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// Chapter 48: Flight camp registration 
// Story: I am my own OC 
// by KittyrinnAiko 
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Of course the Gala wasn’t preeminent on my mind at the moment. After all, flight camp started today. Breakfast was soon over, we finished getting ready, and then Scootaloo and I in matching golden flight suits went out to the garden where a chariot and a dozen pegasi guards awaited. Kenta would have liked to go with us but the need to keep hush-hush on where we were staying as long as possible required he go in an alternate conveyance. 

Lofty, Scootaloo, Mom, and I arrived at flight camp a short time later, and such was the throng of pegasi that few paid any attention to the security detail around three young ponies.


Flight camp is at the Cloudsdale Wonderbolt compound this year and energy was running high as parents and students funneled into morning registration. Can’t say I’d ever thought I’d find myself the new student being brought to what was going to prove to be something of a cross between Summer School and camp. My spirits were high despite the potential threat that loomed over me. After all, this was a new experience, and in a way, it felt a little like going to snow camp. Walking across the tops of clouds was a lot like walking through fresh snow. There was that same chill in the air and I could feel my fur going all poofy in response.

Granted that our group had not gone unnoticed as we walked forward.

“Flight camp, flight camp, flight camp,” Scootaloo chanted joyfully as our escorts directed us around the crowds. 

I couldn't help but notice her usual pronk wasn’t gaining the same altitude it normally would have. But then again, the spongy nature of clouds was a bit like bouncing on a mattress. I tried it out to find that sure enough, it was a completely different kind of push. On my next push, I discovered that the more I push the more I compress the clouds, and the more I compress the clouds the more likely every pony around me will be affected.

Suddenly pony pile. "Ack!"

Followed by the entire group getting bounced into the air.

Next came the inevitable tangle of wings as we all did our best to not sprawl all over the place… which we did anyway.

“Nova, dear,” Mom began in a soft tone that hinted at dire consequences from her place in the pile. “I don’t know what you did, but don’t ever do that again.”

All I could do was put my muzzle down in the clouds so she couldn't see me grinning. “Sorry. I had no idea the clouds would suppress that much or be so springy.”

“So, what exactly was that?” Lofty asked as we began to untangle ourselves.

“I noticed that Scootaloo wasn’t getting her usual height when she pronked, and I wanted to see if I could compensate for the spring of the clouds,” I offered. “Aside from that, I’m not really sure what happened?”

“Is every pony alright?” Spitfire asked as she dropped in right next to us. She had her Wonderbolt flight suit on with the hood pulled back and was doing her best to maintain her professionalism.

“We are good. Nova just did something that hadn’t worked quite the way she expected it would,” Mom offered. A little help would not go unappreciated.

“I think I needed more open space to do a lot of compression,” I offered sheepishly. Fortunately, it didn't take too long to get untangled we were back on our hooves. I couldn't help but feel guilty about being ushered in ahead of all the other ponies but then again being surrounded by security did add to the dynamic. Before us at the registration desk was a light arctic blue pegasus with white hair.

“Commander Spitfire, I wasn’t aware there would be VIPs today?” She meant Luna.

“Sorry, Fleetfoot, it was originally supposed to be just Princess Nova and Scootaloo, but issues in Canterlot have everyone on edge. Ms Lofty had originally volunteered to help keep an eye on them because she’s Princess Nova’s legal guardian. Princess Luna decided to come following yesterday's difficulties. Both the inner palace and other secure areas were breached yesterday and Princess Luna doesn’t want to let Nova out of her sight. She’s Nova’s mom.”

“Princess Luna is her mom? Seriously?”

“Hi,” Luna said as she stepped up.

“May I introduce Princess Luna,” Spitfire offered with a bright smile.

“Hang on, Princess Luna? That, that is, you’re Princess Luna?” Fleetfoot asked perplexed. “But you’re, you are…”

“Short?” Luna inquired playfully. Mom wasn't exactly short, she just wasn't anywhere near as tall as she'd once been. If anything she was slightly above average. "A lighter shade than in the pictures?” Luna leaned in and whispered, “Cute? Not a monster?” She gave the flummoxed Fleetfoot a wink. 

“Monster? Celestia, no,” Fleetfoot protested, remembered herself, got up, and made a polite bow. “Princess Luna, I could never think of you as a monster.”

“And cute?” Luna pressed.

“Mother, please,” I protested. I seem to recall that mom always did have a thing for white manes. “I do hope you flirt with Miss Alice, I seem to recall the two of you having more than a casual relationship." 

“I, um, think that perhaps we should move on with the heck en,” Fleetfoot said with perhaps a hint of a blush. “I mean check-in.”

“Kitzumi Nova Moon House of Athelas,” I offered. “And Scootalo Supermarine.”

“Scootaloo may be listed as a Shutter,” Lofty offered. 

“Supermarine? Spitfire, is that little filly related to you?” Fleetfoot asked as she turned her direction to Spitfire. Spitfire’s beaming smile of delight spoke volumes. “Commander?”

“She’s mine,” Spitfire informed her while puffing up a little. Her smile indicated that she was more than delighted to present Scootaloo.

“What? Really?! Hang on, what’s she doing with the Princesses?”

“Miss Lofty is Scootaloo's aunt as well as Nova’s guardian.”

“It just sort of worked out that way,” Luna offered. “No pony passed word far enough up the chain to let us know she was in Ponyville. Near impossible to undo, and Lofty and Miss Holiday are good ponies so we decided to just keep things as they are.” Originally it had been Celestia's decision, but Luna had agreed later that the current state of affairs had worked out for the best.

“Did I hear right?” Soarin asked as he trotted over. “Actual evidence that Commander Spitfire is a mare after all?”

“Don’t push it,” Spitfire warned.

“Let’s just get every pony registered,” Fleetfoot offered sheepishly. “We’ve one Miss, make that Princess Nova, accompanied by Princess Luna and Lady Lofty. And then we have Scootaloo who is also accompanied by Lady Lofty. Um, Commander?”

“I’ll be teaching another group. I’m going to let Soarin have them.”

“What?” Soarin asked.

“And don’t worry if Nova’s techniques are a little different,” Spitfire offered. “Come to think of it, Scootaloo might be better suited to using Nova’s techniques in that she has a similar wing structure. Her wings aren’t as long because she needs another molt yet.”

“Ah, so they’ve both been blessed with your own magnificent wings is it?” Soarin teased.

“Captain Soarin, need I remind you of this morning’s briefing?” Spitfire cautioned. Her tone was congenial enough, but the warning to remain professional in his comportment was loud and clear. 

“Yes, that is no, sorry,” Soarin offered sheepishly. Teasing the other Wonderbolts was such a normal thing behind the scenes that it was difficult to shut it off at times.

“Just as soon as every pony is checked in and have their color-coded admission badge we can start forming groups,” Soarin offered with a polite smile a moment later.

"I'm at Flight Camp!" Scootaloo squealed while trotting in place.

And yes, her energy was getting me pumped up. Sure, I'd been to lots of seminars and flight classes, I'd had lots of simulator and air time, but it was different in Equestria. No relying on machines for me, not in this world, in this world most of my flying would be under my own power.  Just me and the sky.

I would deny letting out a squeal and trotting in place later on when reminded of it.