Chapter 8
Flight
School went off without a hitch. Hope and the CMC started to walk towards Sugarcube Corner, when Scootaloo started asking Hope about her wings.
"Those look strong, do you think you could fly with them." Scootaloo was in awe of Hope's massive bird like wings.
"No Scootaloo, I can't really control them yet." Hope sighed. "The best I can do with them is hover in air for a few seconds before falling flat on my face."
"Hey no worries, if it makes you feel better I can't fly ether." Scootaloo said. Hope just smiled and kept walking. They passed Fluttershy who was busy doing her shopping, Hope told her she wouldn't be back untill dinner and was going over to Pinkie Pie's house for the day. Fluttershy gave them some bits so they could enjoy themselves and they were off.
At Sugarcube Corner Pinkie was busy serving Hope and the CMC. Miss Cake was at the counter smiling and humming a tune as she counted the bits they gave her. They orderd the apple pie as it was both fresh and recommended by Pinkie. The pink party pony was back in two seconds carrying four plates on her rump. Once put on the table they dug in. Pinkie Pie took this as an opportunity to ask Hope questions.
"So Hope hows your stay in ponyville I see you made lots of friends this calls for a party and ........ OH MY GOSH I completely forgot to throw you a welcome I got to get going!" With that Pinkie darted out the door in a flash to prepare for Hope's so called "Welcome Party". Hope sweat dropped and stared in confusion at Pinkie Pie's antics.
In the middle of ponyville Pinkie was running around with a look of desperation on her face. Left and right she handed out invitations to a party to everypony in town.
"Oh my god how could I forget to throw Hope a welcome to ponyville party." Pinkie said to herself as she started to purchase party supplies.
"I wonder does Hope like cake I should make her a cake." Pinkie was frantically running around to shop after shop to get ready for the party.
"I mean who doesn't like cake oh maybe I should make some of my cupcakes I really hope she likes them." Pinkie ran back to Sugarcube Corner and up to her room at brake neck speeds and threw the supplies on her bed as she ran back down stairs to the kitchen.
"Excuse me Mr. Cake." Pinkie said as she ran through the baker pony knocking him into a bag of flour which exploded upon impact showering the room with clouds of white powder. Mr. Cake got up and started to sneeze uncontrollably. He was covered in flour ond was busy dusting himself off.
"Sorry Mr. Cake this is a party emergency." Pinkie said as she pushed him out the door.
Hope was finished with her snack and went outside.
"Hey were ya goin" Applebloome said.
"Sorry girls I just remembered that I have a flight lesson with Rainbow Dash." Hope said as she ran out the door. The CMC just stared and went back to their pie, discussing possible ways on getting their cutie marks. A loud explosion was heard in the kitchen as Pinkie Pie flew out and crashed into a wall.
"Note to self, no more special cupcakes." Pinkie said to herself as she got back up and made her way into the kitchen.
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In the Deamonta world Kerosine was grumbling to himself. He was in the badlands, a wide expanse of desert with no life save for the giant sandworms that fed off any who fell into one of the many craters that lined the place.
"Stupid child, you will not get the best of me again." He said as he stomped about having a fit of rage. That got one of the sandworms attention as it flew out of a crater. It had a spiderlike face with many mandebles that oozed digestive juices. It had ten limbs, five on each side which were used for gripping its prey. It had a huge worm like body that stood as tall as a skyscraper. It let out a huge scream as it dove for the general. Kerosine was one step ahead of it though as he opened up a portal and let the worm fall through it.
"Lets see how those ponies deal with that as it devours them hole." Kerosine laughed at what he had just done.
"Once it's done destroying their world I will go in and take the child to Mooneater himself so he may kill her personally."
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On the other side of the portal, the sandworm wriggled around and convulsed. It fliped itself over and looked around its surroundings, it was in a forest. A growl was heard behind it as a mantecore pounced at the worm. The sandworm turned quickly and let out a screech as it grabbed the beast in its legs and bit it. The mantecore roared in pain before it died, as the worm started to consume it.
Rainbow Dash was pacing back and forth, a whistle bobbed from side to side as she walked.
"Now Hope flying isn't easy if you don't know how to use your wings properly." Rainbow Dash said, "Fortunately I am here to teach you how to fly, no need to worry though because your being taught by the best and fastest flyer in Equestria." Hope just stared without saying a word.
"Now what you want to do is try to flap your wings and take off. I will time you to see how long you can stay above the ground." Hope readied herself and concentrated on trying to flap her wings. She floated above the ground for a few seconds before crashing back down.
"Maybe we should try something else." Rainbow facehooved.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to use my wings." Hope whined.
"Hey now there's no need for that, you'll get the hang of it I'm sure." Rainbow Dash said reassuringly. "Anyway let's try again, this time try to stay afloat for more than a few seconds." Hope just nodded and tried again. This time she managed to stay afloat until she landed.
"Thats perfect Hope, now lets see if we can work on your speed." Rainbow Dash was starting to get exited. She was happy that Hope was able to fly, even if it was for just a few minutes. Rainbow Dash looked around and saw a cave.
"All right Hope let's go in there we can use that cave as a flying course." She pointed a hoof at the cave.
"Doesn't that seem a bit dangerous Dash." Hope said with a look of worry.
"Nonsense, you have the best flyer in Equestria with you. What could go wrong." Rainbow Dash flew toword the entrance and said, "Hope you coming."
Hope just looked around nervously and nodded. She quickly ran to meet up with Rainbow Dash.
The worm had just finished its meal and was now exploring its new home. It wriggled through the forest with ease as it knocked trees down left and right. It heard some talking off in a clearing and went to investigate. It saw two figures walk into a cave. The worm sensing another chance to get a free meal followed.
The cave was huge and went down deep. Stalagmites and stalagtights littered the ground and ceiling, some were fused together making huge pillars that reached upwards. Some of the formations had small glowing crystals that gave off their own light. It made the perfect obsticale course. Hope stared in awe of the cave, the scene bringing a tear to her eye. It was shortlived though as Rainbow Dash broke the silence.
"Well Hope let's see if you can keep up with me. I promise I will go slow for you as it's your first time flying with me." Rainbow dash took off and Hope soon followed. Both were zooming around the formations with ease. Hope soon got the hang of flying and was keeping up with Dash with no effort. They stopped and landed in a small clearing to take a rest.
"Not bad for a beginner." Rainbow Dash said as Hope smiled. Suddenly Rainbow Dash lunged at Hope and pushed her to the side as a huge worm like creature came crashing face first into the ground.
(A/N: Listen to the song Deep Anxiety to get the full feel of what will be happening next.)
Hope screamed as she saw the monster. Rainbow Dash then got hold of Hope and said.
"Lets get out of here that thing has caused a cave in." The monster got a hold of itself and started to go toword the two, But a stalagtight fell and crushed its skull. The worm screamed as its juices came pouring out. The cave started to shake and rumble as debris came crashing down. Hope and Rainbow Dash took off and started speeding through the cave. Rocks fell left and right as the two nimbley dodged them. Hope nearly got crushed a few times but was saved by Dash. They saw a light in front of them and started making their way towords it. Rocks continued to fall as they neared the exit. Rainbow Dash got hit on the head with a rock and crashed onto the floor knocking herself out. Not wanting to see her friend die Hope quickly dropped down and started to drag her to the entrance. It was a close call as she managed to get both her and Rainbow Dash out safely just as the cave fell in on itself.
Rainbow Dash woke up in a hospital bed with a bandage on her head.
"Well it's good to see you awake" Rainbow Dash turned toword a red haired mare with a red cross for a cutie mark.
"Nurse Redheart what happened," Rainbow Dash then gasped, "Oh no! Hope!"
"There's no need to worry. She's the one who brought you here." Nurse Redheart said. "Anyway you have a visiter." Rainbow Dash looked toword the front of her bed. Hope soon walked up to meet her.
"That was a close one Dash."
"No biggee I get hit on the head alot." Rainbow Dash said as she smiled at hope. "But thanks for saving me."
"Come now Hope I think your mother is waiting for you outside." Nurse Redheart led Hope out the door. "Rainbow Dash needs the rest." Rainbow Dash sighed and laid back on the bed, thinking about the close call that she and Hope had.
"What was that thing, and who sent it?" She asked herself as sleep took her.