//------------------------------//
// Early Mourning  
// Story: Shadow of a Rainbow 
// by Kracko 
//------------------------------//

	Spectra alighted onto the cloud which held the cemetery, and walked mechanically to her mother’s grave. 

She always came early in the morning, so to avoid the throngs of people obscuring her mother’s resting place. 

Cemeteries are supposed to be empty," Spectra thought before arriving at her mother's tomb.

Towering above the grave was a statue of Rainbow Dash, a hoof raised to her breast and wings splayed wide. The statue had its gaze fixed on Spectra, and she likewise returned the stare. Spectra's look was cold, colder than the stone of the effigy itself. Spectra leaned down and dropped roses on the grave. She stared at the statue one last time turning around. Halfway through her turn, she stopped, noticing a dandelion mare approaching the grave. She too dropped roses to the cloud, and then froze when she noticed Spectra staring at her with large, rosy eyes.

“Oh, Spectra," Angelwing said, "I didn't see you there, I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Just like her mother, thought Spectra, “No, no, you’re fine, I just didn’t expect to see you here, Angel.” 

Angelwing was Fluttershy’s daughter, and it was plain to see. Her shyness, her coat, and even her voice was reminiscent of Fluttershy.  Spectra had always identified with Fluttershy, and had wished she could recede into the background as easily as she could. However, being Rainbow Dash’s only daughter, she was always under scrutiny and was never left alone except on her early morning excursions to her mother’s grave. 

“What brings you here, Angel?” Spectra asked, “I never ever see you anywhere but school.”

“Well, I just felt horrible seeing all these flowers and not one of them mine!” Angelwing said, “I felt as though I needed to pay my respects, but I never had the chance to.”
“Thank you,” Spectra said, “it’s always nice to see another payment added to the bank.” Angelwing recoiled back and prodded the ground with her front hoof. Spectra noticed this and tried to salvage her feelings.

“Of course,” she said, “none of their deposits were as meaningful as yours, Angel.” Spectra smiled, and Angelwing took notice (Spectra rarely ever smiled).

“Well, Spectra, there is another reason I came out here today,” Angelwing said. “I came here to let you know that you and I start flight training tomorrow.”


“Really?” Spectra moaned, she had been dreading this news. “I already know how to fly just fine, thank you.”

“Yes, yes, I know,” Angelwing said, “but you know as well as I do that we all have to do flight training, because it includes a mandatory year of weather control training. Besides, you should do just fine being Rainbow Dash's---"

Spectra glared at Angelwing, as though she had cursed her name.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry, Spectra! I didn't mean it that way!" Angelwing stuttered. Spectra eventually broke her gaze, and turned towards the statue. 

"I know," Spectra grunted, "It's not your problem, don't worry about it."

Rainbow Dash had accomplished many things in her lifetime, many of which occurred during flight training. One of which was the notorious Sonic Rainboom, which captured the attention of her instructors and headmasters. They payed close attention to her and always selected her as the Cloudsdale Flight School representative in the Great Filly Flight Challenge. A total of ten Equestrian record medals had been awarded in the history of the competition. Rainbow Dash took home seven. 

When Rainbow Dash bore Spectra, the Cloudsdale media could not have been more excited. They rambled daily about how Dash’s genes would pass into her daughter, about how Spectra would be taught by the best flyer in Equestria, and especially about what colt was lucky enough to land Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy was invited to the talk shows multiple times, but she refused to appear publicly. Upon Dash’s death, the conversations changed their focus to Spectra, the "heir to Dash's throne." Spectra was too young to tune in to these shows, and perhaps,  she thought, it was for the better.

Spectra didn't want to think about her mother right now, especially in front of Angelwing.

“Um, Spectra?” Angelwing muttered. “Are you OK?” Spectra realized that she hadn't spoken for the past few minutes.

“Er, yes,” Spectra said, “I’m just...fine. I just...I don’t...I really---”

“Don’t want to go to flight training tomorrow?” Angelwing said.

“Yeah,” Spectra said, holding her head down, "That sounds about right."

“Well, Spectra,” Angelwing said, “see you tomorrow morning?” Spectra looked at her friend and gave a half-hearted nod.

“I suppose I have no choice,” Spectra said, “I just hope there isn’t a red carpet leading to the front door for me. Goodbye, Angel.” Spectra said as she jumped from the cloud. Angelwing watched her friend slowly descend into the clouds until she vanished.

“Goodbye, Spectra,” Angelwing said before turning around and taking off, disappearing into the fog.