The moon rose over Sweet Apple Acres as Apple Bloom rushed to the open field. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to fly. It seemed to be an impossibility – at least now since she didn’t have any wings. Apple Bloom looked up at the sky and could see a couple of crows flying in the air – they could do it with so little effort, like a pegasus. Would that be Apple Bloom soon?
She heard a commanding voice, “My student, are you ready to learn how to fly?”
It was time.
Luna appeared in Apple Bloom’s line of vision.
“Hello, Apple Bloom. And yes you will eventually learn how apparition. It is easier than it looks.”
“Hello, Luna. Ah can’t believe that tonight is the night ah learn to fly.”
“I can. There isn’t much to it unless you want to become a Wonderbolt. I would recommend going to Rainbow Dash for tips on that rather than me.”
“Heh, seems like ah really got a lot on my plate.”
“I have always wanted to learn how to generate a sonic rainboom myself. But once I give you my full powers, my flight abilities will be too weak for that – since I was born a unicorn.”
“You sure you wanna give those powers to me?”
“Yes, the benefits strongly outweigh the costs. And it’s time for me to retire the same way Tia has. It is time for me to give you your wings! Stay still.”
Luna closed her eyes and began emitting magic from her horn. Apple Bloom could have sworn that the magic was wing-shaped but maybe she was just imagining the shape.
The magic enveloped Apple Bloom and she began to levitate. Apple Bloom could feel something on her back. It felt like it was morphing. Her wings? The process was painless but felt like it was taking forever. It was definitely longer than when she was given her horn.
After another fifteen minutes.
“There we go. I believe we are done.”
Except for an unusual feeling on her back, Apple Bloom didn’t notice anything different.
“Wings are light but, believe me, they are powerful”, continued Luna.
“Ah was gonna say that ah barely know ah have wings.”
“Take a look at your reflection in the pond.”
Apple Bloom ran over to the pond and she could see a set of wings on her back. They were yellow and looked like they were made of a different material than her mane – feathers. Holy crap, was this real?
“Oh my, ah see the wings alright!”
“Now let me teach you how to use them. Stand in place.”
Apple Bloom stood in place trying to feel the wings on her back.
“Yes, my baby pegasus, get used to your wings. You will need to use them for your upcoming flight. Think of how a bird flies. That is how you will use them.”
Apple Bloom began flapping her wings – wait, how did she even do that?
“Confused?”, “asked Luna, “your wings are connected to muscles in your back. All you need to do Is move those muscles and your wings will work. Try again.”
Apple Bloom focused on her back muscles and let her wings move. She began to move her wings faster – she felt herself begin to lift off the ground. Woah, she was flying. She was actually flying. Apple Bloom felt herself lift up in the air and then shortly after, she landed.
“Ah got in the air, Luna”, said Apple Bloom with excitement, “did you see that?”
“I did”, said Luna, “excellent start, Apple Bloom!”
“Thank you for your kind words. So, how do ah move when ah fly?”
“It is the same as how you walk – except you use your wings.”
“Ooh, ah wanna try that!”
Apple Bloom focused on getting off the ground again. And up she went! She still didn’t fully understand how the wings could lift up her whole body – but pegasus magic, she guessed.
Apple Bloom felt herself going farther up in the air but it was clear she didn’t know how to go any other direction besides up and down. It didn’t feel like walking.
“Ah can’t go anywhere”, said Apple Bloom, “err.. how far up can ah go?”
“To the atmosphere, I suppose” responded Luna who was now flying by Apple Bloom’s side.
“How do ah move? Feels like nothing is happening.”
“It is simple, my child. Just move forward.”
“But what if ah fall?”
“I see that’s the problem. Don’t be afraid. You will not fall. Believe in yourself. C’mon. I’ll challenge you to a race!”
Luna dashed into the air.
Apple Bloom didn’t think she could do it. This was ridiculous. She focused her energy onto moving forward. She gasped. Was she going to plummet to her death?
But plummet she did not! Apple Bloom found herself moving forward. She gained more confidence with each movement until she realized she was flying for real.
This was incredible, thought Apple Bloom, she could see her whole farm from far above. Now it was time to find Luna. Apple Bloom moved her wings as fast as she could. Luna must have been far ahead by now.
Apple Bloom had no clue how to do a dash but she tried to see if she could detect Luna’s movements somehow. There were typically remnants from a dash that lasted for at least a couple minutes.
But she couldn’t track Luna at all.
Apple Bloom heard, “Baby pegasus! I am beating you in the race.”
“Ah am still a baby – learning how to flap these wings.”
Apple Bloom took the time to just look at her surroundings. She couldn’t believe this was real. How didn’t a pegasus like Rainbow Dash is not awed by these powers every day. Now flight was that of Apple Bloom. With increased confidence, the alicorn in training began to flap her wings faster. She wanted to experience it all! She sped through the air – no stream from her flight could be seen but she flew like she wanted the world to see it.
Apple Bloom flew higher as she watched the world look smaller. She was going to be the fastest flier in all of Equestria! She didn’t have a care in the world. From the corner of her eye, she could see a smirking Luna. Apple Bloom knew she was making her mentor proud.
Apple Bloom wasn’t tired. She flew across the center of Ponyville. She passed her school, Sugarcube Corner, her friends’ houses, and the School of Friendship. She wondered if any pony knew that she was Ponyville’s newest flier.
It seemed most of Ponyville was already at bed. With the exception of some birds, Apple Bloom didn’t see any other fliers in the sky.
“I see that the baby pegasus is ready to race.” Wow, she barely knew Luna was there.
“You betcha’!”
The two mares sped off. Apple Bloom wanted to win. She needed to win. She knew Luna was going easy on her since she was still a “baby” but Luna wasn’t going that easy.
“Maybe ah wanna try one of those dashes!”
Apple Bloom focused her energy into flying as fast as she could. She used her unicorn horn to concentrate her magic into a powerful burst of flight.
“Bam!”
Apple Bloom felt herself speeding past Luna. This was amazing.. this was not like anything ever… but wait, how does she stop this? Apple Bloom kept on dashing through the air, unable to slow down. This was getting embarrassing.
Apple Bloom cried out for help. There was no way she could stop going so fast on her own.
Thankfully, Luna was there to stop Apple Bloom from her insane bursts of flight.
“I would say you won that race”, said Luna, “very clever. Now, let’s go back to your home.”
“Yeah, ah’m ready. Just think it’s good for me to fly slow this time.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
The flight back home was peaceful and serene. Apple Bloom still couldn’t believe that she was going to be Equestria’s next princess. She wondered what the next lesson would entail.
“So, what did you think of your first night of flight?”
“That was incredible. Ah can’t believe pegasi get to have all the fun!”
“But alicorns have even more fun.”
“Ah’m never walking again”, said Apple Bloom, “maybe ah will beat Rainbow Dash in a flying race someday.”
“A little more practice and you just might. But it will take some practice for you to combine your unicorn magic and pegasus magic into one. As you saw, it is not easy to control.”
“Ah don’t think ah’m trying that trick anytime soon.”
“To the contrary”, said Luna, “I think we can incorporate that into our next lesson. The lesson where I can officially grant you alicorn status.”
“Really? Can’t wait!”
“Good. We’ll begin your final alicorn lessons tomorrow night. After that, you will learn how to raise the moon and visit ponies’ dreams!”