Coming Home
Nimbus sat back in his seat as, at the front of the classroom, Dusk Shine went over Royal Equestrian Air Force history. He respected his teacher, and was interested in the subject, but his mind was elsewhere today. Last night, the campus had received its first snowfall. It hadn’t been much- a light sprinkling at best- but the sight had filled Nimbus with warmth. Hearth’s Warming Eve was coming, and with it, winter break. He’d be going home to see his family for the first time since summer. There would be long nights to come, filled with games, fires in the fireplace, gift-giving, and perhaps the most delightful of all- chess pie. Nimbus licked his lips as he thought about the sugary cornmeal treat. He could almost taste it right now. His daydreams were cut short by a swift kick to the back of his seat. Nimbus shook himself from his stupor. Dusk Shine was gazing intently at him, and with a sinking feeling, Nimbus realized that he’d been asked a question.
“Could you… please repeat the question, sir?” Nimbus asked as respectfully as possible. Dusk Shine smiled.
“I would love to,” Dusk Shine said, “but judging by the look on your face, I feel the question should probably be adjusted accordingly. Tell me, Nimbus- was it gumdrops or candy canes you were thinking about?”
The class went into a complete uproar and Nimbus blushed as Dusk Shine chuckled to himself. “You’ve got to have a little fun when your job has you in a classroom all day,” he admitted as the laughter died down, “but as I was saying, Nimbus, can you tell us how the REAF was used during the attack on Manehattan Bay during the Great Griffon War?”
Nimbus was relieved. The question had been plucked directly from last night’s reading. “Yes sir,” he answered, “the Pegasi were sent around the attacking Griffon force in an effort to circle around and attack from behind. The Griffons, however, moved too quickly, and by the time the REAF reached Manehattan Bay, very few forces were left to actually attack. The maneuver was a failure because planners did not consider the Griffons’ speed and skill in offensive actions.”
Dusk Shine nodded, “well done, Nimbus. I can see you did your reading. Still, I’d suggest you try to pay a little more attention. You’ve only got a few more hours to go here.”
“Yes sir,” Nimbus said, straightening up in his seat. One thing was certain- the next hour of class was going to be long indeed.
…
“So, your plans for the holidays?”
Storm Runner caught up to Nimbus as the orange Pegasus exited his last class for the day. Nimbus greeted him with a nod and a smile.
“Heading back home to Hollow Shades,” Nimbus answered, “my family’s renting a cabin for Hearth’s Warming Eve. Real mountainside stuff, as if I hadn’t had enough of that recently.”
“No kidding,” Storm Runner said, “although this mountain’s probably got a bit less vegetation than what you see in Hollow Shades. How did you do on your last final?”
“Aced it,” Nimbus said, gesturing dramatically with his hoof, “by which I mean it was a ninety-four percent. Buy hey- an “A” is an “A” am I right?”
“You are indeed,” Storm Runner chuckled.
“I finally feel good,” Nimbus admitted as they crossed the bridge to the campus, “just a few months ago, I was beating myself up over the Wonderbolts Academy. Now, I’d say things are really looking up.”
“Well I for one am glad to hear you say that,” Storm Runner said, “especially because it’s better to have an awesome roommate than a moody one.”
“Oh shut it,” Nimbus said. A sudden rush of air announced the arrival of a Pegasus behind the two ponies. They turned and were greeted by none other than Sun Blaze.
“Hello again, colts,” Sun Blaze said drily, “been doing your research?”
Nimbus thought back to the Awakening book she’d given them to read through. The writing was nothing if not disturbing, but also somewhat interesting. He and Storm Runner had read the book cover to cover twice now.
“We’ve read the book, if that’s what you mean,” Nimbus said.
“And? Seen any signs of Awakening activity here?”
“Signs like what?” Storm Runner said, “ponies muttering mystical mumbo jumbo? Secret hoofshakes? Or perhaps my favorite- public displays of rebellion? Sorry, can’t say I have.”
Sun Blaze fixed Storm Runner with a glare. “This isn’t exactly funny, you know. I came across a lunar seal in the lower regions of the school yesterday. That’s some serious magic. Somepony was attempting to contact Nightmare Moon herself.”
“I understand the seriousness,” Nimbus said, “but honestly… what are we going to do about it? We’re all going off-campus in the next few hours.”
Sun Blaze shrugged. “Just remain vigilant, that’s all. Chances are if somepony with the Awakening doesn’t know we’re on to them yet, they will soon, and the last thing I need is for you two chuckleheads to wind up dead because the Awakening sees you as a threat.”
“Right,” Nimbus said, “well I’ll do that… while I stay with my family in a very secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere.”
Sun Blaze stared at him with a look of utter seriousness.
“-where nopony would have a chance of finding me,” Nimbus finished.
“Well, let’s hope so,” Sun Blaze sighed. “Don’t die on break.”
“Merry Hearth’s Warming Eve to you too,” Storm Runner called out as Sun Blaze took off, heading for the carriages lined up to take the cadets to either Canterlot’s train station or directly to Cloudsdale. Storm Runner nodded towards the carriages.
“Well, I’m off to Cloudsdale. Have a great holiday, Nimbus.”
“You too,” Nimbus said, raising a wing, “wing slap!”
The two Pegasi smacked their wings together, then lowered them again. Storm Runner turned back as he headed for his carriage.
“Oh, and-“ he tried his best to imitate Sun Blaze, “don’t die.”
Nimbus broke down laughing as his friend boarded his carriage. Nimbus collected himself and hopped into his own carriage, filled with cadets and civilian students alike, chattering about their holiday plans. It wasn’t long before Nimbus joined them, settling into a holiday-induced trance of cheerfulness.
…
Nimbus glanced back as his train departed Hollow Shades station. The only students left on the train were heading farther east, to Manehattan, and Nimbus didn’t envy them. It was already nearly two in the morning, and he was exhausted. Adjusting his saddlebag, Nimbus headed to the opposite side of the station, where his parents were supposedly waiting. Rounding the corner, Nimbus had no time to react as a grey blur impacted him to the chest and practically pinned him to the ground.
“Nimbus!” a shrill voice squeaked. Nimbus looked up just in time to see the beaming face of Whirlwind, his younger brother.
“Hey there!” Nimbus said, cheerfully ruffling his brother’s mane, “where are Mom and Dad?”
“They’re coming!” Whirlwind said, helping Nimbus up, “you wanna know what? Today was my last day in school! I’m halfway done with first grade!”
Nimbus smiled as he and his brother started walking, “you look the part too, Whirly. I swear it’s like every time I see you, you’ve grown a couple feet taller. Why, you’re gonna be taller than me before you know it.”
Nimbus spotted his parents seated on a bench a short distance away. Neither was looking his way. He nudged Whirlwind and held a hoof to his lips. “Hey, why don’t we surprise Mom and Dad, eh?”
Whirlwind nodded excitedly, and Nimbus grinned. “Climb up on my back.”
Whirlwind sat on Nimbus’s back, hooking his leg into the strap of Nimbus’s saddlebag. “Okay,” he whispered, “let’s go!”
Nimbus pushed himself off the ground, launching vertically into the air and accelerating.
“Wow, you got fast!” Whirlwind said, giggling with delight.
“It’s one of the many perks of Aviation Training School,” Nimbus said matter-of-factly, “now hold on tight!”
Without any further warning, Nimbus rolled inverted and dove straight down towards the ground, spreading his wings and slowing his descent in a few short feet right in front of his parents, Updraft and Comet Stream. The two Pegasi drew back in surprise, then broke into beaming smiles as they realized who they were staring at.
“Nimbus, it’s so good to see you!” Comet Stream, his mother, said, wrapping her hooves around him in a hug. Whirlwind quickly slid off Nimbus’s back in attempt to avoid what he felt for sure was about to become a major cootie hotspot. Nimbus hugged back, suddenly realizing how much he’d missed his parents. It had been seven months of hard work, and he’d barely had time to focus on them at all. Now, seeing them here in front of him, made him realize how much he’d completely dismissed his normal life.
“Hey, buddy,” Updraft said, stepping forward and taking Nimbus in a bear hug, “it’s good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too, Dad,” Nimbus said, trying hard to fight back his urge to choke up. His father released him, and Whirlwind, deciding that the zone was once again cootie-free, took his place by Nimbus’s side.
“Well, let’s head to the cabin,” Comet Stream said, “I’m sure we’ve all got a lot to talk about.”
“Absolutely,” Nimbus nodded, and he and his parents set off into the night.
…
The cabin wasn’t spectacularly huge. Cozy would have been a better way to describe it. It had two bedrooms connected to a large main room where a pine tree was placed, festooned with ornaments. Near the tree was a couch, just big enough for the family of four, and in another corner was a small kitchen. It wasn’t much, but Nimbus felt he preferred it that way. Civilization, at its closest, was ten miles away, and he couldn’t wait to wake up to hot chocolate, snowball fights, and sledding.
“This is it,” Updraft said, turning on the kitchen lights. “Nimbus, you’ll be sharing a room with Whirlwind.”
“Alright!” Whirlwind shouted, and Nimbus laughed.
“Hoofbump, Whirly,” he said, holding out his hoof. Whirlwind took the opportunity hoofbumped his brother with all his might. Nimbus feigned injury, taking his hoof back and shaking it.
“Whew, that was some hoofbump. You’re getting pretty strong there.”
“Alright, colts,” Comet said, “it’s been a long day for both of you, I’m sure. Time for you two to head to bed.”
Nimbus yawned, the day’s hours suddenly falling on him at once. “That sounds like an excellent idea. Goodnight Mom, goodnight Dad.”
“Goodnight Nimbus,” his parents echoed. Nimbus trotted into his room where Whirlwind had already set up a pillow fort on the top bunk of the bed.
Nimbus pretended not to notice his brother’s characteristic black mane poking up from behind the pillows and set to work organizing his belongings. “It’s odd,” he said to himself as he brushed his teeth, “I could swear Whirly was just here a few minutes ago.” Shaking his head, Nimbus spit into the sink and trotted back over to the bed. Pausing, he looked up at the tuft of black, grinning. Nimbus reached up to grab one of the concealing pillows with his teeth, and promptly received a snowball to the flank for the trouble.
“Gotcha!”
Nimbus turned around in total surprise. Whirlwind was standing behind him with an impish grin on his face. “What?” Nimbus spluttered, “but how did you-?”
Deciding to find out for himself, Nimbus grabbed the pillow and took it down. Behind it was a strategically-placed mop, the same color as Whirlwind’s mane. Nimbus nodded. “Very clever. I’d ask how you managed to get a snowball in here, but that’s probably a trade secret.”
“Sure is!” Whirlwind said, climbing up on his bunk as Nimbus turned off the light. Nimbus climbed into his own bed. The mattress was hard and the frame was short, but it didn’t matter. He was home with family. As he closed his eyes, Nimbus heard Whirlwind utter one more quick statement.
“Hey Nimbus? I’m glad you’re home.”
Smiling, Nimbus whispered, “so am I, Whirly. So am I.”
…
The next morning went by in a blur. Just as Nimbus had predicted, it was just like Hearth’s Warming Eve every previous year. The family drank hot chocolate and Nimbus brought them up to speed on his progress at REAC, while Whirlwind told Nimbus every detail he could muster about his experiences in his small first grade class in Hollow Shades’ schoolhouse. It was like a dream. No work to worry about, no responsibilities- just family. At the moment, Nimbus was finishing up a slice of buttery toast with apple jelly as his brother explained his latest plans.
“All my friends are going to be out on Hoofbreaker Slope this morning,” Whirlwind said between bites, “they’ll be sledding. Can I go meet them? Please?”
Comet Stream sighed “I really wish you wouldn’t call it that.”
Whirlwind shrugged, “but everypony calls it Hoofbreaker, Mom.”
“We have some errands to run today,” Updraft said, walking by the table, “although… Nimbus, would you mind taking your brother sledding?”
“Me? Sure,” Nimbus answered. Whirlwind was practically bouncing with joy.
“You’re coming, Nimbus? This is gonna be so awesome!”
Nimbus laughed, “sure is.” Turning to his parents, he added, “I guess we’ll be out at Hoofbreaker for the day, if you need to find us.”
“Of course,” Updraft said, “we’ll see you two later.”
Nimbus excused himself from the table, washing his plate in the small sink. He then trotted over to the door, waiting for Whirlwind to finish up. The colt finished the rest of his toast in seconds, and was at the door faster than Nimbus had seen most of his fellow cadets run.
“Be safe out there,” Comet added as Nimbus cracked the door open. Nimbus looked back with a mischievous grin.
“Mom, it’s me we’re talking about here. What could possibly go awry?”
…
Nimbus banked left and descended, flying over the famous sled run known to Hollow Shades’ locals as Hoofbreaker Slope. Whirlwind was flying beside him, somewhat unsteadily. The colt had learned to fly only a year previous. Nimbus smiled as they passed over a group of foals boarding a toboggan sled.
“Huh, looks exactly the same way as I remember it,” he said.
“I can’t wait to do this!” Whirlwind said, “are you ready with the sled?”
Nimbus pulled the sled he’d been carrying off his back. “Ready. Hop in when you’re ready.”
Whirlwind flew into the sled and positioned himself at the front. “Let’s go!”
Nimbus tipped forward and initiated a dive, heading straight for the mountain’s peak. As he passed the peak, Nimbus leveled off slowly, until he was right over the snowy slope. Then, he folded his wings in and dropped into the sled behind his brother.
“Yeehaw!” Nimbus whooped as he and his brother sailed past the other ponies getting ready for sled runs of their own. They were sliding downhill and still accelerating, and Nimbus was using his wings in an attempt to keep the little sled on course. By now, Nimbus and Whirlwind looked like nothing more than a small, white meteor hurtling downhill, trailing a snowy wake. Other ponies sledding by at normal speeds looked on in awe as they passed. Nimbus simply greeted their stares with a smile and wave. Up ahead, Nimbus could see the hill leveling off, and nudged his brother.
“Hang on!” he said, ending up with a mouthful of snow in the brief time it took to speak those few words. Nimbus twisted his wings, wrenching the sled to one side, and leaned away from the skid, forcing the sled’s friction to stop it. Unfortunately, nature had other plans, and had placed a rather large snow bank in their path. Realizing they had no time to slow down, Nimbus grabbed Whirlwind.
“Bail out!” he ordered, throwing Whirlwind into the air fractions of a second before he ran headfirst into the freezing cold pile of snow. Whirlwind floated down gently using his wings, and stopped to look around. Nimbus was nowhere to be seen, but there was a suspicious-looking hole in the snowbank they’d been headed for.
Without warning, Nimbus popped out of the snow like a whale breaching the surface.
“Aagh! Cold!” he hissed, teeth chattering. Whirlwind rolled around laughing, and received a snowball to the side for the trouble. Packing up some snow of his own, he let fly at his brother.
“Come on,” Nimbus said, dodging the snowball, “is that your best?”
Whirlwind took a quick glance to the rear and shook his head. “Nope. I brought backup.”
Nimbus’s gaze shifted to where Whirlwind had been looking. Several colts and fillies behind him were already packing their own snowballs. He raised an eyebrow at his younger brother.
“Well-played. I’d say now is a good time for me to run.”
Nimbus didn’t get more than five hoofsteps before he was nearly buried by a shower of snowballs. He shook his head, spitting out snow as the laughing foals surrounded him.
“You’re Nimbus?”
“Are you an Aviator?”
“How many Griffons have you taken down?”
“Can you really breathe fire?”
Nimbus laughed as the questions bombarded him, playing along for a time. Apparently his brother had been quite busy spreading stories about him to his friends.
“No, I’m not an Aviator yet,” Nimbus answered, “I haven’t downed any Griffons, and I regret to say that I don’t breathe fire. What I do have, however, is the most awesome brother in the world, and from what I can tell, he’s got the coolest friends anypony could ask for. Now- who’d like to hear about the battle of Elderhoof Peak?”
The ponies gathered around excitedly, listening as Nimbus told a story straight from his history lessons, weaving the tale in a way that he hoped made it as engaging as it had been when Polaris told his class the same exact thing. As he chattered away, throwing aside the yoke of seriousness he’d been carrying around for the past few months, he was surprised to find that he missed childhood. Things had been much simpler then. Now, he had more responsibility, and no clues as to what to do with it all. Still, something about the wide-eyed, admiring colts and fillies talking to him filled his heart with pride. Despite everything he’d done; despite all of the mistakes he’d made, these ponies still looked up to him. Nimbus thought long and hard about this as he spent the afternoon sledding with Whirlwind and his friends, and by the time the sun set and the two brothers turned their backs on Hoofbreaker Slope, Nimbus felt confidence knowing that whatever trouble’s he’d face in the next few months of school, he would always have others supporting him.
…
Nimbus sipped his mug of coffee as his parents returned from Whirlwind’s bedroom. The colt had come home exhausted from his day at the slope, and had fallen asleep no more than thirty minutes after dinner, leaving Nimbus with his parents for the night. Nimbus looked up as Updraft and Comet Stream entered the room.
“Hey Mom, hey Dad. So, am I putting presents under the tree this year?”
Comet Stream chuckled as she sat down on the couch opposite Nimbus with Updraft, pouring the two of them coffee. “Not just yet. Your father and I aren’t giving up that role so easily.”
Updraft took a long swig of the warm beverage before speaking. “We’re really proud of you, Nimbus,” he said at last. “Last year, with the Wonderbolt Academy… you scared us. Not because we realized that you couldn’t handle what they threw at you, because we knew you could, but because we feared that you’d learn that sometimes things don’t come easily to you the hard way. We were afraid that when you came back to us after those four months, you wouldn’t be able to recover, and yet here you are.”
“Yeah,” Nimbus said quietly with a smile, “sometimes I scarcely believe it myself.”
“Your brother really looks up to you,” Updraft said, “if ever you have any doubt in the coming months, remember that.”
“And it’s only five more months,” Comet added, “you’ve made it this far. It’s time for you to show them all that you have what it takes.”
Nimbus finished his coffee, resting his head on the couch. “Of course I will.” At the moment, he couldn’t wish for a better life. A warm fire, his family around him- he hadn’t felt as happy as this in almost three years. Still, a dark cloud seemed to hang over his mind.
“Mom, Dad, what do you think about the Awakening?” he asked hesitantly.
Updraft sighed. “To be honest, I’d hoped they would just fade away after their first bombing, but they haven’t. Now there’s talk down in Hollow Shades about them. Ponies accusing each other of having secrets, so-and-so saw someone else practicing dark magic, et cetera. The whole thing is a mess. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if their mission was just to turn us all on ourselves.”
“It’s sad,” Comet Stream added, “they think their cause is just, so they’ll just keep on hurting innocent ponies to further it. Nimbus, you should be honored that you’re going into the military, where you have the ability to do something about ponies like them.”
“If I get the chance,” Nimbus said, “do you really think they’re going to bring back Nightmare Moon?”
Updraft shook his head as he set his coffee down, “I honestly don’t know, but if they do, it’ll be bad news. There was a reason Celestia didn’t just banish her to some remote corner of the world. Rumor has it she’s as powerful as our leader herself.”
“Don’t trouble yourself about that, though,” Comet Stream added, “this is not the time. It’s Hearth’s Warming Eve, for Celestia’s sake.”
“Of course,” Nimbus said, yawning, “you’re right.”
“Somepony tired?” Comet said.
Nimbus shook his head, but now that he was finally relaxed, he was discovering how much of a toll the day’s activity had taken on his strength. He could feel his eyelids drooping, and it was requiring almost too much effort to even keep his head up. “I’m fine, Mom,” he said slowly, “just need some more coffee, and… I’ll… be…”
Nimbus’s head fell back on the couch as he slumbered away. He was completely at peace in the cabin- this “sanctuary” from his daily stresses. Inside, his parents nodded to each other and set out placing gifts under the pine tree, while outside, beautiful, glistening white snowflakes danced down from the sky. Below, the festive lights of Hollow Shades shone with a soft warmth amongst the valley trees, reflecting off the falling snow. The air was still and silent, and for one night, the entire world was completely peaceful. Nimbus slumbered away- he was warm, he was happy, and he was content.
But most of all, he was home.