Steam, warm and soothing steam.
With a massive wooden tub inside the Spa, Flying floated on the edge, keeping his eyes above the soapy water. All the grime covering his body had washed away and after some fervent rubbing, the lenses on his goggles stretched over his head had nary a crumb. He had a guest in his midst, Spike waddling across his sights but he small dragon paid him no attention. His brief entanglement with Rarity had placed him under a spell and he had yet to recover from its effects. Flying didn’t mind; he needed some peace and quiet. Too many hidden memories had floated into his consciousness, so he had to sort them in order.
Closing his eyelids, a movie began playing in faded color. Flying wanted it turned off but he couldn’t find the switch. In an instant, he travelled back to when he was a colt holding onto a spinning cloud. Yes, of course! This was back when he attended Weather Camp and unfortunately, he was in a bit of a pickle. A few ponies dared him to a challenge—the one that held on the longest won. By sheer willpower, he maintained his grip but alas, the centrifugal force eventually overcame his resolve and at the worst possible time. The cloud wobbled right when he let go, the momentum throwing him at a downward angle. Just as his appendages spread for an emergency ascent, he struck the unflinching cloud surface sideways. Immediately, searing hot pain shot up his left wing.
Grimacing, he cried out, “My wing! I hurt my wing!”
Flying did have pegasi spectators to hear his yells, all of them young and frightened but not just because of a possibly serious injury. They were holding this game away from the campgrounds where no counselors would end this impermissible activity and subsequently punish all involved. No pony dared to speak except for a rainbow-mane filly standing among the crowds.
“We have to tell the nurse,” said a young, scratchy-sounding Rainbow Dash.
A faded blue colt standing next to her shook his head vigorously. “We can’t! Then they’ll know we were playing here and we’ll all get in trouble!”
Rainbow crowded the colt’s face, “So? Who cares about that? We have to get some help!”
He turned around, his wings unfurled. “Fine! You tell the nurse, then! C’mon, everypony! Let’s get out of here!”
She growled, bearing witness to cowards flying off toward some faraway cabins. Flying expected she would chase them down but instead, Rainbow landed next to him, her expression similar to that of a worried mother.
“Can you move?” she asked.
Flying moved his left wing an inch, an act that triggered more tears down his face. “No.”
Rainbow patted his head. “It’s okay, Fly-Fly. Just wait here. I’ll get the nurse out here for you.”
He held onto her hoof, stopping her from moving. “But then they’ll know what happened,” he blubbered. “You’re in enough trouble, already.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she answered firmly. “I'm not leaving my friend hangin' like this!"
“No, Dashy. I’ll just take myself in.” He started pushing off the cloud but the constant throbbing had him hissing in pain.
“Sit down!” Rainbow held him in place.
“But—”
“No buts Fly-Fly! I’ll be back!” Then, her voice became tender. “I promise.”
She hovered into the air where he believed she would then head toward the nurse’s office at lightning speed. Instead, she scratched her mane, her face hidden from view. “Before I forget, you… you beat my time. Congrats, I guess.”
Even with his injury, that flooded him with enough pride that he rid of his frown through his tears. He never expected somepony like her to make such a statement. “I won? You mean I finally beat you in something?”
Wagging her foreleg at him, “Heh! Don’t get used to it, Fly-Fly! I’m still better than you!”
As she left behind a trail of rainbows, he continued smiling until a voice jarred him out of his daydream. With eyes wide open, he noticed Spike had swum right up next to him. Whatever infliction had him silent for the last hour had taken its course and now had him yearning for conversation. The stallion muttered to himself for interrupting him at a bad time but he tried putting on a good face.
“So, you said you’ve been to an earth pony beach, right?” Spike inquired.
He moved his head up so that he could talk without ingesting bath water. “Yeah, I loved going there. My big bro and I used to surf there all the time. He was way better at it than I was, though. You really need to check it out sometime. Awesome water, palm trees, food, girls, great weather—”
“Awesome girls, you said?” the dragon remarked, his eyebrows moving up and down. “Well, since you’ve been to the beach a lot, I’m sure you learned a quite a lot. You know, like, oh, I don’t know, I’m just throwing this out there, hooking up with mares?”
“Huh?” It took the stallion a few seconds before he realized where the dragon was leading him. With a suave chuckle, “I see. Eyeing somepony in mind?”
Spike gestured for Flying to come closer. Whispering, “You see—“He looked around to make sure the coast was clear “—there’s a certain pony you saw today that I have a major crush on. Can you guess who it is?” He started giggling uncontrollably, believing there was no way in Equestria this stallion could resolve this mystery.
Flying rubbed his hoof on his chin for a few seconds. “Hmmm.” His mind then provided a match. “Aha! It’s gotta be Rari—”
The dragon clamped down his snout, his face on fire. “Not so loud, big dude.”
“Got it,” the stallion mumbled.
Spike released his grip on the pony’s nose. “So, what can you tell me, big stud?”
“Big stud?’ he repeated with less emphasis.
“You know?” He poked him with an elbow. “Some tips from a pro. What to say, how you act, what you buy her, get my drift?”
Oh dear. This short dragon made a wrong assumption about him. His older, better-looking brother drew all the attention from the mares. He was just the bystander or the one answering questions about his sibling’s whereabouts. Standing by somepony better was bad and embarrassing advice. What could he say, though?
“How about this?” A beat later, I’ll put a really good list together and give it to you before I go. Can you fly with that?”
Spike looked at him suspiciously. “Hmmm. A list, huh?” Then, he raised his hand. “Deal!” he answered, giving him a high-five.
Flying glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. The time, approaching three, had him wincing. “Oops. C’mon, little dude. We promised Rarity to stay in the lobby until she was finished. She’s probably waiting on us, now.”
Both pony and dragon pulled themselves out of the water tub, their wrinkled coats drenched with foamy liquid. Fresh towels awaited them on a table and they made haste using each one. Satisfied that a few drips constituted being dry, they went through a door and into another room where a receptionist simply looked at them a moment with feigned interest before resuming reading a magazine. Sitting on the lone green sofa was Rarity, immersed in conversation with Twilight, Pinkie and Applejack, the last holding an ice bag on top of her head. Any hopes that Flying could sneak by them and through the exit vanished thanks to Spike greeting them with a wave.
“There you are, you two,” said Rarity, stroking her hair. “Impeccable timing, Flying. We just finished discussing about giving you a proper tour of the town.”
“That’s right,” added Twilight, winking. “It may seem small and quaint but there’s a lot to see around Ponyville.”
Applejack tossed the ice bag into a nearby trash can. “We can even stop by the farm and have an early dinner.” Grabbing her hat hanging from a rack, she placed it in its usual spot. “It’s all up to you, partner. Just say the word.”
Walking in fresh air wasn’t the most exciting activity in the world, but it was better than being by himself in a hotel room the rest of the afternoon. “I can fly with that.”
Pinkie bounced around the room, “We’re going on a tour! We’re going on a tour!” In a flash, she had a short, round hat and a headset. “Thank you for choosing Ponyville Tours. This is your tour guide, Pinkie Pie.” She giggled, her voice amplified by the Spa’s PA system. “Remember, no flash photography is allowed, please. Items can be bought at the Gift Shop at the conclusion of the tour.”
“What in the…” Flying muttered.
Spike whispered, “You get used to it, eventually.”
“We are now exiting the Spa. Follow me, please.”
They all followed the self-designated tour guide through the door and into the sun’s afternoon glare. The few clouds that floated in the sky disappeared one-by-one by three distant pegasi, none of them with a cyan coat. Flying wondered where Rainbow Dash was right now as cloud busting was something she loved to do back at Weather Camp. The more he dwelled on this, the more recollections of the past that became clear as the Ponyville skies. Like at the Spa, the stallion’s mouth curled upwards reminiscing about old times, something Twilight noticed as they all walked down a dirt road.
The unicorn craned her neck his way, “You’re smiling about something.”
“Huh?” He turned his eyes toward some cottages lining the path. “Just thinking about… things.”
“A bit for your thoughts, Fly?”
He had a feeling what was going on, this whole taking a trip around Ponyville. This was another attempt to extract information from him but he couldn’t figure out their true intent, nor did he figure out if he wanted to tell this group anything. If he said nothing, maybe Rainbow would tell them later. Maybe she already did while he cleaned himself inside the water tub. In any case, he had nothing to lose by opening his mouth. At the minimum, he could try controlling the narrative of what was his friendship with Rainbow.
“Ok, Twi,” he answered with a nod. I guess I should start at the beginning.”
Rainbow Dash loved sleeping on tree branches, her second favorite spot next to soft and fluffy clouds.
The forecast called for clear skies until the evening.
For convenience’s sake, she chose the tree closest to Carousel Boutique as today’s napping place. She needed a respite to clear her mind from what happened at the party, from her disastrous entrance to meeting a pony from her past, bringing up a cocktail of emotions that made her head throb in pain and utter confusion.
After leaving her heavy bag down on the ground, Rainbow rested her head on a pillow lying against the tree trunk. She wished for a good dream, ideally involving Wonderbolts, Sonic Rainbooms or an exciting race ending with her triumphantly holding up a trophy. Rainbow got none of those three as her imaginary world filled with floating clouds and white cabins surrounding multiple rectangular courts. She, now a filly, had just come through a set of doors when she noticed a cluster of colts huddled around the court’s boundary line.
With a smirk, she strutted right up to them. “Hey, guys!” she spoke, voice cracks aplenty.
An orange colt turned around, his eyebrows slanted downwards the moment he saw her. “Who are you?”
“The one and only Rainbow Dash!” she proclaimed, chest protruding with pride.
“Never heard of you,” he answered with an eye roll. “What do you want?”
Rainbow snorted a laugh. “What else? I wanna play!”
“You? Pffft! No way!” You’re a girl! Cloud ball is a boys game!”
“Nuh-uh! I know how to play and I know how to win!”
Pointing toward the cabins, “Go away and knit some clouds, you loser!”
Raising her voice, “I’m not a loser!” She stuck her tongue out.
“Loser!” the colt rebuked. Raising his hooves, he got the others to begin a derisive chant.
“You’re the losers!” she shrieked. She stomped the floor, “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!”
The group continued calling her a loser.
Her jaw shuddered. “You better stop it or I’m gonna… I’m gonna—”
They wouldn’t stop, the constant jeers becoming louder and faster by the second. Her hooves trembled, wanting nothing more than stopping them with a hoof of the face but she was just one compared to at least seven other colts. Even worse, Rainbow was already in trouble for disruptive behavior in the mess hall on the first day of camp. Another reprimand might get her kicked off entirely. If she only had a friend to back her up in this moment but she made none her first week here. No pony would defend her from an emotional barrage far worse than the worst sucker punch.
Trickles ran down her cheeks. All she could do was retreat, hoping to hold back her weeping until she returned to her room and find the closest pillow. Two steps into her gallop, a new voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.
“Are you boys afraid of losing to a girl?”
Clearly, the speaker was provoking the group rather than her. With a covert head check, she noticed all the others facing a grey colt with scrabbly blue hair. Rainbow didn’t’ recall seeing anypony with the game ball in their possession, nor did that voice match all the ones she had heard. He must’ve been in the rear all this time, staying quiet.
The orange colt gently prodded her newfound defender, “Hey, stay out of this, Flying! We almost didn’t invite you to this game!”
Flying rolled his eyes. “Cool your jets, Light Beam. I think all of you just don’t want her to play because you’re scared.”
“What?” Light Beam retorted.
“That’s right. You’re all just scared little ponies! Scared of losing to a girl!”
Rainbow peeked once again, seeing Flying waggle his hindquarters at the group chanting Scared little ponies. A bite of the lips stifled her giggles but she feared he was pushing this too far. If the colts turned on him, she already decided to help him, regardless of the consequences.
There was no need to play hero.
“Fine!” Light Beam barked, adding a snort. “I’m not scared. You’ll see! Hey! Loser!”
She hated responding to that, but did so by turning her head ever so slightly.
“If you’re really that good, you can join Flying,” the orange pony said, his tone dripping with malevolence. “You two losers can lose together. Six against two. ”
Those were lousy odds but that was beside the point. She had a chance and that’s all she needed for her confidence to swell. After rubbing all the evidence of her weakness, she faced them, sneering, “You guys just lost the game!”
The colts cackled at her proclamation before leaving one-by-one past the boundary line and into the court proper. Eventually, the one pony that saved her from utter humiliation remained, ball secured by his side with a warm smile.
Rainbow fluttered right next to him and for a moment, parroted his welcoming expression before flying past him with her trademark smugness. “C’mon! Don’t drag me down out there, Fly-Fly!”
“Huh?” he responded, chasing after her. "Fly-Fly? No, my name’s Flying High.”
“No,” she casually dismissed. “I’m going to call you Fly-Fly.”
She heard his despondent sigh. “Ok, whatever. But if you’re gonna call me that, I’ll call you… um, Dashy.”
“Yuck,” Rainbow answer, her face muscles contorting. “You know, be lucky I’m in a good mood today. I’ll let that one slide… this time.”
Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!
“What the—”
Rainbow suddenly rose up from the tree branch, discovering that a bird had landed near the canopy and disrupted her dream with its cheerful song. She couldn’t be mad with the creature for the sun had all but called it a day, an ideal time for her to rise from her slumber. Rarity should be arriving any moment and off in the distance, there she was along with three of her friends.
They’re always there for me. Rainbow flashed a smile. I just wish I could tell them how I feel but I’m not good at that kind of stuff. Me and Fly-Fly, would they even understand what happened between us? I’m not even sure I do anymore, not after all this time.
She returned to a napping position on a branch, willing to wait for them a while longer while she sorted out the millions of thoughts bouncing around her head.
Meanwhile, rounding the road’s last bend, Applejack noticed her friend on the tree. “Hmmmm.” Leaning toward Twilight, “Are you sure this is gonna work, Twi? You know how stubborn Rainbow Dash can be. Something tells me she may not spill the hay.”
“We have to try!” the bookworm answered with grit. “We have to hear her side of the story, somehow.”
Pinkie skipped alongside the group, “She’ll talk to me! I’m going to make her frown upside down! I bet a song will do it!”
“Pinkie, please,” Rarity snapped. “This is serious, dear. Just try to keep her spirits up, okay?”
“Okey dokey lokey,” the party pony responded, reverting to a simple walk.
Twilight exhaled relief. “Well, I’m just glad Spike convinced Fly to go with him to Fluttershy’s so they could check up on Leo. At least Fly won’t know what we’re doing.”
“Should we mention anything he said to us?” Rarity asked. “He never mentioned that we couldn’t.”
Twilight shook her head. “But he didn’t say we could. Besides—” She briefly levitated a tome from her attached saddlebag—“this book may be able to help us but we need every bit of information from Rainbow for my plan to work. Just remember, Rarity, please take your time in fitting the suit for Rainbow. We don’t know how long this may take.”
“I understand, dear. I have my standards but in this situation, I’m willing to make an exception, even if it pains me to do so.”
Twilight turned to Applejack. “You’re Rainbow’s best friend so she may be willing to talk to you the most. Just don’t upset her too much.”
Applejack nodded. “Gotcha, Twi. I know we butt heads sometimes but I ain’t gonna make her mad and shut the barn door on me.”
By now, Rainbow had hopped off the tree and made her way to the Boutique’s front entrance with her luggage.
“Good luck, everypony,” Twilight whispered to her friends.
Moments later, Rainbow greeted them in a downtrodden tone.
“Hey, Rainbow,” they all replied in return.
Rainbow rubbed her mane, “So, how long this is going to take, Rarity?”
Rarity stumbled on her words, “Oh, umm, I’m not exactly sure, dear. It could take… a while.”
A while sounded like an eternity for Rainbow Dash. Knowing her friends, that meant plenty of time to converse about just about anything, including the subject about her situation with Flying High. The more she dwelled on it, the more she wanted to spill it out into the open so she could get rid of all these contradictory emotions and be at peace.
Rainbow fought for a smile. “Ok! Ummmm, do you girls have to go somewhere right now? You see, I’m, um, just wanted to know we can talk about… stuff.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. This was the opening she was hoping for but it seemed too easy and convenient. Maybe Rainbow overheard their conversation and she had planned something in response. No, the unicorn thought. If that were true, then she’d do anything to hurry this visit. Whatever the case may be, the plan would go on as planned.
“Sure!” Twilight answered, beaming. “Stuff it is!”
Rarity unlocked the door to her Boutique. “Well, then. We shouldn’t keep the client waiting. Let’s get the magic started, shall we?"