//------------------------------// // Rainbow // Story: Flora // by SilentWanderer //------------------------------// “Come on, flap these wings harder!” I try to increase my speed, but my hooves are still firmly on the ground. “Harder!” I feel my back hooves leave the ground. “Harder!” I trip on my front hooves, and fall on my head. “Are you all right?” “Yes, Rainbow Dash.” I answer, cleaning my mane. “Let's try something different.” In less than two seconds, she gathers a large pile of leaves. “Don't worry and just concentrate on flying.” “Rainbow Dash, what are you —” She grabs me and hovers above the leaves. “Now, flap your wings!” “Wait, Rainbow —” She drops me. I flap my wings as fast as I can. I manage to hover for a second before finally diving into the leaves. She digs me out of the pile. “Not bad! You almost made it this time!” “That was scary!” “Yeah, it's easier when you're fighting for your life! Of course, there was no real risk, I wouldn't put you in danger, you know.” She plucks the leaves from my mane. “Want to try again?” “Maybe another day.” I flex my wings. “I see, your wings are tired. Let's do a stretching exercise then.” -*-*-*- “So, how was your flying lesson, Flora?” asks Discord. “I still can't get out of the ground.” “But you almost did, didn't you?” “Yes, almost.” I look at the ground. “Like the last time. And the time before that.” I look at him. “I want to learn how to fly, Discord. I want to accompany my bird friends. I want to see Ponyville from above the clouds.” “Oh, I'm sure you will learn when you last expect. Don't worry about it. Some pegasi just take longer.” He smiles. “That's it! Flora, do you want me to carry you to the skies?” “Can you do that?” I answer, excitedly flapping my wings. “You've seen me flying, and I'm bigger than you. It'll be very easy. Here, hop on my back!” I climb on his back, and he takes off with a powerful flap of his mismatched wings. I scream with joy as the wind rushes past my body. “I don't want to be seen, so we'll fly far from the city. Is that okay with you?” “Yes!” He flies low for a while, just above the tree tops, until we're far enough. Then, he climbs fast, and flies slowly in a circle while he shows me the view. “To your left, you can see the city of Ponyville.” From this distance, everything is small. I see the big tree that is Twilight's home. From there, I find Rarity's house and Pinkie's house. I follow the roads, and find Applejack's farm. I've been there many times, but never really noticed how big it is! I follow another road, and see my house. One day, I'll fly there with my own wings, together with my mother. We'll meet the birds, and play with them in the sky. I find Rainbow Dash's cloud home. When I can fly by myself, I'll go visit her on her home. “To your right, in the mountains, you can see the city of Canterlot. I lived there for a while.” “Mom is from there! And Twilight told me she's from there too!” “I see. Did any of them take you there for a tour?” “Not yet!” “You should really ask them. It's very different from Ponyville. There's also a nice hedge maze near the castle that you really should see.” “I will!” “I heard Rainbow Dash is from Cloudsdale... There it is!” He points to a big cloud, with many buildings above it. “When your wings get stronger, you could ask her to take you there too.” He changes direction. “Enough with the boring cities. Let's see some different things.” He flies directly to the top of a big mountain, where he shows me a large cave. “Some time ago, a dragon lived in this cave. An adult dragon, not a baby like that Spike.” “A dragon?” “Yes, but he snored too much and was kicked out.” He flies away from the mountain. “Now let's see...” We fly over a dam, decorated with a pair of pegasi statues. We fly next to a multicolored waterfall. We fly over a dark forest. I shiver with cold. “Discord, this forest is scary!” “I'm sure you know about the Everfree Forest, since you live right next to it. And I'm sure everypony has already told you this, but just in case:” He pauses right over the middle of the forest. The cold wind shakes the tree tops. “Never. Enter. The. Everfree. Forest. Alone.” He resumes flying, and soon we're out of the forest. -*-*-*- We rest on a fluffy cloud floating above the town. I'm perched on the edge of the cloud, looking at the view below. Discord is seated on the middle, eating cotton candy. “Did you enjoy the trip?” “Yes! It was all so pretty! All the rivers, the fields, the forests... Except the Everfree Forest, that was scary!” I run to the other side of the cloud, and look down. “I can see Rainbow Dash flying down there!” “Oh good, let's prank her!” “Discord...” “Come on, it's all in good fun! Isn't Rainbow Dash a prankster herself?” “Yes, but...” “Just this once. Please?” I look at him. “Please?” “Just this once?” “For now at least. Until the next time you let me.” “Okay.” He slithers to my side. He digs into the cloud, takes a lightning bolt on his hand, and throws it. The lightning bolt makes several curves, and hits Rainbow Dash near her tail. She screams and dives into a nearby lake. Discord falls on his back laughing. “Did you see her face?” Rainbow Dash gets out of the water, shakes herself dry, looks around, and quickly flies away. “I know I shouldn't find ponies getting hurt funny, but...” I giggle. “Yes, it was funny.” “She's a weather pegasus. Do you have any idea how often they get hit by lightning? She's used to it. She didn't really get hurt. Although it would be hilarious if she did get hurt.” “Discord...” “Oops, sorry. I slipped into my old habits for an instant.” He sighs. “Being one of the good guys is hard.” He looks at the setting sun. “I'd better take you back to the ground, before somepony gets worried and starts looking for you. Let's go, Flora.” I climb on his back, and he glides to where we first met.