My breath left me. There were clouds everywhere. I blazed my way through fields of mist, relishing the wind in my mane. My limbs were petite. My muscles were still developing, and yet I could outfly cannonballs. I just knew I could. My gasps turned to laughter and my laughter turned to screams. I spun loops and corkscrews and barrel rolls.
As I dove through the clouds to increase my velocity, I heard a series of cruel laughter down below. I pivoted about and squinted through the wispy white streams. There, seated on a stretch of alabaster mist, were three pegasus foals. Two colts were leering at a dainty filly with the prettiest pink mane I had ever seen. My heart was leaping out of my chest. She was so sweet, so innocent, and just what were those jerks doing to her?! Why, I oughta...
In a blazing streak, I plummeted. The colts stopped laughing just long enough to lift their heads and look in every direction for the source of the thunder. I was about to bring it to them. With a clap of noise, my hooves touched the cloudtop. I leaned forward, sneering as I formed a living wedge between the bullies and the quietly shivering filly.
"Leave her alone!" I shouted. A lucid, adult part of me couldn't help but realize how adorable the desperate attempt at ferocity shouted, but her heart was beating and was becoming my heart and was filling me with her rage and I glared at the two.
"Ooooh!" the older cooed and sneered at me. "What are you gonna do, 'Rainbow Crash?'"
"Keep making fun of her and find out!" I exclaimed, my voice cracking. I backtrotted to stand closer to the dainty filly.
"You think you're such a big shot?" the larger colt asked, glaring my way. "Why don't you prove it?"
Without thinking, I gave a devilish smirk and said, "What do you have in mind?"
The two started beating their wings as they spat, "You, us, the cyclone race course! This afternoon! You beat one of us in a race, and just maybe we'll give a flying feather about what you have to say about anypony!"
"I've got an even better idea!" I exclaimed. "I'll race both of you blockheads! And when I win, you leave her alone forever!"
"Hah! As if!"
"What's the matter? You both chicken?! BOK! Bok bok bok bok BA-KOK!"
"Fine! We'll do it!" One colt growled as they flew away.
The other hissed over his flapping wings. "We're gonna make you eat those words, 'Rainbow Crash!'" And the two laughed as they soared off into the blue horizon.
There was a tiny squeak from the yellow filly at my side. I turned and squinted at her.
"What's wrong with you?! Letting bullies treat you like that? We're Cloudsdalians! Don't you have warrior's blood?"
She blushed and looked away from me. The edges of her turquoise eyes were starting to moisten.
I bit my lip. I didn't know why, but my heart was beating faster than when I was flying loops around the clouds. "Hey, look. Chillax. Not everypony can be as fast and awesome as me. Those two guys were jerks and they shouldn't have said those things to you."
She fiddled with her hooves, gazing halfway at me from beneath a dangling lock of silken pink hair. Daintily, she nodded. I think I saw a curve to her soft lips.
"They're gonna rue the day they ever messed with you." I winked and leaned in to nuzzle her. My heart was beating even faster. Why did I care so much for this weakling? "Stick with me, girl. I'll keep you safe. I promise."
"Mmmm..." She squirms and murmurs. Her voice is like a cluster of tiny bells. "Okay..."
"What's your name, girl?"
"Fluttershy," she squeaks forth.
"Well, Fluttershy, prepare to become famous!" I winked and slapped her on the shoulder. "Ha! I'm gonna honor this upcoming race after you! I'll even let you wave the checkered flag."
"Uh... if you want me to..."
I smiled at her. The skies were a dangerous place. Fluttershy looked like she could shatter at any second, and somehow I knew that would be a bad thing. I didn't understand why she was so alone. I hated being alone. I wanted to hold her, to carry her, to... to... to marry her? I—
"You're heart is beating heavily again, Bellesmith. Is everything alright?"
"I'm quite fine, Dalton. There's nothing to be alarmed with in this sphere."
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I think I've learned some things."
"Do tell."
"The subject is from a place called Cloudsdale. However, it's different from the last sphere. This is a city built in the sky, populated by pegasi. I think this might be where she was born."
"Remarkable..."
"Also, I think she may be named 'Rainbow Crash.'"
"That doesn't exactly sound flattering, now does it?"
"I'm about—I mean... she's about to engage in a race. Maybe I can find out more..."
"We're receiving another branching stretch of energy. Another sphere is junctioning with yours. I believe there may be a common theme that you're exploring, something that can bring us closer to the present."
"You mean closer to the subject's termination?"
"Brace yourself, Belle, darling. There's another jump coming."
"Understood, Dalton. I'm good and ready."
"T-Minus three... two... one..."