//------------------------------// // 30. Best Young Flyers Competition - Part 1 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// A streak of dark gray and silvery-blue zoomed above Ponyville. It headed straight for a large cloud and encircled it, increasing in speed until it zoomed right up and came down, flying straight through the cloud. But instead of dispersing, the cloud, having been charged into a storm cloud by the high-velocity rotation, followed after the streak in a trail of electrical cloud not unlike that of the Wonderbolts! Below on the ground, Midnight, Big Mac, Rumble, and Twinken were all cheering as they watched the performance. “He’s really gonna clean up at that competition!” Midnight was amazed by the sight. “Eeyup! Cain’t wait t’ see him wow `em all!” “My big brother is the best flier ever!” Rumble cheered as he and Twinken did a hoof-bump. Back in the air, the streak, or rather Thunderlane, was gearing up for the last phase of his routine. Flying straight up, the streaming thundercloud following after him, he went higher and higher until he judged he’d made the right altitude and spread his wings while facing downwards. Below, they watched as the dark gray Pegasus was engulfed in the thundercloud as it streamed right into him but somehow being directed towards his wings. In no time at all, the guys were wowed by what they saw. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was flying in the sky on the other side of Ponyville, soaring upwards as she said, “Here we go, phase three: The Sonic Rainboom!” Loop de’ looping around, she suddenly dove at a 45-degree angle, a raging circular outline appearing before her as she dove faster and faster. “Come on…!” Rainbow urged herself, the velocity pushing her lips back, when the effect burst, she was just about to break the sound barrier itself!! …When all of a sudden! There was a mighty crack of thunder, so powerful it disturbed Rainbow’s flight pattern and broke her concentration. “Uh-oh!” Rainbow muttered right before she met a serious rebound and was sent hurtling through the sky! “Last one,” Twilight sighed as she telekinetically placed a book in its proper place. She turned around to face Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie as she said, “Thanks for all your help, guys – It was a crazy weekend of studying!” “Do y’all hear sumpin’?” Applejack brought up and sure enough, they did! It sounded like a scream getting increasingly louder… coming from outside Twilight’s window. *CRASH* As the dust cleared, everypony groaned and found themselves buried in books, the sudden entrance of a certain rainbow-colored pegasus they knew, having caused the problem, as Fluttershy flew in, saying, “Hey Rainbow Dash, you rocked. Whoo-hoo!” But then she realized what she was looking at and asked, “Oh my… Did my cheering do that?” Rainbow stood up, saying, “Sorry about that, ladies, that was a truly feeble performance.” “Oh it wasn’t all bad,” Fluttershy assured her, “I particularly liked it when you made the clouds spin!” “I’m not talking about my performance,” corrected Rainbow indignantly, “I’m talking about yours!” But before they could get into it more, the front door swung open, “Looking lovely in your spring coats, ladies!” In walked Thunderlane, looking pretty proud of himself, followed by Midnight, Big Mac, Twinken, and Rumble, Midnight saying, “You will not believe what we just saw!” “Not now, guys!” Rainbow complained, “I’m trying to scold the one pony who will be able to come see me at the Cloudsdale Best Young Flyers Competition! “What’s that?” Twilight asked, Pinkie butting in, “It’s where all the greatest pegasus flyers get together and show off their different flying styles!” Suddenly, Pinkie started running around, pretending she was flying, followed by Twinken and Rumble, the both of them laughing along with Pinkie as she said, “Some are fast!” She came to a stop and pirouetted, “And some are graceful.” Unfortunately, Twinken and Rumble were a little late in applying their biological breaks. *CRASH* “Golly, Ah’d love to see you strut yer stuff in tha’ competition,” Applejack said to Rainbow. “Yeah, I wish you could all be there,” Rainbow replied, “Fluttershy’s a great support, but her cheering isn’t exactly inspirational.” “Well, my little bro’s all the inspiration I need!” Thunderlane said as he scooped up Rumble, the both of them laughing. “I aim to win that competition and give him the trophy.” “I can’t wait to see the looks on everypony’s faces when you show them the Thunder Flap!” Rumble cheered. “The Thunder what?” Twilight asked. “He was practicing it earlier,” Midnight explained, “It’s a totally awesome maneuver but dangerous if done incorrectly.” “Ooh! As neat-o as that sounds, I’d love to see a Sonic Rainboom!” Pinkie brought up, “I hear it’s the most coolest thing ever, not that I’ve actually seen it, but come on! It’s a sonic rainboom!” “What’s a sonic rainboom?” Twilight asked, only for Pinkie to get up in her face. “You really need to get out more. The Sonic Rainboom is legendary! When a pegasus like Rainbow Dash gets going sooo fast... BOOM! A sonic boom and a rainbow can happen all at once!” “And Dash here is the only pony to ever pull it off,” Thunderlane added. “It was a long time ago,” Rainbow said with uncharacteristic modesty. “I was just a filly.” “Yeah, but you’re gonna do it again, right?” Pinkie was just too dang hopeful to say otherwise. “A-Are you kidding?” scoffed Rainbow with a slight hesitatation. “I’m the greatest flyer to ever come out of Cloudsdale! I can do sonic rainbooms in my sleep.” “Wow! You pull that off, you’ll win the crown for sure!” Twilight stated. “Hey, my Thunder Flap is pretty impressive too, and a whole lot more risky,” Thunderlane scoffed. But he gave Rainbow a smile, “Even so, you’re gonna be my biggest competition, Dash!” “I don’t care about the crown, I want that grand prize,” Rainbow Dash stated, “To spend a whole day hanging out with the Wonderbolts! A whole day of flying with my lifelong heroes…! It’ll be a dream come true!” “Well, from one aspiring Wonderbolt to another, Dash,” Thunderlane said as he held out a hoof, “may the best flyer win.” Everypony smiled at the two friends-slash-rivals as they gave each other a respectful hoofshake. “I’m gonna go rest up. Don't wanna over prepare myself, y'know. Hehe, “Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously before turning aggressively towards Fluttershy. “YOU, on the other hoof, better keep practicing. I need a cheering section to match my spectacular performance.” But before Rainbow could take flight, Thunder said, “Hey, Dash, race ya!” “You’re on!” And they zoomed off, Fluttershy turning to the others, looking worried. “She's practiced that move a hundred times, and she's never even come close to doing it. I don't know if I can cheer loud enough to help her.” “Fluttershy, can you give me a lift?” Rumble asked. “Thunder kinda… flew off without thinking.” “Oh sure, sweetie,” Fluttershy said as she let Rumble on her back and they flew off. “Welp, better get this place cleaned up… again,” Twilight sighed but before she could place a book where it belonged, Rarity cleared her throat. “Yes…?” “Are you not going to find a spell to get us wingless ponies into Cloudsdale? Did you not see how nervous poor Rainbow Dash was?” “Nervous? Have you spit yer bit or sumpin’?” Applejack asked with a smirk. “She was tootin’ her own horn louder than th’ brass section of a marchin’ band,” Big Mac commented in agreement. Oh puh-lease!” Rarity scoffed. “I’ve put on enough fashion shows to know stage fright when I see it! We’ve got to find a way to be there for her!” “Well how am I supposed to find a flight spell in this mess?” Twilight reasoned when Pinkie said, “A flight spell? One sec.” She streaked out of visible view, returning a split-second later, throwing a book to Twilight’s feet, saying, “Page twenty-seven.” “How’d you do that?” Midnight deadpanned. “It landed on my face when Rainbow Dash knocked me into the bookcase,” Pinkie explained right off the bat, Twinken saying, “How unbelievably convenient.” Big Mac agreed, “Eeyup.” “Here it is!” Twilight announced as she looked at the page, “A flight spell that will allow earth ponies to fly like a pegasus. Ooh, it looks really difficult! I’m not sure I could do it.” “Lemme see,” Midnight took the big and checked the spell himself and nodded in agreement to the complexity he was look at. “Hmm, I could probably do this for us all if the moon was out.” “We don’t have that kind of time!” Rarity insisted. “You’ve got to try.” “But who’s gonna volunteer to be the test subject?” Twilight brought up. “I’ll do it!” Twinken hopped up and down, “I’ve always wanted to fly!” “No, no, no!” Midnight shot him down, “No brother of mine is gonna be a test subject for a spell we’re not even sure we can cast.” “Oh!” Twinken pouted. “I’ll do it!” declared Rarity. “For Rainbow Dash, I will go first.” “Well, alright,” Twilight agreed before looking at Midnight, “Help me out?” “Like you have to ask,” Midnight chuckled. They looked at the spell and nodded, Twilight saying, “Here goes…!” The dream to fly, achieved by few, Like a Pegasus and soar Gossamer and morning dew, I dare to open the door The two unicorns scrunched their eyes as the spell began its work, two ribbons of light, one magenta, the other turquoise, extending from their horns and reaching out to Rarity. She stood bravely as the magic took her in its ethereal embrace, while Midnight and Twilight grunted and groaned at the intensity of the spell. Finally, a spark of light ignited, creating a pulse that knocked away the two mages, Applejack and Big Mac catching them and they gasped at the sight before them! “I think it worked,” Midnight said, feeling woozy. Wings flapped in a splendor of colors extending from behind the fashionista as she asked, “It worked! I’m actually flying! Is there a mirror about? I’d like to see my new wings!” “Here you are,” Pinkie held one up and Rarity marveled! She beheld a pair of wings akin to a butterfly, colored primarily thistle with patterns of pink, green, pale blue, and gold, all glimmering in brilliance. “Ah! They’re gorgeous!” “Too gorgeous, ain’t no way I’m putting wings like that on my back,” Midnight muttered to Big Mac and Twinken, the farmer whispering, “Eeyup.” “So pretty!” Pinkie gasped. “Jus’ dandy!” Applejack agreed. “And too much effort,” Twilight shot down, everypony looking at her. “Listen everypony, I wanna be there for Rainbow Dash as much as any of you…” Twilight didn’t quite know what to say until Midnight stepped in. “But that spell is too hard for us to cast on all of us, even with the two of us working together,” Midnight reasoned, “We’ll just have to find another way. In fact…” Midnight started levitating books, looking for something, “I believe I came across a certain spell that will allow us to walk on clouds like pegasus ponies do!” “Brilliant idea, Midnight,” Twilight agreed, “and thankfully, I know just the spell you’re looking for!” The Cloud-Walking Spell turned out to be much easier to cast, Twilight didn’t even need Midnight’s magical assistance and cast the spell on everypony present, as they stood in an open field. “Now, with the spell in place, we’ll all be able to walk on clouds for three days. Plenty of time to get to Cloudsdale and enjoy the competition.” “This is too cool!” Twinken hopped up and down on Midnight’s back, “I’m really gonna see Cloudsdale and get to see some awesome flyers!” “And we’ll be able to surprise Rainbow and Thunder,” chuckled Midnight in agreement. “But how are we gonna get up to Cloudsdale?” “Somepony need a lift?” Everypony looked up and gasped to see Pinkie in the same hot-air balloon she rode in with Spike when they did the announcements for the Running of the Leaves. “Once again, Pinkie comes through,” Twilight giggled at the looks on everypony’s face. Flying to Cloudsdale didn’t take that long but Rarity flew ahead to find Rainbow Dash. Before long, they rose up through a thick layer of cloud and found Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy gaping at them, Rainbow saying, “I don’t believe it!” “So incredible,” Fluttershy added. “This is so cool!” said Rainbow as the balloon set itself down, “You guys made it!” “Eeyup,” Big Mac answered as he got out, ignoring Rainbow’s “Wait!” But instead of falling through the cloud beneath him, Rainbow and Fluttershy gaped at how he stood on the cloud like any pegasus, and the others hopped out with no troubles either. “How’d you do that?” Rainbow asked, “Only pegasus ponies can walk on clouds!” “Pretty cool, huh?” Pinkie giggled as she cartwheeled past, Twinken following her in merry pursuit. “Midnight and I used a spell to give temporary wings,” Twilight explained, pointing Rarity out, “but it was too difficult to perform more than once.” “So Twilight used a simpler spell that allows us all to walk on clouds,” Midnight added. “An’ we came t’ cheer you t’ victory!” Applejack declared. “Well, the girls will probably cheer for you,” Midnight conflicted, “but you’ll understand if Mac and Twinken and I cheer for Thunder, won’t you Rainbow?” “Ah no sweat,” Rainbow waved it off, “and to be honest? I was getting to be just the teeniest-tiniest bit nervous but I’m really glad you’ll all be here. Hey, since we got time before the competition, howsabout Fluttershy an’ I show you all around Cloudsdale!” “You girls go ahead,” Midnight said, “We’re gonna go catch up with Thunder!”