//------------------------------// // Results: Part 2 // Story: The Research of Wing Spell Development and Mechanics // by The Wizard of Words //------------------------------// “Wooooo-we!” Applejack let out in a cheer, snapping her neck as she let her mane billow in the air. The air flowed around her like a fan. It cooled her overheated coated and worn muscles. To the mare, it was a small amount of relief she eagerly welcomed. “‘Nother tough day in the orchard is ‘nother day I get ta spend in the market.” She spoke to herself. Her legs were sore from the full day’s work, but not quite ready to collapse. She still had the energy to make it back to the barn, especially with the cool air of the fast approaching night creeping up her coat. Her hoof readjusted her Stetson hat, pushing the brim up to give the pony a better view of the tree in front of her. Applejack’s eyes slowly crawled up the trunk of the great tree, looking at every branch her eyes passed with satisfaction in her gaze. Not a single red fruit remained on the brown limbs. Every piece of fruit that was there to collect was sitting in the baskets at her hooves, ready to be drawn to the barn and prepared for the market tomorrow. That was until her eyes reached the top of the tree. There sat a single Red Delicious, perched comfortably within the grasp of a few limbs and pillowed by the green leaves. The way it sat above the tree, the horizon behind it filled with the golden sky of a setting sun, it appeared to be the last challenge of the day. Applejack pulled her lips into a smirk. “Jus’ last stubborn apple and the day’s work is as wrapped up as a new born filly.” Rearing her legs back, Applejack bucked the tree with the impressive force years of work had endowed in her. The red fruit shook left and right, but remained firmly locked in place. Applejack lifted her muzzle in clear annoyance. “Now gash darn it,” Applejack muttered as she peered at the stuck fruit. “Ah gotta hit the hay soon and ya ain’t makin’ this easy fer me.” Turning around, the apple farmer crouched on her forelegs, pulling her rear legs into a tight ball. With an explosion of strength, she sent her rear legs outwards, slamming into the tree’s trunk and shaking the branches from the lowest twig to the highest leaf. Once again, the fruit swayed in its perch, but didn’t fall. Applejack grit her teeth in annoyance. “Now c’mon, don’t be a stubborn rabbit in the winter.” She spoke more to herself than the tree as she turned again. Her fore legs walked up the trunk, letting her body stand on her rear legs as she looked up through the mess of twigs, leaves, and branches. The red shine signature to her family apples was easy to see through the mess. Fortunately, so was the problem. A tangle of branches were caught beneath the fruit, holding it steady in its own little nest within the tree. The earth pony felt the sudden temptation to swear. “Ho dang it.” She muttered again, shaking her head as she lowered herself back to the ground. The solution to fixing the problem was obvious, at least to the pony who had done it several times before. However, that didn’t mean she was all too pleased by it. Applejack let out a grumble and sigh as she turned back towards her family barn. The only way to untangle a trapped fruit was to get up next to it and do it by hoof. Climbing the tree would have been an option, if she was half the size she was now. Jumping onto the branches would have done more harm than good, and she’d sooner sell her hat than intentionally hurt any of the trees in her orchard. Her hooves pushed on the heavy wooden frame of the bar, hearing the familiar creak of the doors as they swung open. The light from the soon to be setting soon flooded the floor as she entered, casting a heavy shadow all the way to the far wall. If only to herself, Applejack could admit that she always loved the barn. It was spacious and big, just like outside, but was still protected and tough, able to take everything the weather ponies threw at her, short of the occasional national catastrophe, usually courtesy of some kind of animal. Trotting into the barn, her eyes scanned the far wall, looking at the many tools that lined it. Tools for grooming, tools for digging, tools for shoveling, until finally she reached the tool she wanted. A ladder, a tool for climbing. “Once I finish with ya, it’s off ta catching them forty winks.” Applejack spoke the soon to be blessing as she lifted and pulled the ladder from the wall. The weight pushed down on her, but it wasn’t anything that she couldn’t handle, not by a long shot. Balancing the long tool over her back, Applejack turned around and started walking out of the open barn door. It wasn’t hard to find the tree in question again. It was the only one left in the plot still holding a ripe apple on its branches. That problem would soon be taken care of. Twisting around to face the tree, Applejack slid the ladder off her back, letting it lean against the bark. Her fore hooves grabbed at the long tool, holding it steady as she lifted it from the ground. Adjusting the brim of her hat, she positioned the object beneath the stubborn apple high above, licking her tongue across her lips as she made the final adjustments. She leaned against the ladder before backing off, testing to make sure it was secure against the tree. Satisfied, she climbed the rungs of the wooden tool, rising into the thicket of branches above her. Her hooves moved the leaves and twigs expertly, pushing them aside as she approached her target. Applejack’s rear hooves reached the top rung of the ladder, evident by the sensation of the harsh bark of the tree trunk against her underbelly. Thankfully for her, the apple’s nest was just in sight. Her hooves reached up for the stuck fruit, aiming to push away the collection of twisted twigs to grab hold of it. But as her hooves were just within grabbing distance, the oddest thing happened. Another pair of hooves grabbed the fruit from above her. Applejack was momentarily stunned still, staring into the open space her apple had been resting on. No matter how long her green eyes looked forwards, she never saw the familiar red of her apple. All she could see were leaves, twigs, and a fading day’s sky. A breath slowly collected in her lungs, before let out all at once. “What in tarnation!?” The ladder beneath her swayed with the sudden shout, leading the mare to sway her fore legs frantically to keep her balance. She connected with every thin twig she had pushed away to gain access to the branch. Not a single one of them could support her weight. With a yelp of surprise, Applejack fell backwards, rushing past the leaves that whipped at her. A hard branch or two connected with her flailing limbs earning grunts of pain as she continued to fall. Every hit spun her in the air. The ground couldn’t have come soon enough. Applejack’s back hit the soft soil of the earth with a dull thump, followed by a groan of pain mixed with annoyance. Her eyes blinked open slowly, blurred and unfocused from the fall. Her head slowly swayed left and right as she attempted to regain control of her sore body, fighting off the silent cries of complaint her sore muscles gave. The colors of a setting sky met her gaze, eyes only lightly shaded by the tree. But as she looked up, she saw another figure above her, hovering in the air. It was completely covered by itself, the shadow being cast by the setting sun making it nothing more than a floating black object. There were wings on it, large and expansive, easily far larger than those of any pegasus she had ever met. And horns, two of them, rising from the side of its head. She could hear the distantly beating wind, rhythmically in tune with large set of appendages on the figure above here. They looked… like they were a dragon’s wings. Dragon wings, two horns, but a small frame… a sudden dread began to fill her gut. “Nah, nah,” Applejack muttered weakly as the figure began to descend. Head twisting back and forth in a fruitless attempt to regain her strength, she muttered, “Nah, Ah’ve been a good pony. Ah got ta meet ma and pa.” The earth pony turned herself over, letting her hooves dig weakly into the grass. Her head slowly began to clear. A slow gasp filled her lungs as she felt its touch drift down her back, leathery appendages wrapping around her frame. The beast was on her, and Applejack could feel the strength in the wings. They were scaly like a serpent’s, but muscles like an ox. They would let go for any reason she could give. Her weak breaths grew faster. “Nah, c’mon now,” she muttered with half-breaths. “Just give me another chance. Ah promise Ah’ll do better.” She felt it moving up her neck, hot breath panting as it slowly matted her fur. The sweat from her day’s work didn’t stop her coat from bristling as the breathing began to ascend higher and higher. Applejack grit her teeth, unable to do anything as she felt it tickling the hairs on ear. She heard it take in a slow breath. She prepared herself for the worst. “BOO!” Applejack’s shout of freight startled the crows acres away. A burst of strength filled her, letting her rear to her hind legs. She fell forwards, pushing her weight to her forehooves, shaking the creature on her back. She gave a powerful buck backwards, hoping it would give the last push necessary to rock the creature off of her. It did. She felt the wings detach from her carriage, slipping off of her coat as the figure the wings were attached to took to the air again. The apple farmer turned, ignoring the dull throbs of pain her sore and worked muscles gave. If she was going down, she was gonna give the beast attacking her one heck of a ride. But as her eyes focused on the creature in the air again, no longer shadowed by the sun, but illuminated by it, she saw anything but a monster. Applejack saw her sister, hanging in the air, draconic wings beating at her sides. She had the brightest smile across her face. She could hear the faint sound of giggling coming from the filly as well. “Gotcha’ sis!” Apple Bloom as she pointed a small hoof at the still wide-eyed mare, looking up at her hovering kin. Applejack’s head twisted left, then right, and then left again, breath slowly calming the longer she continued to examine Apple Bloom. The filly took notice. “Ya alright sis?” she asked hesitantly, her smile falling as she saw her sister’s gaze grow more and more critical. “Ah… Ah didn’t go too fer’ again… did Ah?” Applejack slowly shook her head, increasing the pace until her head started to fall. Taking a breath, and straightening her cap, she asked the inevitable question. The filly prepared herself. “Did ya take tha’ apple?” Apple Bloom nodded guiltily. The older mare humphed in disappointment. “Now what did Ah tell ya about takin’ apples from the orchard?” The lecturing tone brought the filly to the ground, wings flexing to her sides. “Make sure Ah’m not in yer or Big Mac’s way.” The filly droned for what could describe as the millionth time. Applejack nodded. “That’s right. Now where did ya put it?” Apple Bloom looked up at her sister with big round eyes, lips pouting upwards. Her elder sister didn’t lose even an ounce of the steel in her gaze. Lowering her head in defeat, the filly drew her head back, reaching behind as she clasped jaw over the object in question. Moving her head forward, she showed Applejack the apple in her lips. The mare was not amused. “Ahf swaa-” Apple Bloom lowered her head to the ground as she dropped the apple, spittle layering the surface of the fruit. She looked up at Applejack again before speaking. “Ah’m sorry sis. Ah just thought it would a’ been a fun prank ta pull on ya.” “Ya nearly scared me ta the grave Apple Bloom.” Applejack muttered before releasing a sigh. She shook her head with it, clearing her thoughts and focusing on her little sister. “With that bow of yers, Ah thought ya were some kinda creature from… who know’s where.” The filly’s demeanor took a noticeable swing upwards. “Yeah,” she said with a smile breaking her pout lips. “You were talkin’ like Ah was gonna grab ya an’ fly away ta Tartarus.” Applejack let a smile drift over her lips as well. It was hard for her to stay made at the youngest member of her family for too long. Whether it was because she was soft for her kin, or just a youthful face, she couldn’t be sure. “Yeah, yeah,” she spoke dismissively to the younger pony. “Laugh it up while ya can.” The filly began to giggle at her elder’s permission, pushing a hoof to her mouth to stifle the sound it was producing. Applejack watched on for a moment before her vision fell on the two new appendages at her little sister’s side. The young earth pony followed the gaze. “So… do ya like ‘em?” Apple Bloom asked, biting her lip as she did so. Her wings expanded outwards, showing the large muscular appendages she now had. The earth pony raised her brow at the sight of them. Her lower lip rose as she looked the draconic wings over, nodding slowly as her eyes absorbed more and more of the details. “Got ‘em from Twi’, didn’t ya?” The question was met with a quick nod from the filly. “Some kinda magic test she was doin’, right?” Another nod from Apple Bloom drew a tired sigh from Applejack. That told the filly she should start speaking. “It wasn’t just me!” She quickly spoke. “Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle got wings, too! Well… Scootaloo got more wings, but she cast the spell on all of us. It was safe, Ah promise!” “Whoa, whoa, simmer down Apple Bloom.” Applejack gently told her younger sister, hoof waving up and down as she spoke. “Ah ain’t mad, just a little shocked is all, but given it’s Twi that did the hamperin’, I’m pretty sure she ain’t gonna be doin’ anything dangerous ta kids. She’s a good pony after all.” Apple Bloom’s face was quickly grew relieved, and only further developed into joy. Applejack smiled in return. Walking next to her younger sister, she put her hoof around the filly’s neck, earning a happy squeak of surprise from her. “Let me guess,” she continued. “You and yer friends were lookin’ for a new way ta get your Cutie Marks, righ’?” Apple Bloom nodded vigorously. Her sister really did know her well. “Yeah! We were helpin’ out Ms. Rarity when Spike found us. He ran up ta us n’ asked Sweetie Belle if she’d help Twilight with ‘er research. When he told us what is was fer, we all wanted ta go! Besides, he wanted ta stay n’ help Ms. Rarity anyways.” Applejack let out a knowing chuckle as her sister finished. “Yeah, that does sound like the lil’ guy.” The mare snickered as she could see the young dragon fawning over her unicorn friend. Her eyes looked over the wings on her younger sister’s back, giving out an admiring whistle as she let her hoof slip off of the filly’s neck and over the hard scaly appendages. “They are some mighty fine wings. Big and strong, jus’ like any member of the Apple Family.” Apple Bloom positively beamed under her sister’s words. “Ah know, right?” The younger of the two cheered happily, giving one of her wings a small beat, lifting part of her body off the ground. But then she froze, smile caught as a flash of panic filled her eyes. Applejack easily noticed it. “Apple Bloom?” She asked curiously, earning the attention of the filly. She didn’t appear in pain, or hurt, just… worried. Her lips twisted and bent, tongue gently bathing the skin, before she asked her sister a question. “Am Ah gonna have ta get rid of ‘em?” The question was complete with more pouting lips and wide water eyes. She certainly was an apple, as Applejack could easily see. She could remember using that same wide-eyed look when asking for desserts as a foal. A smile and giggle came with the memory. “Sorry sis, but we’re gonna see Twi in the mornin’ ta get a bit information on those things.” The wings at the foal’s sides fell to the grass at the words. “Huh, why?” she asked. “Ya… Ya don’t think Ah’m gonna do anythin’ bad with ‘em, do ya?” Applejack couldn’t have dismissed the question faster. “Course I trust ya Apple Bloom. Yer my sister, mah family.” She leant down and gave the filly some light nuzzles as proof of her words. Apple Bloom eagerly reciprocated the actions of her sister. “Ah just don’t want mah sister runnin’ around with some fancy wings tha’ nearly did Rarity in without knowin’ exactly what Twilight changed ‘bout them.” “How… how did ya know these were from tha’ spell?” Apple Bloom asked curiously, eyeing her sister with what she hoped to be a critical eye. All Applejack saw was her leaning to one side with one eye shut, the other opened to full mast. “She only told us ‘bout the spell when we got there.” “Just cause Ah work on a farm doesn’t mean Ah’m that ignorant ‘bout magic, Apple Bloom.” The sudden declaration shot down any mystery the filly was hoping to stir. “Ah know Twi’s been workin’ on that spell, and Ah know she ain’t gonna be inventin’ new spells outta the green of a field’s new growth without tellin’ me and the rest of the gals ‘bout it.” The apple farmer rubbed her hoof over the filly’s head, messing her mane and earning a squeak of disapproval. “But that’s tomorrow. Tonight, yer gonna help me take the rest of these basket to the barn, then hit the hay. Sound fair?” Applejack may as well of asked Apple Bloom if she thought the sun was bright. “Of course sis!” The filly jumped to her elder sister, pulling the mare into a powerful hug. The draconic wings on her back wrapped around the taller pony, completely surrounding the elder’s head, neck, mane, and hat in the embrace. Applejack lifted one of her forehooves around her sister’s smaller frame. Laughter emanated from the inside of the scaly cocoon. But so did a few choice words. “Ah love ya Applejack.” “Ah love ya too Apple Bloom.” For nearly all his life, Spike had been the assistant of somepony. Celestia taught him how to read, cook, clean, and maybe most importantly organize. In return, he helped the monarch with the simplest of things, sending and receiving letters. When he was old enough, he started helping Twilight Sparkle in much the same way, effectively becoming the connection between the princess and her student. When it came time to move to Ponyville, to start a new chapter in the pony’s studies, Spike wasn’t far behind, eagerly helping her in every way he knew how. Now, now he was helping another pony with her job. Still an assistant, but still just as appreciated as every pony he had helped before. But if asked on a dime, he would admit to enjoy helping this pony the most. She wasn’t a mother to him, or a sister, or any connection like a family member. Rarity, the first love of his young life. From her well curled and kept mane to her shiny alabaster coat, Spike couldn’t find a fault about her. She was the most generous of their small group of friends, always willing to help when asked and offer assistance when needed. She had an eye for details and a sense of fashion that could hardly be matched by any pony in Equestria, let alone Ponyville. Spike was, and in his heart, always would be Twilight’s Sparkle’s number one assistant, and it was something he was proud of. But, he adored helping Rarity more than anything else. It was the best way he could spend time with her. Now was no exception. Fresh from a gem hunt outside of Ponyville, cart of jewels behind them, they walked side-by-side down the street, heading for the unicorn’s boutique. The mare still had a spring her step as she trotted in the most eye-catching way Spike had ever seen. He followed as best he could, pulling behind him the red wagon filled with enough precious stones to match his weight thrice over. “Oh Spike dear, I cannot thank you enough for helping me acquire these splendid jewels.” Rarity spoke kindly to the dragon. “These gems will help me fill the orders from Canterlot with ease. I’m sure they’ll be so impressed by the work, they may decide to make me their exclusive provider.” She twisted her head and flicked her neck, her mane rolling upwards with the motion. A small satisfied sigh left Spike’s mouth at the sight. “And it’s all thanks to you, my wittle Spiky Wiky.” Rarity lowered herself to the dragon’s height, nuzzling his face with her own. She giggled cutely as the dragon swooned at her contact, noticeably lifting off the ground with the euphoria. Pulling back, and easily holding her smile in place, she continued. “But, don’t worry about walking away empty hoofed; I have the proper payment for you here.” Looking towards the gem filled cart, Rarity let her horn begin to hum with magic. A small section of precious stones rose upwards, separating themselves from the pile. They began to hover gently through the air, shimmering lightly with the fading sun along the horizon. Spike’s love worn eyes moved from the pony of his dreams to the diamonds, rubies, and sapphires in her magical grasp. Drool began to spill from his maw. Seeing the reaction, Rarity giggled cutely. He really was easy to please. “Now Spike,” The unicorn began. “You deserve these gems and can use them as you see fit, but do take care and be frugal with them. A growing dragon such as yourself has to watch his figure, and we wouldn’t want you to grow a little tubby, would we?” Her hoof lightly poked Spike’s scaly hide, earning a quick grunt followed by his arms wrapping around his stomach. Giggling lightly, Rarity levitated the jewels above the small dragon, beckoning him to open his arms. As he saw the floating emeralds he did just that, eagerly grabbing at them as the unicorn released them from her levitation spell. “Thanks!” Spike profusely thanked the alabaster unicorn. “I’m gonna bake these into a jeweled cake. It’ll have a ruby center, a diamond lining, and sapphire gems for decoration.” His serpentine tongue ran over his lips as he spoke. The image only reinforced one strongly held belief in Rarity. The way to a colt’s heart is through his gut. “There really is no need to thank me darling, really,” The unicorn spoke with a dismissing hoof, smiling down at her young helper. “It is just proper payment for helping a lady out with her work.” Spike beamed at the words. “So, what are you going to do now?” His tone aside, it was more than clear to the unicorn he was looking for another way to help her. “Well, now,” Rarity began, adjusting herself until she stood tall and proper. “I will take this fine collection of gems back to my boutique, and by tomorrow’s end, I’ll have constructed a dress impressive enough to bedazzle the Canterlot elite!” Her hoof rose into the air defiantly, a smile breaking across her muzzle. “It will shine like Celestia’s sun and beam like Luna’s moon. I am sure that when Fleur De Lis wears this gown, she will swoon every colt and stallion within a hundred hoofs of her!” “Wow, that’s sounds amazing!” Spike readily complemented. “Do you need any help with that? I mean, I could hold your needles and quills, maybe get some materials you need.” Right. On. Schedule. “I do appreciate the sentiment, really I do,” Rarity spoke kindly as she set her hoof over the dragon’s small shoulder. “But tomorrow, I must lose myself in my work. I daresay that I will need absolute isolation to properly construct this gown.” “I can help with that!” the dragon all too eagerly volunteered. “Dragons are excellent guardians. We can protect entire troves of treasure. It would be my honor to help protect you and your work.” He would have bowed were the jewels in his claws not preventing him from bending. Rarity smiled at him all the same. “I appreciate the sentiment Spike, but perhaps another time.” The unicorn drew her hoof back with a bit lip as she saw the dragon’s demeanor visibly drop. He really was still a baby dragon, unable to hide how he was feeling. However, to a sensitive and generous pony as Rarity, it was impossible for her to ignore. “Spike,” she began carefully, earning the gaze the dragon’s reptilian eyes. “I may not need your help tomorrow, but…” she let her sentence hang, watching as his eyes grew wide and hopeful. “I may need to take a trip to Canterlot sometime next week in order to procure some high quality silk. I would adore to have you there to help me. Would you like to come?” She may as well have asked if the sun was hot. “Yeah! Of Course!” The dragon would have jumped for joy, but again, the precious stones he kept close to his body kept him from moving too much. He didn’t want to drop his cake ingredients into the mud. “I’ll ask Twilight as soon as I get back to the library. I’m sure she’ll let me go, and I promise I’ll help you in every way I can.” Rarity giggled cutely at the dragon’s display. “Of course, Spike. I wouldn’t expect anything less from my most eager of volunteers. But,” She spoke again, letting her words hang. “I must get these jewels back to my boutique. I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow, and you have to ask Twilight permission to go.” The dragon eagerly nodded at her words. “You’re right!” Spike readily agreed, much to the unicorn’s satisfaction. “Do you… need any more help?” The baby dragon pouted his lips, raising them higher on his face as his eyes grew large and wide. A few select tears collected beneath the lids of his eyes. Rarity couldn’t help but critic the look. “You need to add some sniffling, maybe a little whine for attention.” Her hoof rose to her muzzle to hide her twisted lips, a common act when she was deep in thought. “The pout is well done, excellent even by my standards, but you need to do more than just make your eyes glossy. Try to shed a few of them. They’d reflect well over your scales.” All expression left the dragon’s face as the unicorn went on, replaced by just a slack jaw. “Don’t get me wrong, sweetie, to most ponies that pout would have earned you the farm, so to speak. But I have too much experience with pouting, both on the receiving and giving end.” Spike continued to watch her with undisguised shock. Her lips were held in a judgmental line for only a second longer before a broad smile cracked her lips. “Oh do relax, dear. I was only joking.” Rarity waved her hoof at the dragon. It immediately earned a sigh of relief from Spike. “Of course I need your help getting back to my boutique. I wouldn’t have dreamed of dismissing your help just quite yet.” With a spring in her trot, the mare continued down the road, leaving the dragon behind shifting his gaze between the cart of gems behind him and precious stones in his claws. His tongue stuck out from between his lips, pondering on what to do. The mare was gaining ground ahead of him, leaving the dragon far behind. His tail expertly extended outwards, wrapping around the handle of the cart behind him. It twisted around the metal, knotting itself as tight as it could. Turning back towards the mare far ahead of him, Spike dug his feet into the ground, pushing against the dirt with all his might. The grip on the gems in his arms grew stronger the harder he pushed with his legs. The cart behind him barely gave even a hoof of ground, even as he leant forward as far as he could. A slow groan of exertion came from behind his clenched teeth. His foot slid against the dirt beneath him, no ground be gained or lost. Then, at a snail’s pace, the cart began to move forward, creaking as Spike’s tail dragged it. The baby dragon’s legs gradually began to lift and stretch forwards, pulling the cart of gems with him. Not one stone in his arms dropped. At the pace of Tank without his hover-propellor, Spike began to make his way to the boutique, once more. Rarity was long out of his sight by the time he began to make ground, and the dragon doubted he would make it to the pony’s shop before sunset at the rate he was moving. Still, he refused to drop his gems or let go of the mare’s wagon. Both were too important for him to leave behind. “Hey Spike!” He heard his name being called. The dragon twisted his head, looking among the sparse few amount of ponies still left on the town’s street for the voice. He found none. His brow raised in curiosity. “Up here!” The voice came again. Spike’s gaze followed the voices command, looking up into the slowly dimming sky. It was by instinct alone he didn’t drop the jewels in his claws, not like the way his jaw dropped from his head. “Oh, what a day.” Rarity spoke in relief as she opened the door to her home. The sudden sensation of cool air drifting her warm coat was a welcome feeling, bristling her fur and bringing a small shiver to her body. She cooed in appreciation. She gently trotted into her home, lighting her horn with an audible hum. Instantly, a light blue aura began to surround the nearby garments, moving them around podiums and dragging the raw materials around their shelves. Slowly, but noticeably, vacant room was added to her boutique, patches of empty space free of any object. With a soft smile, Rarity summoned a new ponyquin, placing it in the center of the shop. Her eyes drifted around her store once, setting what she knew would soon be a stage. Her hoof pointed towards a now open shelf, noting in her head that the sapphires she collected would be lovely there. Her eyes fell a bit, landing on another open section of the wall, making another note that the rubies would fit best there. Her eyes fell to a large section of open space next to her model podium, taking care to imagine a small carefully organized pile of diamonds sitting there, organized by size and shape. Her body twirled as she circled the bare ponyquin, double checking the location of each precious stone she had gathered. A smile began to grow over Rarity’s lips as she made triply sure her stage was set. When every stone was placed in its proper home, it would be by the thrill of instinct that she would begin to make the gown she was commissioned to construct. Years of practice, patience, and talents always boiled down to the moments when she was in her element, able to create without distraction or hinderance. When she was in her prime, there wasn’t a dress in all of Equestria she couldn’t create. Of course, she needed the gems she and Spike had mined in order to make them. Her eyes turned back to her door, still shut against its frame. Rarity bit her lip as she continued to gaze at it. “Perhaps I should have helped Spike with the load.” The unicorn mused. “He is just a wittle baby. It may have been too much for the poor dear to pull alone.” A hoof rose and covered her mouth as she thought further on the subject. “Knowing him, he’ll probably won’t let go of those gems I gave him.” The possibility was too great to ignore. Rarity took a short breath of air before preparing herself. “Well, it may be the stallion’s job to take the luggage, but a proper mare doesn’t burden others.” She gave a slight huff to herself trotting towards the door with her mind made. But just as her horn began to hum, the door opened without her effort. Momentarily stunned, Rarity froze, staring at the door. It slowly swung open, no doubt under the force of something from the other side pushing it. That was when she saw the familiar green scales and pile of gems pass the woodwork. Her lips quickly curled into a pleasant smile. “Spikey!” She eagerly called his name. “I’m so sorry for leaving you with so much to carry. I simply wasn’t thinking at all.” The dragon’s perky gaze was evident as he saw the approaching pony. “It’s no problem Rarity.” He easily dismissed. His gaze looked behind him, towards the still open door. “I got somepony to help me.” “Oh?” The unicorn asked curiously. “Who?” “Well, you’ll have to see for yourself.” Spike cryptically answered, to the minor annoyance of the mare. “It surprised me when she offered.” It was impossible for Rarity to miss the childish smile that adorned his serpentine lips as he spoke, walking away from the door with his gems still in hand. Interested, Rarity turned her attention back to the door, which had stopped it’s slow opening. However, instead of something new reaching her eyes, something different perforated her perked ears. Childish giggles. Rarity knew in a moment who it was. “Sweetie Belle, I know it’s you.” The laughter stopped on a bit. The alabaster unicorn grinned at her apparent victory. “You can come in sweetheart. This is your home, too.” “Aw,” the childish whine came from beyond the door. “But I wanted to surprise you.” Rarity followed the words with her own cheerful chuckle. “It’s quite alright dear. I’m actually quite proud of you that you helped Spike with the cart. But do be a dear and come in now. I have to unload the gems and give you a great big hug of appreciation.” Rarity nearly squealed with childish amusement at the groan of disappointment that reached her ears. “Okay,” the Sweetie Belle spoke, admitting her defeat. The groan “But, I do have one more surprise.” Now Rarity hadn’t a clue of what she was speaking of. A glance towards Spike only earned her the averted dragon’s gaze, focusing on the bare ponyquin she had set up a few moment prior. She held in a sigh. “Very well Sweetie,” Rarity spoke. “Amaze me.” The door practically swung open at the words. True to her word, the filly amazed her sister, earning a very high and very audible gasp from the mare. Sweetie Belle stood at her tallest and proudest with her butterfly wings extended to their fullest. The effect they gave was blinding. The multi-colored wings on her sisters back, reflecting the refracted light from the gems behind her, lit the studio with a rainbow spectrum. The lights danced like fireflies across the boutique’s inner walls, making the red gown purple, the green silk yellow, white fabric blue, and even shimmering over the walls until rainbows littered them. The display was as gorgeous as it was blinding. Rarity watched on horrified. Her mouth worked uselessly, one part aweing two parts gaping at the wings that clearly adorned her little sister’s back. They melded seamlessly with her coat, disappearing beyond the efforts any make-up or silk could properly hide. If her ability to control them was not clue enough, then that observation alone made it clear. Sweetie Belle had wings. The same kind of wings Rarity herself had had before. “S-Sweetie Belle!” She shouted her sister’s name louder than she had planned. The filly instantly snapped the wings downwards, ending the light show in a flash. “Where in the wide world of Equestria did you get those… those wings?!” Rarity couldn’t control the fear in her voice, the same way Sweetie couldn’t hide the fear that seeped into her words. “From… F-From Twilight,” the filly stuttered out. “It was the spell she was working on, when Spike asked us for help.” Rarity began to look towards the dragon, watching silently from a corner. Sweetie Belle was faster. “But she worked with Fluttershy for a long time to make sure she could cast the spell! She… She was just making sure her hypothesis was right.” “Then why would she give you those wings?” Rarity asked with an accusing hoof. “I nearly perished because of those… things.” Sweetie fired back a response that ended the argument faster than it began. “Because I was thinking of you!” The room was quieter than a barren moon. “What?” Rarity asked. Sweetie belle bit her lip as she looked up into her sister’s gaze. “I… I was thinking about you. Twilight told us, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and I, about how they work. What we think is supposed to create what the wings look like. I mean, Apple Bloom got these big dragon wings cause she was thinking about her brother, and how big and strong he is. I… I thought about you.” When Rarity didn’t speak, Sweetie Belle spoke on. “I was thinking about what you would like in your wings. You would want something that was eye-catching and unique, but still practical. You like things that… that are fun to look at, but aren’t a hassle to wear. I…” the filly sniffled before she finished. “I was hoping you would like them.” Sweetie Belle puffed her lips, twisting her head as she widened her eyes. A low whimper came from her lips, shaking her body as she slowly began to curl to the floor. Trails of tears ran beneath each of her eyes, staining the fur around her muzzle. Even the wings on her back appeared to wilt with the rest of her, dipping low until the nearly dragged beneath her. Rarity sucked in a breath of air at the sight. “Spike, dear,” Rarity spoke in as controlled tone as she could manage towards the dragon; still holding the stones the mare had given him before. “This is what I was referring to earlier. Sweetie here has completely mastered the art of pouting for what she wants.” The dragon’s eyes shifted slowly from the elder mare to her younger sister. Sweetie’s gaze fell on his as well. Spike was forced to place a claw to his chest, dropping some of the gems to the boutique’s floor. “You see?” Rarity spoke again. “I daresay that in the presence of the princess, she may be able to earn the crown. We have only to be thankful that she is a good pony.” The alabaster unicorn’s eyes turned back to the filly’s, only to be immediately assaulted by the same tearful gaze. She bit her lip to control her thoughts. The wings were a beauty, and they were something that she could admire all day. But they were a nuisance, too much surface area and too little force behind them. Not to mention the amount of painful memories they conjured within the mare’s head. But every time Rarity let her gaze drift over Sweetie Belle’s face, she was forced to battle the simply devastating look of desire. The battle didn’t last long. “Oh alright.” She let out in an exasperated tone, dropping her head to force her eyes to break away from Sweetie’s. “You can keep the wings for now.” “YAY!” The smaller unicorn cheered, jumping into the air as she did so. Her wings kept her airborne as she fluttered gently throughout the room. “But,” Rarity continued, gazing the filly to freeze in mid-air. “Tomorrow we are going to see Twilight and I will have to hear from her exactly what changed about those… wings.” Her hoof shook as she pointed towards the multi-colored appendages upon her sister’s back. Sweetie’s smile didn’t falter. “Okay!” The filly eagerly agreed, continuing her joyful flutter through the Carousel. Rarity let out a controlled sigh as she placed her hoof to her forehead. She turned her attention to Spike, still holding his earned gems in his little claws. “Spike,” she spoke his name, immediately earning his attention. “I’m afraid that I must send you home now. I have to take care of my sister before tomorrow, and I must ask that you tell Twilight I’ll be dropping by sometime in the morning, preferably early. Would you mind doing that?” The dragon’s nod couldn’t have been faster. “Of course! I’ll get right on it.” The dragon started marching for the door, gems bouncing lightly against him with every step he took. When he was just in front of the doors, he froze. He leaned left and right, trying to raise his claws high enough to grasp the handles of the doors. They were far outside his reach. Stifling a giggle at the absolutely adorable display, Rarity quickly lit her horn and opened the door. Spike was out the door without even a second though. Shutting the door to her home, Rarity turned her attention to the only other pony in the room. “Sweetie Belle, could you come down here for a second?” Even to her own ears, it sounded odd having to say such a phrase to own sister. Having to call her down from flying of all things. Nevertheless, the filly gently flapped her wings and settled on the ground in front of her sister. Her eyes were still beaming. “Now Sweetie,” Rarity began, “I want to make this perfectly clear.” The unicorn cleared her throat with a feminine start. “I understand that you and your friends doubtlessly volunteered to help Twilight with her research under the guise of trying to get your Cutie Mark, correct?” The filly nodded at the question. “Alright, I just want to make this clear.” The unicorn took in a slow breath control herself. She knew by more than instinct her next words wouldn’t be met with happy acceptance. “You won’t earn your cutie mark from having wings Sweetie.” “Why not?” A childish whine came from Sweetie following her sister’s words, just as Rarity predicted. “I’ve tried everything else. Why not try something like a pegasus? Maybe, maybe I was supposed to have wings and Twilight just helped me out.” “Because that would be using magic to help you get your cutie mark.” Rarity quickly dismissed. “And I thought Twilight and I made it perfectly clear before that your Cutie Mark isn’t something that can be magically given, altered, or enforced. I am not at all suggesting you cannot enjoy your wings, but I will have to deny that any action you make with them will earn you your Cutie Mark.” The look of dejection across her sister’s face was nearly as bad as the pout from before. “I’m sorry Sweetie, I really am.” The unicorn spoke as she approached the filly. “But I didn’t want you to have any false promises about what you could do with those wings. After all, I highly doubt Twilight promised you that you would get your Cutie Mark. She didn’t, did she?” The filly fought tooth and nail against herself from admitting her fault. “Well… no, but… it’s possible, right?” A slow shake of the head from the elder mare quickly set the filly into a dejected mood. Another sigh came from Rarity as she saw her sister’s state. “Sweetie Belle,” she began carefully, sitting next to her sister. “You know that your Cutie Mark is something you have to earn. It comes from your special talent; the thing that you enjoy most of all in life and you can do better than almost any other pony. You’re a unicorn dear, and I’m afraid that wings aren’t going to help or hinder you from learning what it is you’re meant to do.” “I know…” The filly responded dejectedly, lowering head until her chin sat on the floor. “I guess… I just thought if I tried something like this, I’d at least get an idea. It’s what the rest of the girls thought, too.” “And I hold nothing against you for trying new things.” Rarity encouraged her sister. “I just don’t want to give you any false hopes.” “Alright…” Sweetie spoke lowly again, grumbling a few unintelligible words into the floor. Rarity watched her sister patiently, one part admiring her sister’s ability to accept reality, two parts admiring the multi-colored wings on her back. They really did look just like the wings Twilight had given her just over a year ago, all to see her dear friend Dash perform in Cloudsdale. It was a good thing her memory was selective. “So…” The filly began. “What happens now?” “Now?” Rarity mimicked her sister, brows rising as a mischievous smile decorated her lips. “Now you are going straight to bed. I’ve had a full day and I imagine that you have as well.” “Aw,” Sweetie Belle whined. “But I’m not even tired yet.” “Of course you aren’t,” she started. “You’ve only been helping me in the gem field most of the day followed by helping Twilight with her studies, all while trying to earn your Cutie Mark. Really Sweetie, it’s the same thing you always say right before you jump into bed and are fast asleep before I can even shut off the lights.” A heat of scarlet passed over Sweetie’s cheeks at the sentence. “I’m not… that tired.” She followed her words with a large yawn. Rarity smiled at her younger sister. Sweetie’s eyes looked up to her elder laced with sleep and fatigue. “Will I have to get rid of these wings tomorrow?” “Who knows,” the unicorn dismissed with a shrug of her shoulders. “If Twilight says they are perfectly safe now, I’ll trust her word and you can keep them.” The filly’s smile was ready to split her face. “But, that just means you will be helping me in the boutique a bit more from now on.” That earned only question from the curious filly. “How?” “With both wings and a horn, you can help me greatly by doing one difficult, but rewarding task.” The unicorn’s horn hummed with magic as it began to glow the familiar blue aura. From around the show, silk and thread began to hover, slowly surrounding the fashion-wise pony. Her smile was as sharp as the needles she held. “Modeling!” The filly’s defiant cry echoed through the home. A content sigh left Dash’s lips as she snuggled into the cloud beneath her. Her coat bristled at the cool sensation of the cloud, insulating the heat her body gave off into a comfortable pocket of air. She smiled in content satisfaction. Another busy day filled with flying, spinning, and every trick in her arsenal, short of the Sonic Rainboom. After a long workout session like that, a cool cloud in the dusk sky was just what the pegasus needed for her tired wings. The cool water particles chilled her burning muscles, relaxing the taught tendons. Every breath that left her lips was one of modest pleasure. At times likes these, Rainbow let her mind wander. It was just like flying in a sense, imagining things. No boundaries, no limits, nothing but what you wanted to accomplish. She could see herself flying above a crowd in Cloudsdale, every pegasus beneath her eagerly cheering to see her skills, to watch her fly faster, to see her signature moves, and most importantly, to see what she was made of. She would twirl in the air, free fall for hundreds of hooves before making a miraculous recovery, maybe even pull off a Buccaneer Blitz for good measure. But then, when the show was reaching its climax, and the ponies were at their peak with energy, that was when Dash could see herself getting ready for the finale. She’d fly as high as she could possibly reach, flapping her wings until the pull of gravity meant nothing to her. She’d be able to see everything from how high she was. See the mountains beyond the edges of the horizon and the lands beyond the sea. Once she reached that fabled height, she'd flap one of her wings, twister her body and aim her nose to the ground. Then her descent would begin. The wind would whip past her with a deafening whoosh, so loud that even the cheers of the ponies around her would become nothing. Her breath would become sparse, her chest tight, but her smile as wide as her wingspan. Then, when she was at her limit, when her vision just made out the crowd of ponies rushing past her, sitting on the clouds around her, then she’d break the only barrier left to shatter. She’d surpass the speed of sound and perform the Sonic Rainboom. The display would light up the sky, it would fill the stands with a spectacle of color that would be unmatched by any other pegasus for leagues around. It would shake the stands and rumble like thunder, invigorating the pegasi with a level of exhilaration that not even magic could match. Then she’d fly back up, landing on the clouds of Cloudsdale. She’d be rushed by the crowd, surrounded by her fans and friends. They’d lift her up, carry her across the clouds as she smiled and laughed. They would chant her name with every trot they made. “Rainbow Dash!” She would be able to feel their adoration for her like the wind in flight, filling her with a feeling of accomplishment that was nearly impossible to obtain. “Rainbow Dash!” She’d shut her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being carried without any effort on her part, being celebrated like the celebrity she was. And it was all because of her hard work. Hard work, dedication, patience, and strive. “Rainbow Dash!!” The pegasus shot awake. A gasp of surprise left Dash’s lips as the shout from before still rang in her head. Her mane whipped left and right with her head, searching for the pony that had called out for her. Her pink eyes landed on an orange pegasus, hovering in the air beside her. Dash stared at her, her mouth as wide as her eyes. With the sun behind her, she could see every detail of the smaller pony. Her wide proud grin. Her hopeful purple eyes. But most prominently, the six wings adorned on the pony’s back. “Look Dash, I can fly!” The pony cheered eagerly, flapping her wings in a rhythmic cycle around one another. Dash watched on stupefied. Even fresh from waking, she knew this wasn’t a dream, no matter how impossible it seemed. “Scoots…” she whispered the pony’s name with disbelief, moving until she was standing on the cloud. Scootaloo eagerly flew down to join her, quickly robbing her coat around the mare’s legs. Her smile had only grown with every passing second. “Isn’t this great! I can fly now. I can really fly!” The filly flexed her wings all at once, quickly and easily lifting her off the cloud. She fell back onto the soft surface with a soft whump. Dash’s shock had yet to subside. The elder pegasus’s blue hoof lifted slowly, settling at the base of the filly’s wings. The pony halted in her movements, but eagerly extended her wings to show them to her idol. Her excitement was unbounded and unfiltered. Dash’s hoof slowly ran over the edges of one of the wings, tracing the muscular exterior before slowly rising and falling over each pinion. She counted the feathers, silently numbering them in her head. With wide unblinking eyes, she performed the same action on the next wing, and then the one after it. She followed suit until she had traced all six wings belonging to the once grounded pegasus. “Aren’t they awesome?” The filly asked her mentor as she finished. “I was thinking of how fast you could fly when you got them.” Dash’s gaze fell to meet the filly’s. For just a moment, just the smallest breath of a second, Scootaloo’s smile faltered as the shocked still gaze of Dash met hers. She looked… terrified. “How?” The question was one word, but the filly knew exactly what Rainbow meant. She answered without delay. “From Twilight,” she cheered, standing at her tallest as she did so. “She was working on that spell from a while ago, the one that let Rarity get those wings for your flying competition. Well, according to Spike, she’s finally got it to a point to know how it works, and is able to cast it whenever she wants!” The filly jumped again at the words, mind already racing with the possibilities of flight. “Twilight… gave you more… wings?” Dash carefully pieced together what Scootaloo had said. To her, heck, to any pony, the action would seem impossible. But here was Rainbow staring at proof that she was wrong. “Sort of,” Scootaloo began, hoof itching the back of her mane. “It gave any pony it was casted on wings, but the kind of wings depended on what you were thinking. At least that’s how she described it. I don’t really know all the details. But more importantly, this means I can fly with you now!” Scootaloo deftly concluded in front of her mentor. Rainbow didn’t cheer with her. Instead, slowly, Dash turned away from Scootaloo. The cyan pegasus spread her wings, crouched low the cloud, then flexed her appendages with all her strength. She took off at the speeds Scootaloo had always admired. Except now, she was flying away from the filly. Scootaloo watched her soar through the dusk sky, quickly vanishing from sight. The filly’s smile hung only on one delicate string. “Dash?” She whispered. Only an empty wind was her answer.