//------------------------------//
// Chapter 09: Mother of Destiny 
// Story: Flight of Destiny 
// by Pink_Flash 
//------------------------------//

Consciousness slowly returns to me. So warm… such soft leaves… this big Monstera Philodendron Bohemian leaf I found is cozy and this pillow is to die for! ...Pillow?

My eyes snap open, sitting up very quickly once it dawns on me that I should be alarmed. The sight of a pink room greets my eyes. “Whaaaaaaat…?” Looking around quickly to find a toy box, a white rug, Wonderbolts posters and some posters of what looks to be some form of pony racing team called “Flash Tactics”. “How…?” I shake my head as I try to wrap my mind around it. I took every precaution I could to not be found and ran for what felt like hours from civilization! How did they track me? How did they find me? How did they get to me without waking me and how did they transport me back to civilization so damn fast?!

It feels like the walls are closing in on me, my breathing getting heavier, mind swimming with so many questions and scenarios of how that could’ve played out if it were a predator. How did my training fail me?! Moving one of my hooves to the other, I steady my shaking. Closing my eyes, I try to calm myself down with a few deep breaths. ‘Ok Pink. Calm down… So they got the jump on you in your old age. It’s not a big deal. You can handle this.’ After my little pep talk, I open my eyes to the room again. The really girly pink greeting my eyes, filled with renewed determination.

The door to the room I’m in seems to be built with someone of my size in mind, it’s not as big as other doors, it’s not terribly thick either, and easy to listen through. Upon listening through the door, a male voice becomes clear. His voice sounds calm and casual. ‘Whoever this is, sounds like they are not alert. Good. All I have to do is put my training to good use and get to that princess and get some answers!’ I put my soft pink hoof onto the door as softly as I can and push gently and quietly.

“Hun. Pink is awake.” I hear that male’s voice floating through the air and stinging my ears.

“HOW!?” I swear if glass were in front of me, it’d have broken with that exclamation. Before I can really do anything else, a pink face appears at the ajar door with a big grin. “Wuah!” The surprise of a sudden face causes me to leap back involuntarily. “Hey! This may be a different world but I’m sure heart attacks still exist!” All I can manage to do is turn to flee with wide eyes and sheer terror on my face as a pink mare swoops into the room and scoops me up in her hooves nuzzling me.

“Oh Pink! Mommy missed you so much!” She kisses me on the forehead and cheeks while I squirm and attempt an ill fated escape. Putting my tiny hooves on her muzzle and cheek and pushing in an attempt to get away but her being an adult makes it quite easy for her to assault me with cuddles and kisses.

“Noooooo!” With a few giggles, the mare puts me down. The smiling mare motions to the door. “Come on, sweetie. Breakfast is waiting.” Concern crosses my face as the mare steps out of the room. I peer into the hallway, finding tan wallpaper and wooden floors. It seems my attempt to flee was ill fated from the start. There’s no way I would’ve been able to sneak out with hardwood floors and hooves. A closer examination of the walls reveal something even more concerning… photos. As most families have, family photos are on the wall. Photos of the pink mare and a snow white stallion with dark blue mane and tail and bright green eyes. The couple are holding a tiny pink foal between them. White and pink mane and big curious green eyes. ‘That’s… horrible…’ I feel my ears involuntarily droop as I tear my eyes away from the photo. ‘These… parents had their foal taken from them.’ My eyes land upon the two in the kitchen down the hall. They’re sitting at the table having coffee and what looks like pancakes. ‘They already went through losing their foal once… and now they have to suffer that pain again…’ I sigh as I look back up at the photo. Their smiling faces showing a happiness that they’ll likely never have again. ‘They’ll never have closure… it’s truly the worst thing that can happen to a parent. Losing their child and never knowing what happened to them and these two have to do it a second time.’ I examine the foal in the image a moment longer. ‘I don’t know who you are but I can never replace you for these two, no matter how much I look like you. What I can do though… is find out who took you and ruined our lives.’

“Pink sweetie, are you coming? Your pancakes are going to get soggy. I made them up just the way you like.” The mare calls from the kitchen.

“I’m… coming.” I give the image one last glance before trotting down the hall to the kitchen. As I enter the kitchen, I see the dark blue stallion watching me rather intensely. It makes me sort of uncomfortable as I move to the seat I imagine is mine, but as I reach it, the pink mare scoops me up making me emit a squeak sound. The mare in turn giggles as she sets me down in the seat. The chair is a little high for me but I’m certain I could’ve done it on my own.

There’s a moment of silence as I fumble with the silverware to begin eating. The father of this foal watching me very closely. It’s actually very unsettling. I feel my eyes wander over and steal glances of the stallion, it’s like a wave of pressure bearing down on me and drowning me. I don’t understand, I’ve gone through this kind of stuff during boot camp. Drill instructors staring me down and breaking the weaker recruits, so why does this guy bother me so much?

The white stallion eases up after another moment. Apparently satisfied having freaked me out a little. “Let’s start with the obvious.” The stallion suddenly says. “You plan on running away again.”

Given my track record, I suppose it’s not too hard to come to that conclusion. I don’t say anything though, I’m getting the idea that he’s analyzing me or something.

“What about the not so obvious then?” The stallion continues. “What are you planning on doing after that? You can’t fly yet, you’re just now learning about the town. Where will you get food? Where will you get shelter and sleep?” He pauses. “Why do you even want to run? You have all that here and two parents who love and adore you, why would you throw that away?”

All I can do is stare at the stallion as I process his questions. ‘Do I tell them? Do I tell them their son isn’t really their son? Their pride and joy they just got back is a fake? Do I tell them I’m a human from an entirely different world? Allow them to think I’m insane and hospitalize me or something?’ 

My eyes light up as I taste the pancakes, the delectable flavor cascading like a fountain of deliciousness! It’s so crazy good that I almost forget that I’m being interrogated. 

“Mmmmmm!” I involuntarily take a deep breath, putting my hooves to my mouth as if I’m afraid the flavors will spill out unless I stop it. The chair I’m sitting in squeaks audibly as I flip back against the backrest, throwing my hooves up above my head and letting them rest on top of my head. “Sooooooo gooooooood!”

Seeing me swooning over the mare’s cooking seems to make the stallion ease up. His expression softens and a small smile crossing his muzzle. While it’s true some of these childish antics seem to come about by their own accord, maybe they can be used to my advantage. The stallion seems satisfied now and content to eat his breakfast instead of playing 20 questions.

I could’ve sworn that after breakfast, the stallion known as ‘Mystery Flash” would’ve continued his interrogation, instead, he gave me a hug and went about on his way. It definitely seems like he was certain I wasn’t his son… until I swooned over that pancake. Like I said, my advantage.

I actually expected to be left to my own devices for the moment, but I guess it makes sense they’d keep an eye on me. The pink mare called “Grace Flash” stayed with me, took me outside. 

The rather short pink mare with lavender eyes has a great big smile, clearly excited for some reason, leads me outside. “Something I’ve been waiting to do ever since you were born.” There’s a bounce in her step and glee in her voice. It’s fairly obvious what it is, she wants to teach me to fly. Before coming to this strange and colorful place and you told me these tiny wings could lift these creatures off the ground, I’d have told you that you were crazy. After what I’ve seen though, I’m a believer.

“Ok sweetie, I’d like you to watch my wings closely. Get an idea of how your wings should act in mid flight, ok?” The mare begins to unfold her wings and move them in various waves to simulate how they would act in mid flight.

This information is worthless to me. It is kind of interesting, as it is flight and that is sort of my thing but it’s not like I’ll be keeping these wings or anything. As such, I sort of tune the mare out. Not to disrespect the mare or anything, but I have other things I could be thinking about.

That’s when I spot her, that purple unicorn. Princess Twilight! I can’t believe my luck! The mare is just out on a stroll or something, trotting along. I have to talk to her! 

I look back to the pink mare. She will likely attempt to stop me, but back in the forest I was running well faster than the speed of sound. There’s no way she would be able to catch me.

With that last thought, I turn and bolt off towards Twilight Sparkle with zero warning, leaving only a startled pink mare behind. Like before, I easily break the sound barrier as I run along the ground, using my wings to increase my speed exponentially.

The world whips by me in a blur, the purple mare looks at me, surprise and… fear crossing her face. As I get closer, I realize I’ve made a mistake, that mare isn’t Twilight Sparkle.

I don’t get much farther, however, I feel hooves wrap around my midsection and lift me off the ground. “What?!” I yell out in surprise as the Grace Flash soars up into the air with me in her hooves, nuzzling me. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh! My little colt broke his first sound barrier! I’m so proud!” She begins kissing my forehead and cheek repeatedly.

I’m far too shocked to react right away. Not only did she catch me, she caught me easily! I begin to squirm in her hooves. “Stoooooop!” The pink mare relents for a moment, giving me a moment to look down at the ground to see the purple mare staring at us. I let my hoof dangle with a frown. “Twilight…” I mumble.

Grace Flash giggles a few times, nuzzling me again. “No sweetie, Twilight lives in Ponyville. We live in Fillydelphia, remember?” My eyes widen as the pink mare tries to turn me around to look at me. The mare ends up cradling me in her hooves, my back in her hooves as I look up at her, her expression is clearly showing concern.

“Would you like to go see Princess Twilight?” A small smile crosses her muzzle but she is clearly still concerned. I give the mare a small nod which makes the mare’s smile get a little bigger. “Ok sweetie, but before we go ask daddy, let’s have a little fun, ok?” 

Oh boy… What is this mare’s idea of fun? I swear, if she whips out a copy of Chutes and Ladders I’m escaping right now. Before I could ponder it much more, she shoots straight up into the sky, getting a squeak of surprise from me and making me shut my eyes tight.

When I open my eyes, the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. Up above the clouds, blue sky as far as I can see with the sun shining down. I can see through the clouds at various spots. The sun’s beams give the clouds a light golden hue, it’s a picture perfect sight and I’ll never forget it.

We float there for a long moment, Grace can tell the sight has stolen my breath, she allows me to appreciate the beauty with a smile on her face. I’ve seen this sight a million times through the window of a cockpit but never this vibrant. Never this… clear.

“Here comes the best part, sweetie.” She smiles down at me as she begins to gently glide. I begin to feel the wind in my fur and mane. I almost instinctively unfurl my wings. Which elicits a giggle from Grace. “Hang on just a second, Cotton Ball.” She moves me to her side. “Climb up onto my back, sweetie.” I think I get where she’s going with this, so I comply. Stepping up from her arm onto her back. Turning to face the same way Grace is, I unfurl my wings, not needing to be told what to do next.

This also gets a giggle from Grace, taking it as eagerness on my part. “Ok, Pink. Get ready, catch the wind, get a feel for it, feel how it makes contact with your wings. Remember what I showed you on the ground, position your wings and let them catch that wind.”

Oops… maybe I should have paid attention. Of course, I have glided before, so I’m luckily able to just open my wings and catch the wind. I feel my hooves leave Grace’s back and pull them to my body, this feeling like a natural position.

“That’s my colt.” Grace looks at me. “I’m so proud of you.” I look back at her, I can’t help but feel joy and love swell in my heart. I know now that without a doubt she is this colt’s mother and that stallion is his father, I just wish the real Pink was here to experience this instead of me. Don’t get me wrong, this is absolutely amazing and I never really had parents, so all this is incredible but still… none of it is mine. It should’ve been the real Pink here...

It seems I was lost in my thoughts a little too long, I feel a tickling on my chin. Finding that Grace used her wing to tickle my chin and get my attention. I look at her. “I said, how do you feel, silly?” She gives a giggle before I answer. “This is amazing! I’ve never seen the sky like this before!” 

It looks like Grace is about to say something else when I get the urge to try flying. Yes, I’m gliding, but I get this need, this overwhelming desire to actually fly! I begin to wiggle my wings, get a feel for how to flap them and I begin to destabilize.

Grace looks alarmed and puts a hoof out under my belly to stop me from just straight plummeting out of the sky. “No no no, Pink. You’re not ready for that yet. Just glide with me, Cotton Ball.” She smiles. “This is your first time up here, just enjoy it. Let the wind carry you.”

Of course, it’s not really my first time up here at all. I’ve seen the sky from every angle… but this… this is like seeing it for the first time. The wind in my face and my mane, even the sky just looks brighter and more vibrant. I must say, there’s a special kind of sensation to feel the wind rushing past my wings. When I’m not terrified for my life, it’s soothing, like I’m meant to be up here. 

It’s a liberating feeling. The wind and air rushing past me, flowing over and under the feathers of my wings, a coolness enveloping them like water. 

Before I know it, my hooves make contact with the ground, snapping me out of my trance-like state of mind. Grace giggles as my head whirls around looking at my environment. “I see you enjoyed getting your first real taste of the sky. Maybe next time we can try to actually fly.” My heart jumps a bit. “Can we?!” I say with a little too much enthusiasm, which prompts another giggle from the pink mare. “I wouldn’t dream of keeping you out of the sky.” She pulls me close to her, hugging me softly.

The pink mare holds the hug for a good 15 seconds at least. I get the sense she has missed me… er, well… Pink Flash anyway… Grace steps back and smiles down at me, a tear in her eye. “Let’s go talk to daddy. See if we can set up an appointment to see the Princess.” She begins to lead me back towards their home.

My heart breaks for them. She is so happy to have her son back… I wish I didn’t have to break her heart again… the father though… he seems suspicious of me. Maybe I can convince him I’m not really his son and maybe he’ll help me.

Grace and I find Mystery sitting at the table still. Though, this time he has a bunch of papers and folders in front of him. He has what looks like an unlit cigarette in his mouth as he reads papers.

“Huuuuun.” Grace starts. “Cotton Ball has a question for you.” She looks down at me with a smile. Mystery sets the paper down and turns to look at me.

“Wait, I’m confused. Is my name Pink Flash or Cotton Ball?” I tilt my head. It really doesn’t matter what this foal’s name is… but it just sort of… came out. My question nets me a giggle from the pink mare and a smile from the stallion. Seems to have lightened his mood.

“Your name is Pink Flash and Cotton Ball is a nickname.” The stallion tells me. “Though, I suspect that was an impulse question.”

“Uhhh yeah…” I’m happy my fur is pink, might’ve blushed a little at how easily he read me. “Can we maybe… visit with Princess Twilight?” I let out a small ‘eep’ sound as blue magic surrounds me and lifts me off the floor. I begin to float up to come eye level with the stallion.

The stallion’s eyes harshly study me, cold and calculating. I begin to feel nervous and feel my ears drooping involuntarily. I can’t believe it, I didn’t budge against my drill sergeant's angry stare, but this stallion is a whole different level of intensity. Maybe it’s the bigger more expressive eyes? I feel myself shrinking away as much as I can and breaking eye contact.

Then, just like that, he chuckles. My ears perk up as I look back to him. His face softens with a smile. “Tell you what” The stallion starts. “Based on your track record and your general distant attitude, I can tell you’re gonna make a run for it again.” I gulp. “You stay put tonight, stay in bed where we know where you are and tomorrow, we’ll take you to see Princess Twilight.”

I jump on that. “Deal!” A big smile crosses my face. I get a nice warm bed, food and plenty of rest and I still get to see Twilight!

“Pink, look at me.” He tells me, I do look back at him. “I don’t know what tells you that you can’t trust us, but believe me when I tell you, we love you. We only want what’s best for you. We’ll take you to see Twilight, to show you that you don’t need to be afraid of us, you can let your guard down.” My ears droop, feeling guilty. Clearly I’ve been making them worry, especially with what they must’ve heard from everypony else.

“I’m sorry…” I tell him and I’m not too sure why… What do I have to be sorry about? Why… Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel like a child being scolded? Sure, I physically am a child being scolded… but why do I feel that way?

The stallion’s magic floats me to him as he wraps his hooves around me, hugging me tight. “I love you, Pink. I wouldn’t have stopped looking for you, ever.” He kisses the top of my head. “Now scat, brat. Daddy’s got work to do.” He lets his magic go and releases me. I hop down to the floor, then look back to see his smiling face which just makes me smile. I walk away thinking Pink sure is a lucky kid.