//------------------------------// // Flying With Questions? // Story: Clockwork Wings // by Aphotic //------------------------------// It's been at least an hour. I sat enduringly waiting for Twilight to finish her calibrations to the animator crystal. She worked tediously, making subtle changes to the output of its animation abilities. Every bantam adjustment she made the crystal spurted an electrical pulse that ruffled my coat. Every jolt of energy caused the wings to twitch and jut out in what seemed like pain. Somehow, an almost inaudible cry sounded from the crystal as Twilight made the final tweaks. Twilight let out a sigh of relief as she rubbed her head, "Finally, I think that should work Fluttershy!" She said with a hint of pride. "Thank you Twilight, but um, what did you do?" I asked with genuine interest. You could never truly predict what Twilight can, or will do, with magic. So it's best to be attentive and try to understand her tests. "I adjusted the crystals radial output by reflecting its energy off the magnets in the machine. This way the wings will be more intuitive to your actions and will learn," She said fleetly, I barely understood a word but I nodded in agreement with her logic. "Learn? How can wings learn?" Rainbow Dash asked with a confused look. "Easy!" Twilight cracked' "The crystal adapts to the physical output of Fluttershy. The wings didn't know how much force it would take to lift, and or keep, Fluttershy up in the air before. So if I'm correct the wings will be able to sense Fluttershy's physical capabilities and adapt their own output. Now, Fluttershy will be able to fly with the same ease as before!” Twilight finished with a slight groan. Rainbow Dash and I just looked at each other and shrugged shoulders, we didn't fully understand but we pretended to. "Well now that the lecture is over lets go outside and start this lesson!" Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically as she put on a pair of flashy, jet black sun glasses. She jumped up and dashed out of the hangar bay into the vast, blue ocean of a sky. A vivid rainbow trail followed her through the cloudless sky. I watched in awe at as she danced, flipped and rolled in an intense display of cunning and skill. I trotted out of the hangar, letting the sun bathe me in its alleviating rays. My wings shook with anticipation, waiting impatiently for a chance to fly with Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash eventually finished her brilliant display and gracefully landed before me. Her hooves planted themselves firmly into the ground as she landed, "Now what did you learn from that!" She asked, looking at me with a disquisative look. I thought for a moment before speaking, "Lots of control," I said without confidence. "Right!" Rainbow Dash blurted with joy. The sound of being correct dissipated my worries and I continued. "Spins, dives, and loops," "Correct!" "And passion," "Awesome! Now that you know the elements of a good flight, let’s see it!" Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically. I settled back a little, the memory of my previous attempt was still vivid in my mind. I became discomposed and froze in my spot. My wings grasped my sides with a rough, unchained grip. My anxiety to fly seemed to put Rainbow Dash into a disposition as a look of impatience began to shimmer in her eyes. I could sense Rainbow Dash's impatience so I recomposed myself as best I could. My legs tremble beneath me, my wings airily rose from their recumbent pose and readied for flight. "Alright, here I g-go!" I stammered my words; fear was still present in my now ached joints. They were cold, unprepared for the flight, and concerned with what may be awaiting them. I bolstered back onto my hind legs, grinding my hooves deeper into the cushioned grass below me. I breathed deeply through my nostrils, letting a blistering smog flow from them as I let it out. Then, in an abashed manner, I took off, keeping my eyes almost glued shut. My wings chattered vibrantly as the gears pulsated within the chassis. I felt the subtle hum of the gears, a cool wind flowed through me hair. I eventually cracked one eye enough to see that I was flying. I opened both my eyes, they were wide with excitement, regaled by the fact that I was flying. "I-I'm flying? I'm flying!" I screamed with a tear welling in my eye. I felt as if I wasn't a freak, like I was again a normal Pegasus. A normal pony again welcome amongst my kind, un-branded almost. I continued to fly at an abiding pace, enjoying this unbound feeling overcoming me. Hoots and hollers came from bellow; I looked down to see Twilight and Rainbow Dash cheering. They looked absolutely jubilant, the fact I'm flying again seemed to bring joy to everyone. Though it may also be they prided themselves in their own little part in my accomplishments. I made a few loops around the opening in the trees before bringing myself back down. I carefully motioned myself towards the ground, moving only by inches until my hooves were securely on the ground before me. Rainbow Dash rushed over to me, "Fluttershy! You did it, you can fly again!" She squeaked with hinted elation. She briskly covered the ground between. She slammed into me and hugged me firmly. Twilight galloped over to us also and crashed into us. We all toppled over each other, sending ourselves into a flail of limbs as we drifted into the hangar. We quickly came to a standstill, slowly rising and dusting off our coats off we enjoyed a heart filled laugh. Corkscrew heard the commotion and fleetly found his way back into the hangar. He had a cracked grin on his face but it was dismirched by his worry, "Are you girls alright?" He asked in a caring tone. "Yeah we're cool, just a small spill is all!" Rainbow Dash replied, smiling carelessly as she did. "I’d say we're all ok, what about you Fluttershy?" Twilight asked. "Yes, I'm good," I answered softly. Corkscrew, now worry free, waltz over to me and hoisted me up. He had a helpful expression adorning his smug attitude as he helped me regain myself. Looking at him and at my friends brought up some unanswered questions. Thoughts barreled through my head as the adrenaline finally wore off. How did Corkscrew know Twilight and Rainbow Dash? How is he alive? How did he get those wings on himself? These questions finally arose from the depth of my mind. The anticipation to ask him was killing me so I decided to finally ask. "So yeah, it's this doctor guy that tra....." "How do you know my friends?!" I spat, cutting Corkscrew off. "You want this one Dash or should I?" Twilight asked. "I think we should let Corkscrew handle that!" Rainbow Dash said in a conceited tone. "Ha well then I'll do the short version," Corkscrew said as he took a seat on his decrepit, leather stool. "Go on, take a seat it's a good story," we followed his command and rested were we once stood. "Good, now I think was about eight years ago.......I regained consciousness half way through the plummet to my demise. I remember looking down and seeing birds wistfully flying away from me. The trees branches looked bare, stripped of leaves in the desolate autumn season. Wind buffeted my face as my descent quickly moved to its close. I closed my eyes and accepted the inevitable as I broke through the broad branches of the yew trees spotting the area. The branches clawed their way through my soft, unprotected hide, shattering my bones and battering my body. I slammed into the slick, muck like layer of grime beneath the trees. The impact was so substantial it sent me back into unconsciousness. I’d have to guess after that I awoke to Twilights father standing over me in their house a few hours later. I had a light, but reliable stitching covering over all my wounds. I looked around for a brief moment to see Rainbow Dash's mother standing to my right. She had that look, a look only a mother could have, a look of true despair. I could tell she was frightened by the sight of me, a disgusting brand. I paid no mind to it though; the pain was too intense and prevented me from doing much else. Twilight’s father had made, well, my wings in the time I was unconscious. They were quickly but accurately made. He picked them up with a speckle of magic, but that’s all I remember from then. Another rough guess is that I woke up a few days later. Both Twilight and Dashy here were by my bedside." "I remember that, I was actually quiet terrified of how you looked," Twilight said with some strain. "Yeah, it was pretty bad!" Rainbow Dash said in agreement. "Ha, anyways they stayed by my side through all of my recovery. Whether it was helping me up, or helping me re-learn how to fly they were there. I owed my life to them and their parents so I stuck with the families until about 3 years ago. I left because I was putting the families in too much danger, being a brand with clockwork wings attracts attention. Mostly unwanted attention from the URCF. Although I left Twilight and Dashy here still visited me and kept me company. It's a nice, easy paced life with wonderful friends, so no complaints here!" He said joyfully. He chuckled softly to himself as he slouched down in his stool. I couldn't help but smile at Corkscrews arrive display nobility. He felt he owed his life to them and still feels that way. It's an honorable and brave thing that I truly admired, that I wished I could be like. That I wished I could accept my brand, to accept myself no matter what happens. No matter who or what I may become or already are.