//------------------------------// // Taking a Chance // Story: Gift of Flight // by Skylas //------------------------------//         “You two have fun you hear? I can meet you back at the house.” said Sugar’s mother, sliding a finished milkshake to the center of the table the trio had sat. Red sat there, staring in near disbelief, watching her prance away quite daintily from the table.         “Yeesh, how does that mare keep up with herself… or not have brain freeze.” said Red, who peered over at Sugar. Sugar stared up at the sky, watching the faint and subtle movements that each cloud gave, even though they couldn’t move without pegasi assistance, they still shuddered and shaped themselves slightly. Sugar was pulled out of her trancelike state by a poke on the shoulder. Realizing that the treat Red had bought her was steadily melting in front of her.         “Heya, you awake in there?” queried Red, who proceeded to take a sip from her milkshake.         “Yeah, just… day dreaming.” replied Sugar, slowly gazing up at the clouds again, until Red’s hoof pressed against Sugar’s nose and slowly pushed her gaze back down.         “Alright, missy.” Red took another sip from her milkshake, “Your mother is gone now so you can tell me. Were you thinking about trying again?” Sugar slowly looked down and stuffed her mouth full of ice cream, as to try and avoid answering the question, quickly regretting it as brain freeze quickly took over.         “Ack! Oh gosh, it hurts…” Putting her head on the table, clutching her own head, secretly hoping Red would stop the line of questioning.         “Sugar.” huffed Red in a moment of rare seriousness.         “Okay fine, maybe.” Sugar quietly replied, keeping her face buried in her forehooves.         “Sugar…” Red slowly peered into Sugar’s eyes.         “Yes! Okay!? I wanted to try. Is that what you wanted?” Sugar grumbled, feeling now more than ever wanting to bury her face in the ice cream.         “Yes.” replied Red with a smirk, before she finished her milkshake with a slow but consistent pace, smiling as she tugged Sugar away gently. Sugar gave a soft yelp as she was tugged away, quickly matching pace with Red instead of being dragged.         “Alright. Where are we going now Red?” Sugar questioned, peering over at her friend with a bit of drag in her voice.          “Up.” stated Red, before grasping Sugar underneath her forelegs and taking off, taking Sugar with her.         “RED! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO WARN ME WHEN YOU’RE GOING TO DO THIS!” screamed Sugar, quickly losing control of her breath and huffing, wiggling. As they drifted over the layer of clouds beneath them and went over the ground, vertigo slammed through her skull quicker than lightning. Losing her fight, fainting and becoming limp in Red’s forehooves. A quiet lull had taken over Sugar’s mind, she felt as if she was drifting slowly through the sky, much like in many of her dreams. Feeling her wings slowly stretch outwards and catch the wind, feeling so real in her dream, gliding. Perhaps it wasn’t flight, but she dreamed she could perfect it.         “Sugar!” shouted Red, which quickly snapped Sugar back to reality, looking about, feeling her wings catching the wind, despite still being carried by Red, “I need you to focus, okay? I’m trying to help. Remember what I told you. Breathe.” Red’s voice soothed Sugar’s mind. Sugar peered down, giving a slight nod, noticing they were circling a thick blanket of clouds, and giving a soft sigh of relief.         “Alright, keep your pose, it’s perfect. Like a super pony right?” Red directed, reaching down and posing out Sugar’s forehooves for her, and slowly circling around the edge of the massive cloud. “Don’t look down again.” Red’s hoof snapped to Sugar’s chin, pushing her head up. The pair drifted over ground again, then circled back over the cloud. Unbeknownst to Sugar, Red had gently removed her assistance from Sugar. Sugar’s wings taking her own weight, gliding above the clouds.         “D-Don’t let go Red! I-I need you!” cried Sugar, who hadn’t quite yet noticed.         “Too late!” replied Red with a widening grin.         “Wha-” Sugar looked above her and her eyes widened as she saw Red flying above and beside her, quickly peering down below her and watching the cloud drifting beneath her, her lungs filling with air, her wings suddenly having the natural urge to flap.         “Don’t flap! Just keep your wings steady!” coached Red from above, who couldn’t help but break out in glorified laughter, “You’re doing it Sugar! Just don’t-” Sugar’s eyes couldn’t go away from the cloud moving beneath her, staring at it in awe, almost unable to believe she was using her wings… The wings she thought useless. In the middle of Red’s sentence, she drifted over the cloud. Over land. The dizziness hitting her instantly, she heard a shout from Red, unable to hear it as white noise filled her ears. Her wings snapped to her sides, her vision fading. Then she fell.