//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 Return to Rainbow Falls // Story: Scaled Heights // by Zephyr Spark //------------------------------//             Equestria’s team left the train and entered Rainbow Falls for the Equestrian Games Auditions. After waiting in line, Dash registered her team for the 11 o’ clock auditions. She looked across the open ridge. Thousands of ponies and griffons gathered in the waiting field, catching up with old rivals and gauging the new competitors. At first, few noticed the short purple dragon carrying a bow. Once a pony took notice of Spike, however, the realization spread like wildfire. Ponies looked at him with perplexed frowns or amused chuckling, all stemming from condescension.             “Rainbow Dash!” The pegasus went stiff and gave an instinctive salute at Commander Spitfire’s voice. The yellow pegasus approached the Ponyville team, accompanied by Fleetfoot and Soarin.             “At ease,” Spitfire said. Dash eased her shoulders the slightest degree. “So I see you’ve expanded your team,” Spitfire nodded at Applejack, missing the diminutive dragon. “You must be Applejack.”             AJ nodded. Spike felt insulted at being overlooked, but tried to give Spitfire the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she just hadn’t seen him yet.             “Well,” Spitfire smirked at the farm pony, “What did Dash rope you into doing for her?”             Rainbow Dash found it difficult to speak in the presence of her commander. Thankfully, Applejack answered for her.             “I’m in the hundred meter hoof sprint, weight toss, and the long distance run,” AJ said.             “Good,” Spitfire said. “If you ask me, we don’t see earth ponies enough in these contests. Usually, only pegasai or griffons. Glad to know you’re with us. It’ll be a nice change of pace.”             “Yeah!” Bulk smiled. “They’ll have to change their paces to keep up with AJ. She’s fast.”             “Bulk Biceps. Still as keen as ever I see,” Spitfire chuckled. “And Miss Fluttershy, how could I forget you?” She nodded to the pegasus.             “Hey, what’s he doing here?” Soarin pointed at Spike. Suddenly, all of them noticed the drake by their hooves.             “He’s my archer,” Rainbow Dash explained.             Spitfire’s team look baffled. Others overheard this statement, and reacted in frank surprise. Spike swallowed. Beads of uncomfortable sweat poured down his neck. Rainbow Dash put her hoof on his shoulder in a show of solidarity.             “You got a problem with that?” Despite her earlier apprehension, Dash didn’t care that she was barking at her fellow Wonderbolts. She promised Twilight to stand by Spike, and she was gonna do just that. Shocked ponies returned their attention to their teams, refusing to challenge Dash outright.             Soarin frowned. “Isn’t he that dragon who roughed up the Wonderbolts a few years back?”             “I would never,” Spike protested.             “It was in Ponyville,” Spitfire clarified. “A giant purple dragon appeared and ran amok. The Wonderbolts tried to stop him, only to get caught in the water tower like a bunch of flies.” Soarin looked away to hide his shame. “We later found out from Princess Twilight her dragon assistant grew into a giant because of his greed.”             “Oh,” Spike’s face turned down with shame. “Yeah, that was me.”             “That was an accident,” Said Rainbow Dash with a pointed expression. “And Spike’s saved Equestria almost as much as Twilight has.”             “Yes.” Fluttershy nodded, “Spike would never hurt anyone.”             “Spike?” The white-maned mare Fleetfoot frowned, trying to remember the name. “Wait, you’re the dragon who butchered the Cloudsdale anthem.” She wished she thought before blurting that out. Now, Spike looked even more embarrassed. She rushed to alleviate her words. “I mean, you saved us from that ice pillar at the Games once. Right?”             Spike’s face reddened, but he nodded.             “You’ll have to forgive Fleetfoot and Soarin,” Spitfire cast a soft glare at her teammates to silence them. “Soarin here still has nightmares about that disaster in Ponyville.”             Soarin’s face flushed crimson. “I do not!”             Spike’s ears twitched as he heard a familiar voice making its way through the crowd. A familiar white stallion edged through the crowd of ponies, leading the Crystal Empire Team to Spike. The dragon in turn greeted his former mentor in his usual admiring way.             “It’s so good to see you again, Spike,” Lightning Star bumped Spike’s fist with his hoof. “How’ve you been?”             “Pretty good I guess,” Spike shrugged. “You?”             “I’m good too. My team just wanted to come say hello. They’ve been so eager to see you.”             “Yes,” a Crystal mare beamed. “It’s so exciting. Spike the Brave and Glorious joins the Equestria Games!”             “Lightning Star,” Spitfire’s teammate Fleetfoot interrupted their celebration. Spike could have sworn Lightning’s usually cool face became red the second the mare opened her mouth. Lightning jerked around so fast that he nearly lost his balance and toppled over. His smile widened when he saw Fleetfoot.             “H-Hey there, Fleetfoot,” he said in a deeper voice than usual. “How you doing?”             “I’m fine,” she smiled. “So I take it you know Spike?”             “Of course.” He grinned. “I taught Spike archery. I’d say he’s as good as me, maybe even better.”             This caused a stir in the crowd. Even the normally stoic Spitfire looked at Spike with intrigue. Spike scratched the back of his head, embarrassed yet pleased by the compliment.             “We had an archery contest a few months ago and he almost beat me,” Lightning chuckled. “I had to work hard for that win.”             “Yeah,” Spike remembered the contest with fondness. “And what you said that day, I’ll never forget. You told me ‘The strongest people aren’t always the people who win, but the people who push forward even when they lose.’”             Fleetfoot glanced at Spike then turned her gaze to Lightning Star. In the heat of the sun, a crimson blush seemed to appear on her cheeks. Spike wondered if he said something personal to the mare.             At last, Fleetfoot nodded, “That’s really good advice.”             She turned to Spitfire, “Captain Spitfire, could you excuse Lightning Star and me? We’d like to catch up.”             “No funny business, I trust,” Spitfire raised a playful eyebrow at Lightning. “Be back in five minutes.”             The two headed to the outskirts of the field.             Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but ask, “Do those two know each other?”             “Yeah,” Spitfire said. “A while ago, the Wonderbolts did some community service at the Crystal Empire. That’s how they met.”             “What kind of community service?” Asked Spike.             “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you all the details for the sake of privacy,” she responded curtly.             At the edge of the field, out of ear-range, Lightning Star and Fleetfoot sat down in the grass beneath an old tree. She smiled at him.             “Sorry I haven’t checked in for a while,” she began.             “It’s cool. You’re a Wonderbolt after all. You can’t visit everyday. My sister understands that too. She’s happy whenever you can visit too.”             “Speaking of your sister, how is she?” Fleetfoot asked.             “A lot better now, thanks.” He grinned. “The doctors say in few weeks she may be ready to walk outside again. She might even be able to come to the Games this year.”             “Lightning, that’s amazing.” She hugged him, “I’m so happy for you two.”             His mind almost went into shock. ‘Fleetfoot—hugging—me?’ His body rose several degrees as her fur pressed into his sides. ‘So soft. So fluffy.’ His brain had trouble articulating much beyond that.             “Lightning Star,” she shook him by the shoulders.             “Eh-what?”             “I said; how’s your job treating you? Still getting enough clients?”             “Job? Oh right, my job,” Lightning Star laughed. “Yeah. I’ve made enough to cover her treatments. Got a whole bunch of ponies specifically requesting me to teach them archery when word got out that I know Princess Twilight Sparkle and that Princess Celestia sent me a letter. I tell ya, teaching Spike is the best thing I’ve ever done for Equestria.”             “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize him at first. Thunder Star’s always going on and on about that little drake,” she said. She shook her head in disappointment. “I feel so bad about bringing up that time he flubbed the Cloudsdale anthem.”             “Just apologize, I’m sure he’ll forgive you.” He smiled, “You want to hear something cool? Spike took a photograph of him and me and signed it to Thunder Star. He wrote that next time he’s in the Crystal Empire, he’d come visit her. She was so excited she nearly fainted!”             “Aww,” Fleetfoot cooed. “That’s so sweet.”             “Yeah,” he smiled. “He has no idea how much this means to her. I love seeing that smile on her face. It almost makes me forget,” his voice trailed off. His smile vanished. Images of his former indulgent life haunted his mind.             Fleetfoot placed a hoof on his shoulder, “You’ve got to stop blaming yourself.”             “You know why I can’t.”             The sound of voices from the distant field carried across the wind like faint echoes. Fleetfoot tried thinking of something to say. She sighed.             “Well.” He shrugged with a weary smile, “as you say ‘we got to keep going.’ Thunder keeps telling me to listen to ‘Auntie Fleety’ and keep going.”             “Your little sister is very wise,” she chuckled. A serious expression crossed her face. She pursed her lips.             “Hey, I was wondering.” She made a gesture with her hooves. Lightning Star looked at her, wondering what she was thinking about. “Maybe, we could make it so I could visit more often, like everyday?”             “But the Wonderbolts need you in Cloudsdale,” Lightning said. “And Thunder’s in no shape to travel.”             “I’m sure I could work out something with Spitfire. And if I couldn’t, well, the Wonderbolts could get along without me,” she shrugged. “I could help at the Crystal Empire weather management, or teach flying lessons to fillies. We could visit Thunder Star everyday. Then when she got better, we could finally.” She twiddled the tips of her hoofs, “You know?”             “Fleetfoot. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’ve helped me and my sister through some hard times, showed me how to use my gifts for good. If you hadn’t recommended me, I wouldn’t be the Crystal Empire’s archer. I know how I feel about you. But.” His eyes grew watery. “You deserve so much better than me. I couldn’t support you. And if anyone ever figured out who I used to be—.”             “Stop it.” Fleetfoot scowled, “That’s your problem; you only see the bad part of yourself.”             “I guess it’s too easy at times,” he said. “I’m sorry, but I’m no good for you.”             “I wish you could see yourself as I see you, as Spike and Thunder Star see you. Then maybe you could—” Spitfire’s voice called Fleetfoot from the field, interrupting her. With a sigh, she rose to her hoofs, “I’m going back. Are you coming?”             “Go on ahead.” He lay against the tree trunk. “I think I want to be alone for a bit.”             “How long?”             He shrugged. “I don’t know.”             “There’s no rule against it.” The judge’s annoyed eyes glared at the Fillydelphia archer, Silver Shine. “Dragons aren’t forbidden from participating in the Games.”             “But it’s never been done before,” the silver blue stallion frowned.             “Silver Shine, the first obstacle course rounds are about to start, I don’t have time for this bigotry.”             “I’m not trying to be a bigot,” Silver Shine scowled. “I just want to know why this year?”             “You have some objection? Then take it up with Ponyville.” The judge headed off to the obstacle course.             Silver grumbled under his breath as he made his way to his team. "These young ponies didn’t have any respect for their elders." The long walk felt harder, and heavier than usual. An unrelenting sore plagued his throat. “What am I even going to do after this year?” He wondered. “I guess I’ll have more time for my archery range. Maybe I can open up another in Equestria. That’s of course, assuming there’s anywhere I haven’t already.”             The sound of his teammates calling to him tore him away from his thoughts             “Silver Shine, they just finished judging the first twenty archers. I watched the dragon like you asked.”             “And?”             “That dragon beat everyone. Some folks are saying he just might be faster than you and Lightning Star.”             Silver’s eyes widened. “I’d been planning this comeback for years. It was supposed to be my triumph. My last year in the Games, when I’d take back my archery record from Lightning.” He felt older than usual. His eyes turned to the clouds in the sky, crossing in their eternal journey into the horizon.             “First, the kids move out, then Lightning Star takes my archery record, then Velvet Shine passes away, I become a grandpa, my archery range business expands, and then I’m told this’ll be my last year in the Games.” He almost chuckled. “Funny how much things change in just a few years. And it’ll only continue to change with no end. Almost doesn’t seem fair.”             “Silver Shine?” His companion stared at Silver’s pensive face.             “I’m fine,” Silver said. “I’m not about to let these young folk beat me.”             “What about the dragon?”             Silver Shine sighed. “What are the other teams saying?”             “Some of the Griffonstone teams don’t want him playing. Probably cause his skills scare them. The Wonderbolt Soarin doesn’t like him either. Mentioned an incident where the dragon grew big and terrorized Ponyville.”             “What?” Silver’s mouth dropped. “This thing terrorized a town and they’re letting him compete?”             “He said it was an accident.”             “Whenever dragons go crazy, we end up paying for it.” Silver felt a familiar ache in his heart. “How many more ponies have to get hurt before somebody gets them under control?”             “Silv,” his companion scowled. “You’re sounding like a supremacist.”             Silver’s face flushed red with embarrassment.             “I’d never support violence on another species, even dragons. Forgive me.” He bowed his head. “I’m just frustrated that they can always use that ‘it’s not their fault’ excuse.”             “I understand.” His teammate’s expression softened. “But that dragon didn’t mean to hurt your wife.”             “I wish I could agree,” Silver Shine admitted with a sigh.             “Anyways,” the stallion said. “The Baltimare teams have split opinions about him. Can’t say how they’ll react. Regardless, Ponyville’s probably going to qualify for the Games, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”             “No point in worrying,” Silver said as he inspected his bow. “What’s going to happen will happen. No sense worrying about what we can’t control. Let’s just focus on what we can do.”             Silver Shine headed to the archery range to wait for his audition. On the way, He ran into the archer of another Fillydelphia team, a stallion named Yellow Bolt. Silver tried to ignore the loudmouthed caramel-brown stallion, as he taunted the older stallion. Forty years in the Games had given Silver impressive focus to ignore outside distractions. Nonetheless, Yellow Bolt was an archer. He knew how to hit a distant target. A few of his comments managed to reach Silver’s ear.             “I hear this is your last year, oldtimer. How’s it feel to be obsolete? After these Games, your team's gonna need to replace you with a new, younger model. Must hurt.”             “I don’t know. How does it feel to have never qualified for the Games?”             “Check again, grandpa. My team just got in.” Yellow Bolt had an immense look of pride on his face.             “So then you must have been in the 11 o’ clock archery preliminary?” Silver Shine cast a sidelong glance at the stallion, “I hear everyone lost to a baby dragon.”             Yellow Bolt’s grin dropped into a frown. Silver realized he hit the nail on the head.             Silver walked past Yellow Bolt. The stallion screamed, “Well, just means he’s better than you too. It’s only natural for the talented to grow by walking over the inferior.”             Without stopping from his walk, Silver called over his shoulder, “And I’m certain he appreciates your sacrifice.”             Every nearby pony and griffon who heard the exchange laughed, while Yellow Bolt was flushed red with humiliation.             “Well just you wait.” He slammed a hoof onto the dirt. “Sooner or later, these dragons will replace all of us. You won’t find it funny then.”             Silver Shine set his face in determination. “I won’t be replaced. Not by selfish young folk, and certainly not by a filthy dragon.”             After their victory and the long ride home, the exhausted team went back to their homes and took a well-deserved nap. The next night, Rainbow Dash took her team to Sugarcube Corner to celebrate. Word of their victory spread and soon, Sugar Cube Corner overflowed with excited fans. Ponies gathered around them, asking for autographs and pictures. Rainbow Dash took countless photos with fillies, wearing hats that resembled her rainbow mane. Mares asked if they could feel Bulk’s muscles and his secret to healthy exercise. Applejack found herself surrounded by fillies wearing Stetson hats like her, and wealthy stallions offering her business contracts. Fluttershy greeted her fans for thirty minutes, before locking herself in the restroom. Dash promised to get her when the excitement died down.             But the real hero was none other than Spike. Fillies and adults alike lined up to congratulate “Robin Spike” on his overwhelming victory. Somepony in a suit and tie approached him with coupons.             “Excuse me,” the stallion said with an obsequious smile. “I represent the merchants of the marketplace. We would like to offer you discounts on any future purchases you might make with us.”             Spike twiddled his claws. “Does that mean I’m not banished anymore?”             “Banished?” Exclaimed the stallion. “You’re welcome at our stores anytime. Please forgive us if we made you think otherwise.”             An artist contracted him for a painting, and a toymaker asked permission to make toys in Spike’s likeness. Pinkie Pie beat them both to the punch when she presented Spike her masterpiece. She brought out a cake shaped like Spike, poised with a bow and arrow, and a green cape and hood.             Even ponies who steered clear of him ever since the greed incident acknowledged his success. Mayor Mare even appeared to wish Spike luck in the Games. Ponies asked for photographs, autographs, and so much that he could barely keep their requests straight, though he didn’t mind. In fact, he couldn’t help basking in their adoration. Narcissistic? Maybe, but Spike thought he earned it after all his hard work. He couldn’t believe how excited they all were for him.             Eventually the crowd cleared out for the night, Rainbow Dash retrieved Fluttershy from the restroom. Pinkie Pie and the Ponyville team sat in their booth, with Spike rubbing his belly, stuffed from the delicious feast.             “Don’t get too cozy,” Dash snickered. “We’ve got two weeks left for training, and we’re gonna use every bit of it.”             “I know, I know.” Spike nodded. “Still, this is nice. Do ponies always do this for athletes?”             “Just the cute ones,” she said. “You know, the ones so tiny you could hold them in your hoofs.”             “Gee, thanks.” Spike rolled his eyes, annoyed at her mocking his stature             “Kidding,” she chuckled. “A lot of towns like supporting their local athletes. I mean you’ve seen my fan club, right?”             “Yeah. I guess I’m just not used to the attention.”             “You’ll get used to it. Just don’t let it go to your head.”             “Yeah,” Pinkie Pie hopped in place. “We don’t need another episode where someone gets an obnoxious ago.”             “Another episode?” Fluttershy blinked. “What do you mean by that?”             “I think she means episode as an event or group of events occurring as a part of a larger sequence.” Bulk suggested. “Right, Pinkie?”             “What?” Pinkie tilted her head.             “You’re talking about an episode like an incident,” Bulk said. “Right?”             Pinkie Pie blinked and sighed, “Sure. If that’s what you unenlightened would like to think.” She grabbed a broom to sweep up the party mess.             When the group left, she grumbled, “The one time Bulk didn’t take what I said literally. So close, and yet so far.”             Pinkie Pie shrugged as she continued to clean up, sweeping up some leftover confetti and cleaning off the tables. As she readied herself for bed, her entire body froze. She knew what this meant. Her Pinkie Senses were taking over, warning her of a future danger. And this felt like a doozy.             “Oh no. What now Pinkie Sense?”             An icy shiver raced up her neck. Her hooves trembled and her left eyelid twitched. Her mouth turned dry as a desert, her mane pulsed, and an unfamiliar pain tiptoed on her heart. Then, the sensation ended.             “That can’t be good,” Pinkie whispered. “I’ve never felt like that before.”             She raced to the window and looked over Ponyville, peaceful and quiet.             “What was that?” Her hoof traced her heart. “That can’t be good. Something’s happening somewhere and I can’t tell where it is.”             She looked into the night sky, showing the first traces of stars peaking through the night canvas.             Pinkie looked down at her hoofs and scowled, “Come on Pinkie Senses, give me something else.”             A cold wave rushed through her bones, a chilling confirmation of what she feared. Whatever she predicted, it just happened. Something was about to turn over everything they worked for, and threaten their world. She could only fall into her bed, close her eyes, and wait for a dark tomorrow.