//------------------------------// // Breaking Clouds // Story: Clockwork Wings // by Aphotic //------------------------------// It's was early in the morning now, I watched as the sun climbed it's way into the sky. I listened as the birds buoyantly hummed outside the hangar bay along with other waking critters. I shot up in my bed, hoping to see if my friends were still here with me. Looking around all I gathered was that Rainbow Dash and Twilight had left sometime last night. There was a patch charred dirt in the center of a bantam ditch near Corkscrew's stool. I slouched down and sighed softly, letting a tear dive down onto my lap. But, my sadness was quickly ended as the blatant sound of a steam ship echoed throughout the hangar. I listened closer and noticed something. It was a hushed scream and it almost sounded as if somepony was cheering. The noise quickly became more audible, "Whoo-Hooo, wait, oh sh..!" the pony screamed as they tore through the hangar wall. Chunks of rusted steel lining shattered off the wall while some bended back into a wave like position. The unknown pony punched into the ground, leaving a large divot where they crashed. I froze in fear, waiting for this pony to move or show signs of life. A stressed grunt was muffled by the sound of broken gears fighting for space. I continued to watch intently as the pony strenuously rose from the scene of their crash. The thick haze of dust settling around them made it hard to identify who it was. Eventually, the pony was on all fours and stretching out their possibly kinked joints. I noticed they pony was shaking out their hind legs before they proceed out of the dust cloud. It casually walked out of the cloud and found their way over to me. I was relieved of my anxiety when I saw it was Corkscrew, "Oh my, are you alright?" I asked worriedly. "Oh yeah, I've done it at least once before!" He said happily. I again was confused be his naturally jubilant nature but disregarded it for now. I noticed Corkscrew had a glimmer of excitement in his eyes as he continued to stare at me. I blushed as he got closer and ducked my head, letting my hair become a canvas over my face. I soon felt sense of curiosity come over me because usually Corkscrew wasn't this excited. I managed to move my hair over enough to see him, "Um, why are you so excited?" I asked softly. "Finally! Well I never tested walking on clouds until ten minutes ago. You know the thing we lost with our wings, anyway I tested it and it worked! We can go live in the clouds again, we have a home!" He finished with great enthusiasm. My eyes widened with the thought of going home, but it was bittersweet because I knew I, or we, wouldn't be accepted. We could never be accepted for we have been branded, forever cast out, forever lost to society. Yet, I managed to smile and hug Corkscrew, I embraced him thankfully. Corkscrew wrapped his arms around me too, I heard a subtle sniffling noise and felt a cold drop slither down my neck. It was a short occurrence though as Corkscrew lifted me out of bed. I grasped his sides tighter as he began to shake, as if trying to get me off. "Fluttershy," Corkscrew said with his face settled in my chest. "Yes?" I replied still blushing from all these close encounters. "I can't put you down for some reason," He said sternly. I realized I was gripping his sides to tight for him to release me. I loosened my grip just enough for him to gently lower me to the ground. I wiggled my hooves a little until I felt the cool touch of the dirt. He let go of me and bounded backwards as I set all of my hooves on the ground. I watched as he galloped out of the hangar and take off into the sky. I gasped and began to yell, "W-wait!" but I did it to weakly. I realized he couldn't hear me so I galloped as fast as I could out of the hangar. I finally made it out of the hangar, the sun speckled the dew adorning the leaves of the maples outside the hangar. I watched the beautiful spectacle of shimmering trees and the birds dancing through them. It distracted me for a few moments but I quickly broke back into reality. Remembering the direction Corkscrew flew off in. I readied myself, crouching back on my hind legs. My wings shot from their spot of rest and shivered with the intention of flying. I took in a deep breath and let it out forcefully as I, again without much grace, flew into the sky. I wobbled a little, doing a few barrel rolls as I catapulted myself to a hole in the clouds. I quickly approached the clouds, shutting my eyes before crashing through them. "Yeah Fluttershy, your doing it, your flying! Corkscrew yelled. I opened my eyes and saw the sun blazing brightly before me. A cracked smile came across my face at it's glorious sight. I climbed higher into the sky before coming to a halt. I breathed deeply qnd with heavy exasperation as joy and excitement overwhelmed me. I was flying, I was home, I was free. I searched around, looking for a tan pony resting on a cushy cloud. Icontinued my search for a while before seeing Corkscrew doing a reverse stroke on a nimbus. I hastily flew over to his low flying cloud and crashed next to him. I rebounded off the cloud and bounced around, quickly shooting up and down on the nimbus. On the last bound I flipped over myself, falling onto Corkscrew. We laughed nervously as our noses touched, rubbing gently together. I noticed his cheeks turned to a cherry color, as we laid there in each other company. but he eventually pulled me off of him. My heart was racing, expecting a kiss or something from that moment. Corkscrew sat up in his spot and gazed at me, "So, lets test your wings! Try to keep up!" He said before dashing off through a cloud. I chuckled a quietly to myself before following him through the hole he made. I watched as he performed the same spectacle that Rainbow Dash had done not even a day ago. His gears sounded like that of a steam ship as he draped through layer after layer of clouds. A golden hue followed him like Rainbow Dashes tail streaks. I felt like a child compared to Corkscrew and Dash‘s flight abilities. Eventually he finished his display and darted over to me, flying by with such force that the draft behind him sent me into a spiral. I stopped abruptly as hoof had grabbed my leg firmly. The scenery around me was blurred, hazy almost. I shook my head and turned around to see Corkscrew smiling at me. "Lets try something easy, huh? how 'bout jumping, ever hear that song Life’s Like a Jump rope, I think it‘s about jumping?" Corkscrew said as he got his face pressed up against mine. "Uh, jumping sounds wonderful and no, I've never heard it," I replied softly. Corkscrew just laughed as he began to jump on the cushioned cloud. I followed suit and began to as well. We looked at each other with a glimmer of hope in our eyes. My cheeks began to turn a rose color as I chuckled at the acute flips he did. I did a few back flips as well, barrel rolling and falling on my back only to be rebound back onto my hooves. We continued these playful games and actions until the sun rose high in the sky. We now sat upon a slowly dissipating cloud. watching a stars slowly began to appear over a colored horizon. The pink, purple and golden lining of the clouds sent a feeling of relaxation and love over me. I laid on Corkscrews chest, I felt his heart beat slowly grow faster as he held me tighter. The same spell must have overtaken his body as it did mine. He took in an ample amount of air before speaking, "Hey Fluttershy?" He asked. "Yes?" I replied as Corkscrew sat up, he had relaxed so long that his body tremble in his attempts. "You think we would have ever me if we didn't get branded?" He asked as he looked down at me with curiosity in his glare. "Why?" "Well to be honest I've never had such good company before. Hell, no pony ever appreciated my work before or understood my trifles. Basically, meeting you was the best thing that happened to me in a long time!" I removed myself from his chest, motioning myself next him,” I feel the same, I-I was never truly treated like a pony before……My, well, a-abilities with people and flight didn't bring ponies to me. B-but you, you treated me with respect and genuine kindness. I-I-I....." I couldn't finish, I broke down again, falling down onto his chest. I felt a hoof gently hold my cheek and raise my head. My eyes were watery and tears were cascading down my face. Corkscrew looked at me deeply, using his other hoof to wipe the tears away. I continued to sniffle and groan, "C-Corksc...." I was cut off. Corkscrew silenced me when he moved his head down and kissed me. I couldn’t think so I closed my eyes, accepting his gift, accepting the only thing I wanted tonight.