Chapter XII
The new year came hard and fast on the hooves of the winter break. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash experienced unparalleled freedom over the holidays with the school almost utterly abandoned. Coach McHard Cheese and Miss Skywishes were the only teachers to remain behind. The two fillies didn't notice, but their teachers shared more than a few cups of eggnog together, and one moment under the mistletoe. The old war veteran and the young teacher were an unlikely pairing, and it may have had more to do with being alone than any romance.
They kept their minds on their jobs when they counted, though. Coach kept an eye on things while Skywishes kept them all fed. That left little for Dash and Fluttershy to do except race through the halls or romp around outside with Snowball.
In fact, after many complaints from the ponies, the Cloudsdale town council reinstated winter, allowing for just a few inches of snow. That was enough for two fillies who had the world to themselves.
They spent time with Dash’s parents, she and Fluttershy (and Snowball) arriving for supper on Hearth's Warming Eve. Skystriker greeted them without a smile, looking more tired and worried than he had in 20 years. Firefly never left the bed. The sudden chill, then heat spell, then chill again played havoc with her immune system, giving her something called ‘pneumonia.’ It was not something Dash liked the sound of, and by the worried expression her usually stoic father carried, she had every right to be afraid.
Once Snowball started squawking and Fluttershy was unable to shush him, Skystriker threatened to throw the bird outside. Fluttershy immediately teared up, Rainbow Dash jumping to her defense against her father of all ponies. The pair got into a shouting match louder than Snowball ever thought of being. Skystriker tanned her daughter's hide and flew them back to school. At least her tears turned to ice on the way so he wouldn't see her crying.
"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash." Skystriker stood on the Airball field, ankle deep in snow.
Her father rarely said those words. "I know."
"I need you to be brave. I need you to follow orders and not fight me, Dashie."
"Then don't yell at Fluttershy!" Dash was not letting this go.
"I WASN'T-- I wasn't yelling." Skystriker sighed, sitting down. He didn't care if his rump got wet or not.
Dash glanced back at the school. She could just see a lock of pink watching from the dormitory window. Floors above her two teachers were also peeking out.
"You can't yell at Fluttershy, Daddy. She's special."
"I know."
"Are you still going to take us into the city to see the Wonderbolts fly over for the Grand Galloping Gala?" Dash approached slowly. Maybe her father needed her scarf?
"I don't know, Dash. I'll try."
"You have to promise." Dash stared up at his face, no idea it would too soon be the only face she had.
"I can't promise. Do you have any idea what's going on at home?! You're not there; you don't know! You don't see her every day. There's a reason you're staying at school, Dash. I can't take care of you and your mother at the same time, and you shouldn't have to watch her wither away."
Dash stood on her hind legs, cupping her father's face between her hooves. "Promise." she whispered.
Skystriker shut his eyes. He was a former member of Her Majesty's Royal Forces. He couldn't cry. He hadn't cried when his parents died, he hadn't cried when his friend lost a wing, and he wasn't going to cry now. Not in front of his daughter.
"I promise."
Rainbow Dash stood in the field for a long time watching her father fly away. He'd hugged her goodbye, but hugs didn't mean what they used to. They used to mean everything was going to be okay, filled with warmth and hope. Now they just seemed... desperate. She stood there until the sky turned dusky pink and frost settled on her wing tips. Finally Coach brought her inside. Even the warm soup and holiday song couldn't lift her spirits. Dash went to bed dreaming of happier times.
Fluttershy, for her part, spent the winter break reading every book the academy had on animal husbandry. There weren’t many. Miss Skywishes had to make two trips to the Cloudsdale library in as many days. By the third she sent Coach instead. He didn't seem to mind. There was a scamper in his step the girls had never seen before.
Snowball opened up under Fluttershy’s care, blooming like an idiot. Dash had no way of knowing when she’d caught the injured bird, but apparently sea gulls were noisy, annoying creatures. She couldn’t count how many times the bird woke her up with its laughing. Dash knew that as long as she lived, even if she met a pony that somehow imbued the element of laughter, she would never hear any pony else laugh as much as that stupid bird.
Fluttershy treated that bird like a treasured family member made of solid gold. She fed it the proper food and gave it just the right amount of water and exercise. She’d cried like a foal when Coach had to re-break Snowball’s wing so it could heal right. The bird never liked him much after that.
The last few days of vacation were spent in a marathon game of tag/hide and seek/follow Coach McHard Cheese. Dash and Fluttershy never stopped giggling for an instant, even when it meant getting caught. They hid in the dusty old attic, chased each other across every open piece of land, and played spies as they followed coach around. He didn't do much but yell at them when he caught them looking, but that only made them laugh and run harder.
With the advent of spring and new classes, Fluttershy and Dash were off again. They’d perfected their friendship to an art, ensuring that one’s strengths would overcome the other’s weakness. In flight training Dash excelled, even while picking up Fluttershy’s additional slack. While the loving filly focused on her bird she seemed to forget everything she’d learned about flying herself.
The Grand Galloping Gala approached and it was Dash’s turn to grow excited over her present. It was the first year the Wonderbolts would be performing with their rookie team member, Spitfire. Traditionally the group was made up of nothing but Stallions. They were the best of the best, and no mare had ever broken their application requirements. But then along came Spitfire, blowing them all away. With some of the fastest lap times on record she'd been accepted by a vote of pine to two, opening the doors to mares everywhere.
True to his word Skystriker flew the girls into town that night, leaving a recovering Firefly at home. Dash and Fluttershy sat together on one of the towers, along with what seemed like half the city. There was a cheer as the first of the Wonderbolts appeared. Then another from the opposite direction. Then one more, following the same pattern. Obviously someone had informed them about their fan gathering and decided to provide a free show.
Shooting towards one another the ponies criss-crossed, barely missing each other by inches. They roared overhead leaving thunder in their wake. Then one broke ranks spinning high into the sky, almost beyond sight. The gathered crowds held their breaths as she shot downward, spiraling through the gap in the middle of her comrades. All of Cloudsdale went nuts. Streaking past, her orange mane visible for all to see, Firefly showed off. Dash stared in amazement. They were so close that her hair stood on end from the electricity.
Then it was over. One by one they fell back into formation, heading for Canterlot. Spitfire, not wanting to disappoint her fans, did a double back flip barrel roll, ensuring that she would forever have one adoring fan. Dash vowed then and there, someday that would be her up there.
As the first amber touches of spring began to bloom forth at the academy, Fluttershy found herself in a melancholic funk. She knew that soon she’d have to release Snowball. The gull was feeling much better, causing ruckus all over the school. It was impossible to hide from other students and added yet another layer of 'weird' to the pair. The teachers, on the other hoof, were another problem entirely. Only a generous extra incentive from her father every month allowed the creature to remain in her care despite the strict ‘no-pets’ environment.
Fluttershy took little notice of any of this, though. Throughout everything, the dirty looks, almost failing flight training, falling asleep in class, the bribes, she only held eyes for that loud, obnoxious bird. And Snowball, equally unaware of everything, kept staring wistfully out the window. Fluttershy was afraid to even take him outside any more for fear that he’d fly off. Finally it was unavoidable.
“Um, Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy stood in their room, kicking a hoof around. Dormitory quiet time was in five minutes.
“Yep?” Dash was putting on her goggles, about to break curfew and go flying as usual. She didn’t really need to; Coach gave her almost unrestricted flight time now. But some habits were hard to break.
“I was wondering, um, could we come with you?”
Dash looked up. Fluttershy stood with Snowball perched on her back, wrapped in a scarf that he obviously did not care for. It was the only way she’d take him outside without being crippled by fear. The tears in her eyes told Dash everything she needed to know.
“Sure, Fluttershy. I’m just going out to the point anyways.”
The pair wandered into the evening dusk, watching the world shift in colors around them. The point was the drop off where they’d both first learned to glide together, and it was a popular dare spot for the other Pegasi in the day. At night though, it had become Fluttershy and Dash’s special spot.
As they walked, Dash tried to think of something to say. Fluttershy was about to lose a friend and would probably need comforting. But then again, when Dash found out she was going to lose her mom, Fluttershy had been perceptive enough not to say a word. Sometimes silence was the best answer.
Reaching the point they stared out over Equestria at dusk. From this high up, on this rare cloudless night, they could see everything. The country dipped and moved with valleys and hills. Farms and hamlets dotted the countryside, bathed in the last touches of their Princess' sun. Cloudsdale was slowly making its seasonal travel across Equestria again, meandering towards the Everfree Forest. Plenty of wild space to fly free in.
“Alright, Snowball.” Fluttershy set him down and began unwrapping her scarf. “I want you to promise that… that you’ll be a good bird.” Snowball only laughed quietly. Fluttershy continued. “Remember to eat your breakfast, and be nice to the other gulls, and clean your feathers, and…” Fluttershy’s voice cracked.
“And watch out for hawks.” Rainbow Dash added.
Fluttershy smiled. “Yes. Watch out for hawks.”
Snowball laughed once more, staring at each of them in turn. Then, almost before the last fold of the scarf was off, he was gone. Both the girls had expected him to fly high into the sky and out of sight, but he immediately dove for the earth. Sea gulls were not fans of heights.
The pair just stood there as he disappeared, heading for the shoreline. There was nothing to say, and both found tears of joy stinging their eyes. Only Fluttershy let them run free.
“Mommy says that every pony has to go, but that we never truly leave.” Rainbow Dash said at last. “I wonder if he’ll remember us? I’ll sure remember him. Maybe now I can get some sleep.”
“You’ll miss him too, won’t you?” Fluttershy leaned in close. She was still larger, but Dash was growing up quick.
“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Dash blinked.
“So were you still going flying?”
“Nah. The wind’s all wrong. And besides, I need someone to brush my hair.”
“Can I put it in braids?” Fluttershy squeed.
“Don’t push your luck.”