Sunset Shimmer was still getting used to her new wings. Despite all her best efforts, she could not keep them or herself in balance and ended up falling on her face every time she tried.
She had just crashed after not even getting five feet in the air for the fifth time in a row, when she heard a familiar voice call out to her.
"Trying to get some flight practice in, are we?" It said.
Sunset turned in the voice's direction and her face lit up at the sight of an unmistakable blonde-maned pegasus mare.
"Lightning Dust! You're back!" Sunset exclaimed while galloping up to hug her friend. "How was the academy?"
"Aside from being under constant watch by Spitfire," Lightning Dust answered her, "it was awesome. I even managed to develop a new move on my way back a few days ago. Wanna see it?"
"Do I ever?!" Sunset eagerly accepted.
Lightning Dust nodded and then flew straight up into the air, leaving an amber lightning bolt streak behind her. She did not stop flying until she had all but reached the sun. After pausing for a few brief moments to catch her breath, she dived straight down towards the ground at top speed, flapping her wings as fast and as hard as she possibly could.
Even though it looked like she was struggling to do so, even Sunset could see that Lightning Dust was trying to break the sound barrier. Just when Sunset thought that something was about to go wrong, Lightning Dust had finally broken the barrier. The result was not a sonic rainboom, but this could definitely be described as something akin to one.
Instead of a flaming rainbow-colored shockwave, the one that Lightning Dust created was composed of billions of lightning bolts of all sizes in the same color as her mane, crackling like electricity.
"What happened?!" Rainbow Dash asked after appearing out of nowhere. "What was that explosion?!"
"Nothing to worry about, Dash." Sunset assured before pointing to the sky. "Just look up there and see for yourself."
"What the hay?!" Rainbow gasped in awe at the massive electric sonic boom. "Who did that?!"
Just then, Lightning Dust came right for both ponies very fast. Before she got anywhere near them, she flew slightly upward from their position, and then stopped on a bit immediately when she was directly above both of them, making herself clearly visible.
"Does that answer your question?" Sunset asked Rainbow in response.
"Hey, Lightning Dust." Rainbow greeted her former flying partner.
"Sup, Dash." Lightning Dust waved in response.
"That was awesome!" Sunset cheered and hoof-bumped Lightning Dust. "I've never even seen a Sonic Rainboom, but I think you just pulled off your own version of one."
"Uh, rainbooms don't have lightning." Rainbow smirked.
"That's it!" Lightning Dust said in realization. "I'll call it the Sonic Lightningboom!"
"It's perfect." Sunset agreed, while Rainbow just shrugged and nodded.
"Anyway Sunset, I noticed you were having trouble flying." Lightning Dust said in concern. "Still not yet use to the wings, huh?"
"Sadly, no." Sunset answered her.
"Well, don't worry." Lightning Dust assured her with a pat on the back. "I'm gonna coach you."
"Ok. This I gotta see." Rainbow Dash smugly remarked. Sunset and Lightning just ignored that.
"Okay now, let's get started! First off, can you open your wings?" Lightning Dust asked Sunset.
Sunset tried to open them but could not even get halfway.
"Let me take a look." Lightning Dust walked over to her. "No wonder you're so much having trouble. You're tensing up way too much. Try relaxing a bit."
Sunset nodded, took a deep breath, and then tried again. Slowly, but surely, her wings began to extend. In a matter of seconds, they were fully erect.
"That's great." Lightning Dust complimented. "Now, let's practice flapping. Don't worry; the first time is always the hardest. After that, it'll practically be a breeze. No pun intended." Sunset just giggled with her at that.
Sunset then began flapping her wings just to get a feel for them and the motions, as well as trying to get the wings in sync.
"Make sure to get your wings in sync." Lightning Dust advised. "Now, to get off the ground, you have to remove the weight from your body and just focus on your wings. It's kind of like floating on water."
Sunset closed her eyes and imagined she was floating in a river. Then she began flapping and soon enough she was off the ground.
"That's it, Sunset. You're doing it." Lightning Dust told her. "Think you can go higher?"
Sunset opened her eyes and looked at her before nodding yes. Lightning Dust then grabbed her hoof and led her further up. Rainbow Dash followed them just in case something went wrong.
"Now, we just need to practice flying around." Lightning Dust said. "Try flying from left to right."
Sunset was just able to get it down.
"Good." Lightning Dust continued. "Now try lifting yourself up and down."
Sunset was starting to get the hang of it. She stopped flapping to let herself lower downwards, and was just starting to flap even harder to do the opposite when a fierce wind came from out nowhere, causing Sunset to spiral downward towards the ground at a dangerously fast rate.
"Sunset!" Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash called and dove after her.
Even with their speed, Rainbow and Lightning were both too far away from Sunset to get to her before she hit the ground.
Sunset tried desperately to get control of her wings, but it worked to no avail. It looked like she was going to crash and get severely injured. She closed her eyes and waited for the pain to come. When it did not come, Sunset opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by a familiar sapphire blue magic aura.
"Thank goodness I'm in time." Said the unmistakable voice of Lockon Astros. "That would have been a nasty crash."
"Lockon?!" Sunset gasped. "Not that I'm not grateful for the rescue, but what are you doing in Ponyville? Did you come here to surprise me with another visit?"
"Yes." Lockon replied. "And this time I have the whole weekend off."
"Sunset!" came the worried voices of Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust.
"Are you ok?!" Lightning Dust asked her.
"I'll be fine, Lightning Dust." Sunset answered her. "Thanks to Lockon here. Anyway can we end flight practice for today with that? I think I need some time to rest after that."
"Of course." Lightning Dust agreed. "How about same time tomorrow?"
"Sure." Sunset answered.
And with that Rainbow and Lightning sped off into the sky.
Soon Lockon had escorted Sunset back to her new house. They were now in Sunset's bedroom.
"Are you sure that you're ok?" Lockon asked her.
"Yes, Lockon." Sunset answered. "You caught me before I could get any injuries. The only thing that's bothering me right now is the stiffness I'm feeling in my wings."
"I can help with that." Lockon mused.
"How?" Sunset asked.
"Are you willing to try a wing massage?" Lockon asked her. "It helps alleviate soreness and relaxes you as well."
"What the hay? I'll give it a try." Sunset said as she climbed onto a table to lie down on and spread her wings.
Lockon rubbed Sunset's wings with his hooves. Sunset sighed with contentment. It had been a while since she had felt quite so relaxed. She was just about as relaxed as she was whenever Rarity took her to the spa.
"So anyway, what was this new idea of yours?" Lockon asked her as he continued massaging.
"Oh," Sunset replied, "it's a new tool I'm thinking about inventing; an idea I have for a new tool for all branches of the royal guard."
"Please, tell me more." Lockon continued massaging Sunset's wings.
"You know how all guards have that armor?" Sunset explained. "Well, as you no doubt already know, that armor does not offer up maximum protection for each individual guard. And then there are all the guards who carry crossbows."
"My idea is to create a shield." She continued. "A versatile shield that can transform into a fully functional crossbow and back again. I am even thinking about putting in a bola launcher to incapacitate fugitives or criminals on the run. If I can make such a shield and then mass produce it, that could be the perfect tool for any royal guard to use. Wouldn't you agree?"
"That's really not a bad idea." Lockon agreed. "I might be able to help gather materials. I am pretty sure Mom would approve of this, but I will have to run it by her. And while we're on the subject of the royal guard, I have already made Flash Sentry my second-in-command for the Canterlot Royal Guard."
"That's great news." Sunset said. "Although, is he capable of doing such a role?"
"He can be a bit of a goof sometimes," Lockon admitted, "but he is a very capable and reliable pony when it comes to being a guard."
"Well I hope it works out for him." Sunset expressed sincerely. "In the meantime, I think I wanna try flying again tomorrow."
"If that's what you want, then I'll help you out tomorrow along with Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust." Lockon offered. "At the very least I can provide moral support."
"That is more than enough." Sunset told sweetly before giving him a quick peck on the lips. She then showed him to the spare bed in one of the guest rooms. They were not quite that far into their relationship yet. The most intimate thing they had ever done so far was kissing each other on the lips.
The next morning, Sunset and Lockon met Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust out in the fields of Ponyville for Sunset to try again. After spending the whole morning practicing wing movements Sunset lifted off the ground again. This time she was showing a lot of improvement.
"You're definitely getting better, Sunset." Rainbow called out to her. "I'll give you that."
"Thanks to the encouragement from all three of you." Sunset responded.
Suddenly out of nowhere, Sunset was struck yet again by another powerful wind. However this time she was ready and thanks to her training she recovered very quickly. The wind still pushed her back a bit, but she kept her balance the whole time.
"I did it." Sunset gasped, surprised at her own fortitude. "Yeah!"
She finally glided back down to the three ponies who were waiting. Lockon had a sincere smile. Lightning Dust had the biggest and toothiest grin Sunset had ever seen on her, and Rainbow Dash's jaw was literally touching the ground.
"That…was…AWESOME!" Lightning Dust cheered as she and Sunset high-hooved each other.
"Close that mouth of yours Dash, or you might catch flies." Sunset quipped playfully. Everypony else just laughed.
"How about a friendly race to Sugarcube Corner?" Rainbow suggested. "I don't know about you guys, but I am hungry."
"I could use a bite to eat." Lockon agreed.
Then all four ponies raced off. Well two of them were racing while the other two were just casually flying alongside each other and enjoying each other's company. And they still had the rest of the weekend to enjoy it.