Heir of the Storm
Chapter Four
Several years later
The cool air stung Sky's face as he was perched on a cloud. An early morning with the east winds blowing his mane back was the best part of his morning. He watched over the orchard where his sisters and brother would be working in a few short hours, he had rushed through breakfast and shot into the air with a clumsy hover filled with anticipation. He was getting so close to being able to actually fly, all he had to endure now was the wait for his ever graceful instructor. Of whom he was certain was napping still. Yet he awaited her in the sky, lazily enjoying the plush, softness of the cloud. His hooves would press into the white fluff and they would darken with magic. He was aware of his gift to make storms, but still underwhelmed with his lacking flight abilities.
He had spoken to Twilight, now Princess Twilight ever since some spell mishap he hardly remembered, who in turn explained to him what exactly his special talent seemed to be.
"It's not unheard of, being able to make storm clouds by yourself. What is strange is that you can do it at such a young age... hmmmm..." Sky remembered the conversation like it happened yesterday, although it was just shortly after receiving his cutie mark.
"So... I'm some kind of... weather maker?" The youthful Sky asked, slightly put down at the prospect.
"Perhaps not, you still have problems flying right? But when you put these clouds together then you fly like any other pegasus. There are many ways such a talent could be used," Sky recalled the unicorn chuckle with her next thought. "Maybe I'll tell my brother I found another guard for him."
That thought stuck in Sky's mind ever since that day, being a guard. He could protect those who couldn't protect themselves, he could make a difference. Sure he could do a lot on the orchard, but lately his sister Apple Jack seemed distant from him. He wondered if she somehow found out about his thoughts on joining the guard. The farm and orchard is everything to her, and they were always short on help. Even with Sky around, there was very little he could do besides pick up and sort out the bad apples. He let out a soft sigh, barely aware of the bright orange presence behind him.
"Heya Sky! No sign of Rainbow yet?" The orange pegasus landed next to him, folding her long wings into her sides as she landed.
"Not yet Scoot, shes probably napping someplace. Always the one ta be late." Sky chuckled as he lay down next to his friend.
"Yeah, true. So hows the flying? Still need those wicked powers of yours to take off?" Scootaloo poked a hoof at his cutie mark, feeling the static zap at her she quickly retreated her hoof back.
"Yeah, Ah can hover but ain't no way Ah'm gonna be flyin without em. Don't much matter to me, Ah'm just happy to be in the air." Sky beamed a smile towards the orange pegasus, who returned a half smile, half scowl at his toothy grin.
"You can say that again, so anyways..." Scootaloo trailed off as she turned her head around as if looking for anypony. "Have ya talked to Sweetie Belle yet?"
"Ah'm pretty sure we talked 'bout this Scoot..." Sky's smile faded into a grimace.
"Yupp, I just decided to keep at it. Come on, even I can see you like her. If you don't get on it, somepony else may get to her first." Scootaloo teased as she rolled her eyes with a goofy smile.
"Ah... Just... drop it Scoot, Ah'm not worried 'bout somepony else takin her firs- ugh! Just stop bothering me about it!" Sky shouted as he buried his face into the cloud.
The moisture in the cloud helped to cool his nerves as her words sunk in. In truth, he had quite the crush on the young mare. Had it since he first saw her he guessed. Just something about how cheery she was in her youth and how... refined she seemed to be now, like some of her older sister rubbed off over the years. Not to mention, he was a sucker for her singing voice. He fondly remembered standing next to her in many school plays and silently listening to her voice, then questioning why she never got into singing. At least until that musical note appeared on her flank, then it was all she could think about doing.
"Sky? Skkkkkkyyyyyyyyyyyy!" Sky snapped back to reality as he pulled his head from the cloud, not before noticing the dark moisture let behind.
"Huh? Wha..."
"Is that really the best I can expect? Seeing you sleep in later than me!?" The cyan pegasus cocked a grin on her mouth as Scootaloo floated beside her smiling back at her friend.
"Oh, OH!" Sky shot into the air, which crackled with energy as the streaks of energy flared around his wings.
The rest of the day for Sky and Scootaloo consisted in some training but ended up with Rainbow showing off in front of the two. They all shared sweat and laughs as the day went on.
Two strong hooves lifted into the air, ready to thrust themselves into a nearby tree. Muscles tense for a short second, then release. The two hooves cut through the air, ready to smack into the tree. Both hooves strike the air, causing the blonde mare to lose her balance and fall flat on her stomach. The large red stallion took notice, and with a silent sigh trotted towards his sister.
"Con-founded tree..." Applejack mumbled under her breath as she stood back up. This marked the seventh time this happened today, and too many other times this week.
"Why don't ya go lay down a bit." The ever calm stallion suggested.
"And leave all this to ya and Apple Bloom? Ain't no way," Applejack spat on the ground as she picked herself up from the ground. "Just stupid stuff is all this is..."
"It ain't 'stupid stuff' sister, Ah hear ya mumblin to yourself. He's old enough ta know. Don't ya think?" Big Mac stepped up to his sister, still standing up.
"Jus'... What if he wants ta leave? What if he wants ta go find his parents? What if-"
"What if he does Applejack, what are we gonna do 'bout it? Nuttin, Sky's growin up." The large stallion interrupted. "Even if he wants ta leave, Ah think he will be alright."
"Ah guess... Ya think we should tell Sky then..." Applejack sighed, then turned around to head for the house. "Ah'm gonna go take that rest... Ah think Ah'm gonna need it..."
After a long day of flying, Sky felt his wing muscles burning intensely. Rainbow told him the burn was a good thing, but all he heard was his inner voice letting him know that bed time was very near. Scootaloo had really given him a run for his bits, Sky was uncertain he would even manage to keep pace with her strong wings. The thought of her speeding ahead of him put a sense of envy in his soul.
Sky landed several yards from his home, his older brother was just stepping outside. The large red stallion had a look of concern across his face. Drawing in a deep breath, Sky was almost worried he had upset Big Mac. The large stallion let out a gentle sigh before speaking.
"Sky, there's something we need ta tell ya." Big Mac looked up from his sigh.
"We? Is the whole family over again? Ah didn't know there wa-"
"No Sky, me and yer sister Applejack. Come on."
Sky stepped into the house, almost fearful. His family had never pulled him in like this for anything, Sky felt his legs shake as he entered the room with Applejack sitting by the table. Her eyes were bloodshot and her fur around them was matted. Had she been crying? When she saw Sky enter the room, one of her hooves was lifted onto the table. She laid down on the table two long black feathers tied together. She coughed to clear her throat.
"Ya know what these are Sky?" The blonde mare asked as she looked at the long feathers.
"They look like pegasus feathers sis, what 'bout em?" Sky was really worried now, but he looked at the feathers. They looked just like his, and yet he could feel a certain... tingling in the air as he focused on them.
"Yupp, but do ya know where they came from?" Applejack's gaze never left the feathers.
"Ah- if Ah shed um and left em someplace Ah'm sorr-" Sky tried to apologize but a stronger voice stopped him.
"Ain't no need for that, these ain't yours. They are..."
Big Macs voice seemed to choke up, the silence extended for a few seconds. The pegasus felt the tension in the air rise as he stood there before his older siblings.
"They are yer parents." Applejack shattered the silence, but it was only followed by a deeper silence. One that seemed to deafen the world itself.
Sky stepped towards the table, his sight now stuck on the pair of feathers. The gentle hue of blue resting on the tip of one, the other solid black except for the base which faded to grey. He felt the tingling sensation again, like static pins and needles washing over him. The chill rushed down his back and into his legs, freezing him in place.
"I thought..."
"Sky, do ya want to know how you came about bein with us?" Applejack stopped his train of thought. Sky's confused look was enough of an answer. "Well ok then. Ya better sit down then."
The great majority of the night was spent as Sky listened to his sister tell the story. She left no part unspoken, even about her own thoughts about the 'lousy good fer nuthin parents' of his. Sky felt a little ashamed hearing her speak of his parents like that, but after seeing his face she quickly apologized, telling him that he was nothing like them. Always willing to help out as much as he could, even if he couldn't.
"So... we decided that ya should become a part of the family, Ah'm sorry we didn't tell ya sooner. Ah was just so worried ya would want ta go find yer real parents... And if ya do want ta... Ah guess ya have every right." Applejack finished, almost on the verge of tears.
Sky watched Applejack as she seemed to lurch down, and he was overcome with emotion. He managed to move over to her side and wrapped a wing around her back along with both of his forelegs. Applejack was shocked at first, but then turned to embrace Sky who was also getting really teary eyed. She pulled back and was about to speak, but Sky beat her to it.
"Applejack, Big Mac, you two and Apple Bloom are my family. Ain't nopony gonna change that, Ah don't quite know why ya had to keep this away from me but Ah guess ya had yer reasons. As far as my parents..." Sky pulled away and reached a hoof for the feathers. Pulling them towards him and getting a closer look, he said "These are really all they left behind? Not much to go lookin for..."
Sky sighed as he held the feathers up. Now that he was actually touching them, the static energy within them was much more potent. Like they had been stored within all this time wating... waiting for him.
"Ah'll just keep these and hope for the best. Till then... can we still be a family?"
There was no need for an answer, Applejack tackling Sky into the ground in a hug was all the answer he needed. As he fought the mass of orange fur for breath, he still thought...
If they are out there... maybe they'll find me?