The time finally came for me to begin flight school up in Cloudsdale. Classes were throughout the summer when Magic school had ended for the year. Mother and father had wanted me to have private lessons as Celestia had done, but as I grew I became more and more stubborn. I insisted on doing it my way and I wanted to be with Storm.
Storm knew more about flying than I did as his uncle had begun his training at a young age.
As I packed my bags the evening before I was set to leave mother came in to lend me a hoof.
‘It’s not going to be the same without my little Luna,’ she said placing a hoof on my shoulder. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
I smiled, ‘I shall be back before you know it,’ I said.
Mother chuckled. ‘I know you will.’
I continued to gather my things for the morning as mother watched me.
‘This is a very brave thing to do, you know, Luna,’ she said eventually. ‘I know you don’t realise it, but leaving your home for any length of time is something that’s hard for any filly or colt.’
At this point I didn’t understand what she meant. I was perhaps somewhat oblivious to the pressures I was under at this point in my life. The cutie mark deal had been long forgotten and, alas, so had my royal duties for the time being.
The morning before I left for flight school Celestia came to me and, to my surprise, gently placed a hoof on my shoulder as mother often did.
‘Good luck, Luna,’ she said gently.
It had been so long since she had shown any affection towards me I wasn’t sure how to respond.
‘Luna?’ father called, ‘the carriage is here!’
I turned to my elder sister and smiled, just before darting off.
The days that followed were both exciting and nerve wracking. The instructor had us standing on the very edge of a cloud and focusing on our balance. Some ponies had already started lifting off when they’d lost balance. It was a very effective way to help give ponies that little nudge they needed to get started.
Storm was, of course, way ahead of me. By the time I’d learned to take off, he’d picked up speed and taught himself various stunts in the air. Other ponies cheered him on and I felt proud to have such an impressive young colt as a best friend. No pony was laughing at him now!
The same, however, could not be said for me. Whilst in magic school I had performed well and everypony had become used to me being a princess, but here it was all new. On the first day I unintentionally drew a lot of attention to myself. Many ponies were excited by the prospect of having a princess in their class and others felt threatened. Either way I tried to discourage it as best I could. Celestia had always thrived on other ponies’ affection and adoration, but I just wanted to fit in.
One day one of our instructors called me up for a private meeting.
‘What could she want?’ Storm questioned.
‘I’m not sure,’ I replied, honestly feeling a little anxious.
‘You haven’t done anything wrong, have you?’
‘I don’t think so…’
‘Maybe it’s to do with you being royalty,’ he suggested.
I nodded, it was true, there was no escaping it.
‘In any case, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.’
‘You’re right,’ I agreed. ‘How about we go for something to eat when I get back?’
‘That sounds great! I’ll see you later!’
As soon as I walked out the door Misty Cloud, our instructor, was waiting outside for me. She was a unique pony with a long blue flowing mane and deep green, understanding eyes, but she was thick skinned also. No pony messed about when she was present which left many ponie a little uncertain of her.
‘Ah, there you are Princess,’ she said stepping towards me.
‘Please, just call me Luna,’ I replied awkwardly.
‘Very well, Luna. I just wanted to talk to you about your progress.’
I felt my cheeks flush. I knew I hadn’t been progressing as much as other ponies. I could perhaps have been practising more often than I did.
‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ Misty assured me.
We flew over to one of the training areas.
‘Now,’ Misty began, ‘I’ve noticed that you lack confidence in the sky.’
I nodded shyly.
‘It’s alright, but I can’t help but feel that there’s something missing.’
‘What do you mean?’ I asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ she said, pausing a moment to think. ‘I just can’t help but feel as though you’re not reaching your full potential.’
I didn’t say anything for a moment. I was beginning to worry that she may be thinking that I wasn’t good enough for flight school.
‘You haven’t yet discovered your destiny,’ Misty continued.
I felt a wave of shame wash over me, one that had been forgotten for some time. Suddenly my whole coronation came back to me. I didn’t have a cutie mark. I didn’t know my destiny…
‘You’re talented in many areas, so I’m told, but there’s something still left undiscovered.’
Bad memories were suddenly pulling me down and it was only later that I realised that Misty Cloud hadn’t been meaning to offend in any way.
Misty had apparently recognised the look of pain that was written across my face and stopped.
‘I don’t know,’ she said, her voice softening. ‘My apologies. I did not intend to upset you in any way.’
I took a deep breath and pulled myself together. ‘No, it’s alright.’
‘I see potential in you, young filly. I called you here this evening so that I might learn how to help you on your journey.’
‘But I’m quite sure I’m not destined to become a great flyer,’ I replied. ‘Not like my good friend Storm Sweeper.’
‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘Young Storm Sweeper is too destined for great things.’
There was a moment of silence before Misty Cloud asked me to lift off and run a full circuit, which I did reluctantly.
‘Tell me,’ she said when I touched down once more. ‘What is it that you like the most?’
This question took me by surprise and I didn’t have an answer right away.
‘Well, not that I think it’s relevant, I like the simple things,’ I answered finally. ‘Like nature and the things that other ponies don’t always notice right away. I like to help ponies and I like to teach them about the misunderstood and unappreciated.’
Misty nodded thoughtfully. ‘You’re getting close.’
I didn’t reply. I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant by that.
‘Anyway, it’s getting dark,’ Misty said eventually. ‘Commendable efforts so far, Luna.’
Once I was alone I stared up at the sky. I breathed a sigh of relief. Whenever I saw those stars twinkling above me it felt like home.
I was getting close… Did she mean with my flying? Or did she mean…
With a deep breath I lifted off the cloud upon which I had been standing and spread my wings. I began to feel all tension leave my body. The stars twinkled brilliantly against the inky sky and I soared effortlessly, weaving in and out of the clouds.
Little did I know that my very best friend was watching me in awe, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
‘Luna!’ he called to me.
I looked down and saw him.
‘Storm!’
‘I can’t believe how well you fly at night!’ he cried. ‘That’s amazing!’
I landed, folding my wings awkwardly.
‘Not to say you don’t always fly well, but… Did Misty Cloud teach you this?’ he asked.
I shook my head, ‘no, I don’t think she thinks I am such a good flyer,’ I admitted.
‘Really? Why?’
‘Well… she didn’t say that I was a bad flyer in so many words, but…’ I paused.
‘Luna, I think she likes you,’ Storm said simply.
I gave him a questioning look.
‘You were flying so well!’ he exclaimed. ‘You and your night… You’re one.’
‘What? Come now, I’m not as good as you!’ I pointed out. ‘You can do all kinds of fancy tricks!’
‘Luna,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘I’ve been practising for years! Besides I think I could teach you some of those tricks now.’
I smiled. ‘I shall allow you to teach me a few tricks on the condition that you allow me to teach you about the night.’
He chuckled. ‘Why didn’t I see that one coming?’
For the next few weeks Storm and I worked together, sharing our knowledge on what we knew best. Between classes, Storm taught me a few basic tricks which, in all honesty, I failed miserably at. I clearly wasn’t meant for that kind of thing.
Nights were just confident boosters for Storm and I thought he did exceedingly well. I enjoyed teaching him all I knew about the night. We learned much from our nightly flights and grew seemingly closer.
In the weeks to come I would learn that Misty Cloud had been observing our nightly flights. She was extremely impressed with my fearless approach to the night and, as there was no danger in the practice arenas, organised weekly night lessons for the class that I was placed in charge of.
Looking back I had been rather bold, but, as Storm had said at a later point, we were growing up and discovering ourselves. It was thrilling and we could finally put away our childish fears and prepare ourselves for advanced magic school.
I, of course, had so much more to prepare for, being a Princess. There were more pressing matters that would need my attention at a later date which, at the time, I was blissfully unaware of.