//------------------------------// // Rainbows are Back in Style // Story: I Can Read Names in Clouds // by Yuu //------------------------------// “What are these, I don't know, coloured shadows behind you?” she asked, looking at me. “Those would be my other forms,” I said. “In this world you can see them.” “Oh,” she said. “So, how do you find the way back?” “First we need to fly higher so I can navigate,” I said, “then we move, once I find the right direction.” Rainbow nodded. “Lead on.” I flew up and gained some altitude, high enough that I could see past the nearest hills. From here I could see several towns, which were illuminated due to the number of ponies there—their spiritual forms glowed faintly in the spirit world. I looked at each of them and one soon become familiar to me. It was the town I was looking for. I pointed in the right direction for Rainbow and flew forth. As she followed me, she also left a multicoloured trail after her, which looked similar to her tail. I slowly gathered speed until I estimated our arrival in thirty to forty minutes, and Rainbow followed me without visible effort. Her trail remained in the air as far as I could see. When we reached the town I slowed down, and Rainbow caught up with me. “We’re almost there?” she asked. “Yes, I'm just looking for a better place to return to the normal world.” “Have you seen my trail?” She pointed behind her. “This is so awesome! Too bad I can't do that in the normal world.” Yes, that would be fun if she could. She was able to use the same magic as our Earth mages, but she was only at a novice level. I did bring her to the spirit world, and that kind of trip often helps mages to better understand their magic, but she needed to push herself beyond her limits. If she could use spirit magic I could force her to cross the barrier between worlds on her own. But she had an aspect of force, so... If Gracia was correct, her next level would be manipulating forces in small amounts. I could only manipulate forces indirectly, by creating elements. So I had one option: create fire and do something with it to Rainbow. I could also call for a spirit which governs forces, like a fire spirit, I guess. Despite its nature, it could be counteracted with force magic. “Rainbow, do you know any magical effects?” “Nah, I'm just a good flyer.” “I can show you something that may increase your magical ability,” I said. “It could help you, in case of conflict with the embodiment of chaos.” “Sounds good, what should I do?” “I will call for a spirit of fire,” I said. “It will heat the air around you a bit. “Your task would be to cool it by force of will.” “Do you think I can do that kind of stuff?” I needed to increase her confidence somehow, or she would surely fail. Maybe the trick with fire wasn't a particularly good idea. Gracia believed I had more control in the spirit world than in Earth. Maybe I could disrupt her regular flying abilities and make her fly with a mage’s variety of levitation? “Well, change of plans. Let's use your abilities to control forces to fly in another way,” I said. “First, let's fly up.” She nodded, and we ascended several kilometres higher. “So a bit of theory first,” I said. “On the second level of force mastery you can control forces. For example, you can control gravity and make yourself much lighter. You can also increase or decrease your speed or the speed of other objects.” “That's interesting, if I can change my weight while I’m flying then I can do some awesome tricks,” she said, smiling. “You are already in the spirit world, and you have made this trail, which means you have potential,” I said. “So please do your best. If you don’t, I will catch you.” “What do you mean you’ll catch me?” I looked at her wings, imagined ordered layers of magical molecules around them. Then I commanded them to move chaotically. She immediately dropped, losing ten meters in a second. “Hey, what are you doing?” she yelped, starting to panic. Her wings flapped frantically in the air to no effect. “See you closer to the ground,” I said, smiling as I willed the air around Rainbow to pass freely through her wings, making her fall even faster. She cried something to me, possibly something obscene, and accelerated to the ground. I followed her with my gaze, noticing that she didn't have a rainbow trail this time, and flew after her. “Reduce your weight,” I shouted at her, when I was close enough, “or your speed!” She had almost reached terminal velocity. She stopped revolving and kept her position with her head and face down, legs spread to the sides. I reminded her several times what she should do, but she couldn't slow down herself. The surface was approaching, I had maybe twenty seconds before I had to catch her.... Maybe I had to remind her about possible dangers? “Rainbow, imagine this chaotic guy came and took your ability to fly,” I shouted again. “And you can't help your friends because very soon you will hit the ground and die.” Was she actually slowing down now? No time to lose, she could crash because of me again if I didn’t stop her. I grabbed her with maybe ten seconds to spare and slowed down our descent. I also stopped meddling with the air so she could fly normally again. “I'm sorry, I wanted to help you but I nearly messed up again,” I said after putting her on the ground. Rainbow just stared at me as she caught her breath. After a minute or two, she rolled her head back, sighing. “I don't blame you,” she said. “Some parents of pegasi use similar methods to teach their foals to fly. I still don't like that I couldn't do that, though.” “Unfortunately I can't force it into you,” I said. I still wasn’t sure that she did anything, so I tried not to give her any false hope. “I was trying to create conditions that have helped others in the past.” “I understand. But let's go home now.” I repeated the same method that got us here, and transported us back to the normal world. We appeared near the stage I sang at before, and quickly found our way to the library. When we were about fifty meters away from our destination I heard someone crying inside. Rainbow ran ahead and opened the door without knocking.