was the moment of truth, it was either she would take the chance, or lose it forever. “S-Scootaloo, could you s-sign a picture f-for me?” Cloudshine asked, stuttering nervously the entire time.
Scootaloo cocked her head and looked off to the side, enthralled and slightly embarrassed that somepony thought so highly of her to actually want her autograph. “Heh, sure thing kid,” she replied with a sheepish grin.
“When I grow up, I wanna be just like you!” Cloudshine exclaimed giddily to Scootaloo as she scribbled away on the photo.
“I know exactly how you feel kid... I know exactly how you feel,” Scootaloo replied, hastily tossing a glance over at Rainbow Dash. “Say, kid - what’s your name?”
Rolling her eyes back into her head, Cloudshine was barely able to keep control of herself enough to speak. “My n-name? Y-you want m-my name? I-It... My.. u-uh.. name... is uh, yeah! Cloudshine!”
“Nice name you have there kid, and here’s your picture back,” Scootaloo said to her with true sincerity. Scootaloo rolled the photo back into a neat little tube, handing it back over to the elated little pony who could barely keep herself together. Gingerly holding the autograph between her lips, Cloudshine jogged away with a bounce in her step.
“Fanks a bunsh!My frensh are gonna be shuper jelush!” Cloud called back to Scootaloo, knowing that the day she had taken, the steps she took, were giving her the greatest day in all of her life.
Once she had successfully made her way out of Scootaloo’s line of sight, she burrowed through the crowds, ducked under the grownups legs, and wriggled her way to the nearest table, even though she was surrounded by hundreds of other ponies. Gently placing the photo upon the frigid metal table, she placed once hoof near the bottom of the roll to hold it in place, and used her other hoof to iron it out flat; The message now revealed before her.
Never give up, - Scoots
Scootaloo had even taken the time to underline the never, giving it an emphasis that struck Cloudshine right at her core, as she slowly recited it aloud.
“Never give up,” She whispered to herself, “Never give up...” she whispered once again, holding the autograph to her body, smiling as if she was hugging Scootaloo herself.
Some years Later...
The years had taken their toll on many ponies, some passing on and others moving on. Some showed the detrimental signs of an aging body, while some had seemingly aged without a hitch. Cloudshine’s body held more strength than it ever had, months of non-stop training for this very day toning her body. Her turquoise mane was held in a style eerily similar to Rainbow Dash’s, although it was just the way it had always wanted to flow. Even had she ironed it to be different, it would revert back to its old ways within minutes. Today, none of that mattered. her mind reeled as she thought of everything that could come in the future based upon this single day; toy lines based off of her, foals surrounding her for an autograph, and maybe her own TV show. All of this, was dependent on how she acted, and how she would perform at the Wonderbolt Try-Outs.
Cloudshine paced back and forth on the runway, watching intently over each pony ahead of her. Taking mental notes of each mistake they made and making sure she would know how to avoid that in the skies, she chanted that same line Scootaloo had told her all those years ago.
“Never give up...” she mumbled under her breath, pacing back and forth as she dragged her hooves into the dirt. “Never give up... Never give up. You’ve come this far... J-just calm down, you got this.”
Bags hung underneath her eyes from many restless nights leading up to this day. Her eyes clenched shut as she reviewed her entire plan to show off for the Wonderbolts in her head, muttering “No!” underneath her breath every time she imagined herself failing. Her time was coming nearer with every waking moment, some ponies ahead of her performing beyond expectations, while others flopped harder than she had ever seen ponies flop before. The tightness and butterflies that took hold of her stomach made her fear she would vomit before the test even began. There was too much at stake here to mess up. She had to do this right, the very first time, or go down trying.
“Cloudshine?” the announcer called to her from the starting desk, glaring through her with an unimpressed frown.
Her eyes dilated wide with fear, and she took the first step to the rest of her life. Or so she thought she did, the only thing laying in wait for her being failure. Each step, a chance to trip and a chance to fail.
“Cloudshine, you’re up. Please go and strap yourself in,” The announcer pony looked over, raising an eyebrow.
Tearing at her every thought, and pulling at her every whim of her tangible will, her front hoof jolted forward. It took every bit of her willpower just to move one hoof forward, but she persisted, the next hoof jolting forward just as the first had. She walked slowly, and in a jerky motion to the Dizzitron. Just the sight of the machine that had broken so many cadets sent a shiver down her spine, and sent her stomach for a loop. It wasn’t much of any help to her ever weakening psychi that the Dizzitron was painted with circular lines that had the illusion of moving on their own. Taking a deep breath as Cloudshine had finally arrived just in front of the Dizzitron, she threw herself against the wooden platform, holding tight to the metal braces that would keep her from flying off in an instant.
Giving a nod to the pony standing at the controls, she clenched her eyes shut as she felt the motor whir into motion, launching her into the skies. Control of her own body was what she feared most, should she freeze as she had that very day with Scootaloo; it would all be over.
Cloudshine hung her head heavy as she meandered through the air towards the ground. She couldn’t recall any memories after she had strapped herself into the Dizzitron, whether that was a side-effect of the machine itself, or she had blocked out the memories on purpose, she wasn’t sure. Her eyes began to water as she neared the ground, the one place that she was truly destined to be. A wave of dread pulled over her body as her hooves dragged along the ground, coming to a soft rest in the middle of a grassy field.
The stalks of grass tickled at her body as they swayed back and forth in the cool Spring wind, tossing her mane gently. Tears streamed down her cheeks, as she mumbled to herself. “I’m not worth anything, I’m a f-failure and always will be...” For once in her life, she actually believed what she was saying. Her heart panged as she thought of all that could have been ahead of her; having fillies just as she once was lining up to get her autograph, flying alongside the greatest ponies in Equestrian history, even the probability of being the captain of the Wonderbolts was there. It was there, but that was long gone.
“I blew it,” she cried to herself. “I let her down, I just couldn’t do it...” Cloudshine told herself as she loathed in her own self-pity.
A pegasus came down just behind her, the swoosh of wings stopping as they came to a rest in the grass, just as she had been. “Hey kid, what’s wrong?” Scootaloo asked in the sincerest of voices, eyebrows arching as her eyes filled with care and a miniscule frown appeared upon her face.
Cloudshine hung her head heavy with shame, as the tears stained the fur on her cheeks. “I failed the Wonderbolt try-outs today. I think I’m just going to give up on everything, I couldn’t even do better than the younger ponies!”
Scootaloo looked down onto Cloudshine, reminiscing as parts of herself surfaced within Cloudshine. “You don’t really mean that,” Scootaloo chimed in, a mild sensation of giddiness present in her heart.
Cloudshine stood on all fours, her voice level rising as the anger, and disappointment took her body hold, a crack in her voice as she talked. “I do mean it! I’ll never be as good as you!” she yelled, eyes narrowed.
Scootaloo looked up towards the midday sky, a soft sigh escaping her lungs. “You’re more like me than you realize, you know that? Remember all those years ago, when you had me sign your poster?” She paused for a moment, glancing at Cloudshine whose tears had ceased to flow as she nodded her head. “Well, from that moment I knew you were special, had the talent to be whatever you wanted to be.
“Be yourself, Dash used to tell me that all the time. Looking back on it all from where we are now - I probably could have listened better,” Scootaloo finished.
Cloud’s eyelids covered most of her eye; looking to the ground with the realization of her own incompetence to stay true to herself. “I... I’m sorry, you’re right. You know, I miss her too; she seemed like a real friend.”
Scootaloo smiled, looking once again to the skies. “She was, kid. Loyal as ever, if you ask me,” pausing for a brief moment as she wrapped her hoof around Cloudshine, pulling her close. “At least I still have you, Number One Fan.”
The watched over the swaying grass fields as apple trees shook in the distance. A few loose tufts of cloud drifted through the sky, a flawless rainbow forming in the distance.
