//------------------------------// // Promises // Story: Goddess of the Moon // by Duke of Canterlot //------------------------------// Apple Bloom took to the air. She was absolutely thrilled to have learned how to fly. She was getting the hang of her wings as she flew around Ponyville in the daytime. Thankfully, the weather ponies brought on a sunny and calm day for the flier-in-training. Apple Bloom wanted to show off her flying skills to any pony who would care. She passed Rainbow Dash in the air. “Woah, sweet wings, kid”, said Rainbow Dash, “aren’t they the coolest?” “Hell yeah”, said Apple Bloom, “Luna gave me my wings last night and ah can’t believe ah lived life without them!” “I can teach you some real cool moves. Some things that Luna might not even know.” “Like a Sonic Rainboom?” “Yeah maybe. I couldn’t teach Twilight how to do it but you might be different. But do you know how to dash?” “Ah tried to dash last night but ah couldn’t control it.” “It’s easier than it looks! Here, let me show you how it’s done.” Rainbow Dash moved her front hooves forward along with her wings and dashed forward creating a rainbow stream from her body. Apple Bloom couldn’t imagine how she could do that herself. “Ah’m a new flier”, said Apple Bloom, “ah don’t if ah can do that. Think of me as a baby pegasus.” “I could do tricks like that when I was a baby! You can’t get anywhere quickly without dashing. It just takes a little bit of muscle.” Rainbow Dash completed another dash and then circled back to Apple Bloom. “Now, you can try this dash yourself. Oh, a tip. Try to not rely on your horn so much. Twilight really struggled with that but since you’re new to the unicorn stuff too – shouldn’t be too hard for you!” Apple Bloom smiled and then tried to move forward with another dash. She closed her eyes and just focused on the wings – with a push, Apple Bloom found herself floating through the air. This was unbelievable. She was on top of the world! With another push backwards, Apple Bloom was able to smoothly stop her dashing. “Woah, that was so cool, Dash!” “So extreme, kid! You could become the second best flier in Ponyville some day.” Apple Bloom smirked and said, “yeah, ah know Fluttershy has some real talent.” Rainbow Dash laughed and said, “trust me, you’re already better at flying than Flutters. I love the mare like a sister – but she can barely fly.” “Ah gotta share this with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle!” “Oh – speaking of Scootaloo, something I’ve been meaning to ask you since you’re now pals with Luna and stuff?” “Yeah?” “I know it would be Scootaloo’s dream come true if she could actually fly. If Luna could make that happen – or even you once you become an alicorn – I would really appreciate it and I know Scoots will too.” “Of course, Dash. Anything for Scootaloo! Ah can’t make any promises but ah will ask the question.” “Thanks, that’s all I ask.” Apple Bloom met Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo at the CMC Clubhouse. “Damn”, said Scootaloo, “Rainbow Dash already messaged me about your air skills. Luna is your lucky angel.” “So how does it feel to be an alicorn”, asked Sweetie Belle. “Ah’m not an alicorn just yet. That will be tonight. Ah am still only a few inches taller than either of you. And Applejack is still taller than me!” “Height would be like one of the things I would be least excited about if I was to become an alicorn”, said Scootaloo, “I would want to fly for real!”. “Maybe you can”, said Apple Bloom with a smile, “ah will see what Luna can do. Since you’re one of my best friends, ah can definitely try.” “Woah, that would be so awesome – AB! No pressure, but if I could fly side by side with Rainbow Dash – my life would be perfect!!” “How are your magic lessons”, asked Sweetie Belle. “Really amazing. Luna taught me how to engage in combat with magic. Soon ah will be Equestria’s finest protector”, said Apple Bloom with a chuckle. “If you ever need any help or tips with magic, I’m here”, responded Sweetie Belle. “Definitely. Ah think it would be cool to fight you someday.” “I’m not exactly the combat type of unicorn”, said Sweetie Belle nervously, “I can help out with other things though.” “Coolio. Soon, ah will be the most powerful alicorn in all of Equestria. Tonight is when Luna will officially grant me alicorn status. Ah have no idea what that’s gonna entail.” “Maybe it will entail a daring test where you have to save the world or all the things Twilight did to become an alicorn”, said Scootaloo. “I dunno”, said Sweetie Belle, “Apple Bloom’s route to alicornhood has been pretty easy so far.” “Ah think Luna is ready to retire – so she doesn’t have years and years to train me. Besides, Twilight’s training was more about learning the power of friendship. The stuff you need to know as an alicorn seems pretty quick.” “Just don’t forget about us when you become an alicorn”, said Sweetie Belle. “And see if you can get me to fly”, added Scootaloo. Apple Bloom sighed. She did not know if alicorns had the magic to cure disabilities but Apple Bloom knew there was no harm in trying. She wanted Scootaloo to fly for real. “Ooh, what can you do for me”, asked Sweetie Belle. “Ah dunno – um – maybe ah can make you good at magic combat?” “Oh oh, what about making sure that Button Mash stays with me forever?” “Ah don’t think alicorns have the power to make a pony love another pony forever.” “Button is all I really need to be happy.” “Then ah don’t know what ah can do for you but ah will think of something. Besides, ah don’t even know if ah can grant Scootaloo her wish.” “My wish is better”, said Scootaloo, “you’re looking at the newest Wonderbolt and not just one who is part of a scooter brigade.” “Ah will do my best. You deserve to fly in the sky too!” “What’s it like? Flying?” “It’s everything ah am sure Rainbow Dash has told you in the past.” “You are going to ask the question, right?” “Definitely. If Luna can do it, ah know she will. It sucks that you can’t fly.” “Does it make a difference if it is because I have a disability or because I have earth pony genes?” “If the latter, definitely. Ah was born an earth pony and look at me – ah can fly and do magic.” “What about me?”, said Sweetie Belle, “can I get wings too?” “Hmmm..what if you two became alicorns too? That would be sweet even though I don’t know if Luna has enough magic for that?” “Does she have enough to give me wings and Scootaloo the power of flight and magic?” “Ah honestly don’t know”, responded Apple Bloom with a shrug “ah will do the best ah can.” Apple Bloom continued to fly around Ponyville and practiced her magic skills. If she was going to be an alicorn, she would need to one of the best of the best. A part of her didn’t feel like she was ready for alicornhood. It just seemed like an impossibility. Deep inside, she was still the earth pony who lived on a farm her whole life – not a castle. Was this really meant to be? Was she going to fit in with the folks at Canterlot? Not that it seemed like Luna fit in much with them anyway – that was more of a Celestia-related duty. Maybe things wouldn’t be so hard as Equestria’s newest alicorn and Equestria’s second-in-command. Being second-in-command was perhaps even more odd to the young mare. How was she going to do it? Was she really going to be making decisions that affect all of Equestria or is that more of a Twilight/Celestia thing? Apple Bloom supposed she would find out sooner rather than later. What worried Apple Bloom most though was what would happen if she couldn’t grant the wishes of her friends. It would be nice to fly with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo but would Luna have any desire to do that for them? They were her best friends but, in the grand scheme of things, they were just regular ponies who didn’t have any chance of reaching alicornhood. This was supposed to be something special for Apple Bloom – her time to really shine and show the world how amazing she could really be. However, Apple Bloom did want to see Scootaloo finally be able to fly. Scootaloo was too good of a pony to be grounded by not being able to fly despite pegasus wings. Apple Bloom decided – she would scrap Sweetie Belle’s suggestion and just ask Luna if Scootaloo can learn how to fly. She felt like Luna would say yes to that at least. Apple Bloom wanted to help Scootaloo fly.