//------------------------------//
// Excuse Me 
// Story: Eljunbyro 
// by Imploding Colon 
//------------------------------//

                I plummeted through the clouds.

Something was different this time.

Something was easy, natural, and glorious...

I was spiraling, twirling, kicking up vapors and slicing the wind until it whistled around my feathers.

I panted and panted, my heart pumping like a strobing pulse of mana.  But soon, to my surprise, the fear gave way, and excitement filled the empty space.  The adrenaline was mesmerizing.  The danger was delicious.  I felt like chuckling, and I did just that.

"Belle?  Belle, can you hear me?"

"Heheheheh..."

"The sequencing has begun.  Are you lucid?  Can you sense the sphere you're in?"

"So... awesome..."

"We're monitoring you as best as we can, but we need to keep up communication.  Can you describe what's happening?"

"I'm..."  I hissed and sneered into the face of gravity.  "...practicing."

"Practicing?"

"Heh heh heh..."  I laugh; I cackle.  "Hah hah hah hah!  Wooo yeah!"

"Practicing for what?"

Just then, there was a flicker of lavender light, followed by a purple-streaked mane and bright violet eyes.  The ground appeared around her, and I plowed mercilessly into her figure.

"Ooof!"

Together, we sprawled like dominoes into the mud.  The liquid was cold and gritty against my coat.  The sun shimmering down on us was blissful and warm.

I stood up, wobbling slightly, and glanced guiltily down at the petite unicorn flattened beneath me.  Instead of immediately apologizing, I chuckled.  "Eh heh heh heh..."

Leaning down, I gave an awkward smile as my voice cracked.

"Excuse me?  Eh heh heh..."

"Mmmphghh..." She muttered.

I hovered above her and looked around.  "Ehhh... Let me help you!  Darting effortlessly up into the sky, I grabbed a piece of raincloud and dragged it down so that it hovered closely above her head.  After giving the cluster of vapors a firm series of bucks, the unicorn was clean of all mud, albeit thoroughly soaked.  "Whoops!  I guess I overdid it!  Uhmmm... How about this?!  My very own patented Rainblow Dry!  No no, don't thank me, you're quite welcome!"