“Sure you’re ready, Twilight?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Flash Sentry and Twilight Sparkle were at Sweet Apple Acres, about to start the alicorn’s first flight lesson. Applejack had kindly allowed them to practice on her farm where there was quite a bit of open land. Flash had gathered a few clouds for Twilight to start flying to.
“Okay, I want you to flap your wings. Pretend like you’re flying, but don’t leave the ground,” Flash instructed. Twilight started flapping her wings, the right one slightly ahead of the left. “Your wings are uneven, Twilight. Slow down, and flap them in unison.”
Twilight slowed her already gentle pace, then consciously beat her wings at the same time. “Is that better?” she asked.
“Much. Now, speed up just the tiniest bit,” Flash directed. Twilight did so, her wings staying in sync. “Okay, just a little faster.”
“How’s this?” Twilight asked as she sped up.
“Your wings are off again,” Flash noted.
Ugh! This is going to take forever! Twilight thought to herself. “I’ll try again in a minute.” She sat down on the ground, her wings sore. I’ve never used my wings this much. If I had known when we started--
“Hey, Twilight, you look kinda tired,” Flash said as he sat down next to her.
Is it that obvious? she thought to herself. “Nah, I just need a little break.” They sat for a few minutes, watching the clouds, until Flash broke the silence.
“Ready? Or do you need some more time?” he questioned.
“Wha-- oh, yes,” Twilight confirmed. She stood up and flapped her wings slowly, in unison. “I think I’m starting to get the hang of this!”
“That’s great, Twilight!” Flash exclaimed. “Now, when you’re ready, I want you to push a little harder on the downbeat. Try to lift yourself off the ground.”
“I’m ready.” She beat her wings, hovering above the ground for about five-point-six seconds. “Woah!” she said as she came crashing down.
“Careful, now,” Flash warned.
This is so hard, thought Twilight, breathing heavily. “Sorry,” she said.
“You’re fine,” Flash kindly reassured. “How ‘bout we start with gliding?”
“Umm, I’m on the ground,” Twilight pointed out.
“You’re an alicorn. Can’t you teleport?” Flash inquired.
“Oh, yeah.” You look like such an idiot, Twilight! Keep. It. Together! she told herself.
“You can go when you’re ready,” Flash said as Twilight teleported to the nearest cloud.
Okay, Twilight, you can do this if-- “Aren’t you going to show me how first?”
“Didn’t I?” Twilight shook her head. “Oh. Basically, you need to spread your wings, like so.” Flash unfurled his wings, then flew up to the cloud. “Spread your wings, then jump.” He jumped from the cloud and glided to the ground, about ten feet below.
Twilight gulped. Easy peasy, right? She leapt from the cloud, her feathers ruffling in the wind. Twilight closed her eyes, ready for impact. Instead, she hit a soft, warm surface, and much sooner than she had anticipated.
“Hold on, Twilight. You can’t fly when your eyes are closed,” Flash instructed, setting her down. “At least, not when you’re first learning. You’ll be a hazard to everypony within the vicinity! We don’t want that, now do we?”
“Sorry, Flash,” she apologized. Can I try again?”
“Why don’t we wait a few minutes?” Flash suggested.
“Good idea.”
**********
I never realized how hard it is to teach somepony how to fly, Flash thought to himself. Sorry, Dad. He was sitting on his haunches, gazing up at the sky. “Hey, Twilight. If you want, we can try again tomorrow,” he offered.
“If you don’t mind, Flash, I was hoping to try some more today,” Twilight said.
“That’s fine.”
“But it can wait,” Twilight clarified. “If you really don’t want to…”
“Nah, but maybe we can take a little ice cream break,” Flash said. “Then we can come back.”
“Sure thing!” Twilight agreed.
**********
Flash and Twilight sat, eating their ice cream, watching Celestia’s sun set. Neither of them had been keeping track of time, so they had no idea it was almost night until then.
“Beautiful, isn’t it, Flash?” Twilight asked.
“Not as beautiful as you.” Really? Really?! C’mon, Flash!
Twilight blushed. “Thanks,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.
It was Flash’s turn to blush. “Twilight…”
“Shh...look! The moon’s coming out!”
They watched the moon rise into the night sky as the sun finished setting over the mountain. The stars shone brightly, lighting the dark town. “It’s probably time to get going, Twilight,” Flash said. “Do you want to try flying lessons again tomorrow?”
“Actually, tomorrow I’m booked. That’s why I wanted to get this done today,” she told him.
“I’m sorry, Twilight,” Flash said.
“No, you’re fine. I probably even have time for more lessons in a few weeks!” Twilight enthusiastically said.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Twilight seemed to read Flash’s mind. “It’s good, considering how busy I usually am. I was lucky to get a few days off during these last few weeks,” Twilight explained.
“Are we still on for the book signing next Thursday?” Flash inquired.
“Of course we are!” Twilight confirmed. “Until then?”
“See you,” Flash said as he started walking off.
**********
“Who shall I sign this to?” A. K. Yearling asked.
“Twil--”
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Flash Sentry butted in.
“Flash!” Twilight objected.
“C’mon, Twilight, you deserve it,” Flash countered.
“Here you go, Princess Twilight,” A. K. Yearling said, handing the book to the alicorn.
“Thank you, Miss Yearling,” Twilight said graciously. “Flash, didn’t you have a book to get signed, as well?”
He blushed, embarrassed. “Um, now that you mention it,” he retrieved his copy of Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny, “would you sign this to First Base, please?”
“Here you go, mister,” A. K. Yearling signed and handed Flash his book. The couple started walking away.
“First Base?” Twilight asked, confused.
“Did I never tell you? Base is my little brother. He lives back in the Crystal Empire with our parents,” Flash clarified.
“I’d like to meet him sometime,” Twilight stated.
Umm... What do I say?! “That’s probably not the best idea,” Flash said. Idiot! You blew it!
“And why is that, Flash?” Twilight questioned.
“He’s very,” Flash shrugged, “shy.”
“Is he now?” the princess inquired.
“Especially around pretty mares.” Hey, it’s true.
“Flash, you little flirt,” Twilight said, nudging him with her wing.
“But yeah, maybe you can meet him sometime,” Flash confirmed. Sure, why not? It can't be that bad.
“I’d like that. Especially if he’s as nice as his big brother.”