Clay, Firefly, and Dinky walked through the forest making their way home. Clay hung back gloomily while Firefly explained the argument Clay had to Dinky. She looked back at him but said nothing. Eventually they saw the familiar and welcomed sight of Ponyville. Clay and Dinky continued walking, but Firefly hung back.
“Uh guys. I have to get home so I’m taking off.” Dinky and Clay nodded, Firefly walked up to Clay and gave him a quick kiss. “Good luck.” She whispered before taking off into the sky.
“I should be going home too. My mom’s probably worried sick about me.”
“Yeah…I guess she would be.” Dinky looked at Clay with concern.
“Are you going to be okay?” Clay hung his head.
“I don’t know Dinky…I honestly don’t know.” Dinky placed a hoof on his shoulder.
“Well if you need somepony to talk to, you know where to find me.” Clay smiled weakly.
“Thanks Dinky.” She gave him a small hug.
“It’ll be okay Clay. I promise.” She let go and began walking back home.
Clay stayed where he was for a moment. He wasn’t sure how he was going to be able to face his mother again after the way he acted. He sighed and began making his way to back home. Along the way he began picturing his mother yelling at him, and telling him to leave and never come back. He knew he wasn’t her real son what was stopping her from disowning him like Sky. The thought broke his heart as he spotted an all too familiar house. He stopped just outside the door and took a moment before opening it. Clay slowly walked in preparing for the worst.
“Mom! I’m home!” The house was silent. “Mom, are you here?” The house was still silent. Clay made his way to his mother’s bedroom and saw that she wasn’t there either. Clay was starting to get worried as he made his way to his room. He trotted to his desk and pulled out a small chest. He opened it and grabbed the feather behind his ear and placed it in the chest.
Suddenly he heard the door open and close. He left his room and made his way down the stairs. He saw his mother as he reached the bottom of the stairs. She heard his approach and looked at him, as she did he saw that her eyes were bloodshot and the fur around her face was tear stained. They looked at each other for a small period of time not sure of what to say. She took a quick glance at his back and realized that his wings were missing. She looked as though she was about to speak, but said nothing. Finally Clay took a small step towards her and looked her in the eye as best he could.
“Mom…” Clay said his voice shaking as Dash looked to him in anticipation. “Do you…still love me?” Tears began to fill his eyes as he spoke. Dash walked over and held him in the tightest hug he had ever received from her as tears fell down her face once more.
“Of course I still love you.” Dash cried as she held her son close “I could never stop loving you Clay. I don’t care if you have wings or not, you’re still my son and I love you just the way you are.” Clay let out a choked sob as Dash began to stroke his back.
“I’m sorry I said those things mom…I didn’t mean any of it.” Dash stroked the back of his head.
“I know Clay…and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the spell. I was scared that…that you would fall like you did in the tree. I wanted to make sure I knew where to find you and watch out for you.” Clay wrapped his forehooves around his mother.
“I know mom…you’ve always been there for me…I never should have said that you didn’t love me.” He pulled away and looked into her eyes “I promise I’ll never doubt that again.” Dash smiled and stroked his mane; Clay however continued to look at her disheartened.
“What’s wrong Clay?” She asked him.
“I…I…” He started crying fresh tears “I don’t deserve you mom!” He shouted before burying his head in her chest.
“What …what are you talking about?” Clay shut his eyes and continued sobbing.
“You’re too good for me mom. You’re the fastest flyer in Equestria. You’re the captain of the Wonderbolts. You saved the world twice. And…and you saved me when I was a foal. You’re a hero…you’re my hero mom. I don’t belong with you.” He looked up at her with blood shot eyes. “I…I thought that if I gave myself wings than maybe I…I could feel like your real son.” Dash looked at him dumbfounded “But no matter how hard I try I can’t ignore the fact that I’m just your adopted earth pony son…not your real son. If I had wings then everything would be right. We could live in a cloud home, you wouldn’t have to be tied to the ground because of me, and I could fly with you whenever I wanted…I wanted to do that after I told you about my wings. But then Sky came and…and…I never got chance because of that stupid fight! It’s all my fault! It’s my fault you have to live like this!” Clay was a complete wreck as he took shallow breaths and cried his eyes out. Dash was at a loss for words as she looked at him.
“Is…is that why you wanted wings so badly…to feel like you belonged with me?” Clay looked up at her.
“Do you know what it’s like to grow up with a mom who is a living legend? Do you know what it’s like to see your mother fly off knowing that you can never join her? Do you know what it’s like to know that your mother is the most awesome pony that ever lived that has proven the impossible knowing that your nothing but a plain blank flank earth pony. Who doesn’t even know where he comes from?” He took a deep breath and started again. “That’s all I ever wanted mom. To have ponies look at me and think there’s Rainbow Dash’s son, not there’s Rainbow Dash’s son that can’t fly!” He hung his head “I know you love me mom, and I love you too, but…I’m not your real son, and I never will be.” Dash tried to calm him down.
“Clay…is there anything…anything at all I can do to make you feel better?” Clay looked up at her again.
“Not unless you can make me like you mom.” Clay pushed himself away and ran up to his room locking the door. Dash simply sat where she was trying to absorb what she had been told. She began to think of all that she had accomplished in her life and realized that she did have a large reputation. She also realized how large her shadow must look to Clay.
“Rainbow you idiot.” She muttered to herself. She got up and walked up to her room feeling drained. She got in her bed and tried to sleep, but it did not come. She kept replaying the last words Clay had said to her “What am I going to do?” She muttered as she looked at the ceiling. She began rubbing her temples forcing her brain to work…and then she got an idea. “I can’t make you like me Clay…but there is something I might be able to do.” Hoping that her plan would work she shut her eyes and drifted off to sleep.