Walking along side Soarin,I had once more started to take in my surroundings; still fascinated by the various architecture that seems to have been constructed from clouds alone. I was confused by how they managed to shape clouds let alone keep themselves in position and maintain an actual form, but that was something I had learned not to question in the short time I had been here. I was more hoping on doing some research of my own, I just hoped that had some sort of facility where they would keep such information I had yet to see a library or something along them lines, honestly I was never a a large library user but I think my attitude towards them is going to have to change considering how little I know now.
My eyes jumped over to a small filly sitting outside one of the stores, peering through the window at what seemed to be a collection of toys. It had me thinking about how I was essentially doing that with this world. I was taken away by the wonders, yet I felt like I was simply observing them, and was not actually part of it. I turned my attention to the sky, being on top of the clouds meant that there were not any actual clouds above, leaving only the clear blue sky. I had never really taken much notice of the sky, it always seemed like an inaccessible location that served no real purpose, but now I saw it more as an open playground to the Pegasi flying around.
What it must feel like to simply take off and fly through the wide open space; to have complete control of where you’re going with out any form of constraint. From the time I had woken up this morning, I had set for myself numerous goals in order to stop me thinking of more depressing thoughts. One of which is learning how to fly, not only out of my own personal interest, but out of the fact that it would be a handy skill to have if I am to be living in a place where flying is as normal as walking. Something that became clearer with each passing observation as I could see more and more clouds floating alone only accessible through flight. Sure I could ask for help in the same way Spitfire had brought me here; but if I was going to be staying here, I would prefer to be self-reliant and especially not ask any more of Spitfire than I already had.
“So where are you from again?” Soarin spoke with a calm voice still looking forward paying no attention to the ongoings around us.
“A farm near Manehatten,” I can remember Spitfire mentioning that place when she had interrogated me last night; so it was probably best to stick to what I had said, even if she now knew I had been lying, “Why do you ask?”
“No reason, just though it would be best to get to know each other if you’re going to be working for us. So how did you meet Spitfire? I am fairly sure she has not been out Manehatten way in a while”
Trying to think back to the story I had told Spitfire, “Well I set out from the farm I lived on in hopes of finding something better for myself, not that the farm was bad in anyway but it did not really feel like it was the place for me. One night when I had fallen asleep on a road that branched out from Manehatten,a group of Pegasi moved me and placed me atop a cloud near by. I am not sure if they did that out of jest or simply because the cloud was a safer place then simply lying next to the road ,but unfortunately they did not know that I had yet to learn to fly...” I paused in attempt to show that I truly was depressed from not being able to fly;honestly I sort of was. “When I woke up, I found my self so high up I was surprised to say the least.In an attempt to get down I fell... honesty I though it was going to be the end for me, but that’s when I met Spitfire, well...more like she caught me before I hit the ground,but really we went from there.”
Soarin paused and looked at me astonished, presumably at how unlikely the circumstances were he had probably been thinking more along the lines of meting each other in town and bumping into each other not Spitfire saving my life.
“Wow that’s.. I guess you owe her your life then in a way” He laughed and carried on walking were as I had stopped. It was true I had not really given it much thought but if it were not for Spitfire I would probably be dead right now I owed her more then I thought. and I was disappointed at my self that it had taken me this long to realize that. I have always believed that you should pay back a debt no matter the cause, and to not have realized how big of a debt I was in, made me feel like a hypocrite to my own philosophy.
“..So why is it you can’t fly?” Soarin carried on, I think he had realized what thoughts he had provoked and not wanting to dwell on them had attempted to change the subject.
“I..” I brought my attention back to the conversation making a mental side note to come back to the issue later. “I never really had anyone to teach me, both my parents were normal ponies.My Pegasus genes seemed to have derived from my grandfather who did not live with us. So I had learnt to get along with out them truth be told it was not until I had awoke on that cloud had I really felt the need to use them”
Once more Soarin, seemed surprise at my response, but I was more surprised at how smoothly I was creating my fake back story more than anything.
“But you are going to learn to fly right?” He looked at me as if unsure that I would even try to learn now. This was understandable, considering I had apparently been able to get by for so long with out them, but really learning to fly was one of the things I looked forward to the most.
“Of course, as soon as possible!” The enthusiasm in my voice was obvious, I just hoped it did not come across as strange or even worse...suspicious. No, I doubt it would,of course anyone would be enthusiastic about learning how to fly! Why would it be strange?
“Well,moving along to more recent events, how was last night?” It took me a moment to understand what he meant, but the obvious hint in his voice was a dead give away.
“W-what do you mean?”
“Well,I know for sure that there are no pullout sofas in any of the rooms, why would there be? After all,them rooms are made for set amount of ponies, thus,why would they go through the extra cost and trouble of creating more places to sleep when they are only getting payed for the ponies that put down for actual beds?” Once more he spoke suggestively, I knew what he was getting at,and frankly made me question what he thought had gone on between me and Spitfire.
“Nothing happened, yea we shared a bed but have you seen the size of them beds?! You could easily fit several ponies on there! So of course I slept on one side and Spitfire the other...” I was taken back by the sudden change in Soarin’s attitude. Did he really think that something would happen just after just meeting Spitfire? What more was that now he had brought the subject up my mind had began thi-
“Yea I didn't think so.” His tone returned back to that calm casual tone. I was unsure if I should be insulted or relived he dropped it so easily. Though,unfortunately, my ego got the best of me this time.
“What do you mean by that?” My tone now slightly more irritated than it should have been.
“It’s not really my place, but I am just going to say that I would be surprised no really surprised if something did happen” His voice seemed to trail off as if regretting bringing up the subject; it only left me confused and,really, I was still thinking he meant it mockingly.
“Hey I know I can’t fly, and may not be the mo-”
“No, not like that.Just forget about it for now, we’re almost there.” Soarin’s tone dropped low before he turned his attention back to the street. I guessed it would be stupid to pry obviously whatever it was he was not going to tell me, but if he was not referring to me in that way, what was he talking about? Was it something to do with Spitfire? Before I could think more in to the subject,I found my self being intoxicated by the smell of bake goods once more. Had we gone back to the cafe? No, this was different.
I looked to Soarin who had quickly gone from a serious look to a childish expression with a grin across his face. Looking to where his eyes had landed, I realized that the smell was coming from the shop in front of me. It was a bakery, well, I assumed it was; there was no sign to indicate directly,however, the rows upon rows of various foods was more or less a giveaway.
Following Soarin into the bakery, I turned my attention to the stallion standing behind the shops counter, a brown coat with a black mane and a picture of a loaf of bread on his side, a far less impressive cutie mark to the one I had seen on Spitfire. With that thought in my head It came to my attention that ponys outside, well the ones that were visible also had random pictures tattooed on there flanks. Here I thought it was just something Spitfire had, but from the looks of it... everypony had one. I turned my head to Soarin then glanced back he had one too though I questioned what his was, I couldn't really see it due to his wings stretching back and covering the majority of it, but he defiantly had one. I suddenly became self conscious, was it normal to have one of these? I looked out the window once more, the filly I had seen earlier was walking down the street next to an older pony presumably one of her parents, an innocent glance at her flank showed that she did not seem to have one unlike her parent. I guess that’s understandable but why would ponies have random pictures that frankly were not that impressive tattooed to them for all to see? It could not simply be just a trend could it?
Thinking back the the one the stallion behind the counter had, guessed it was something to do with a hobby or a job, but why have something as unimpressive as a loaf of bread?
“Familiarize yourself Lucid, this shop sells the best baked goods in Cloudsdale; way better than the stuff we are given back at the coliseum.” I turned my head to Soarin in confusion, was this really an important place? “If I ever tell you to get me something to eat,make sure you come here, ok?” So that’s it, I had not picked Soarin to be a massive food-love, but then again, I did not know a lot about him to start off with.
“Sure...” I looked to the stallion behind the counter,hoping the look of confusion was shared. However,he just looked back with an obnoxious grin,obviously flattered by what Soarin had said.
“If I hadn't just eaten, I would buy something..” I chuckled under my breath at how important Soarin had placed food in his mind. I looked forward to what next “important” thing Soarin was going to show me, probably something just as absurd.
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