//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6: Flying 
// Story: The Seventh Element 
// by PaisleyPerson 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 6
Flying


“Twilight!” I panted, racing through the dark streets. The sun was already going down, and the streets were mostly clear at this hour, so Twilight wasn’t being swarmed again. I could see her ahead. Though she had a decent gain on me to begin with, I was catching up. 
“Go away!” she yelled back. “I’ll decide when I’m ready!”
“I know! Please, just wait!” I begged.
“No!” She jerked open the door to the library, but I stuck my hoof to catch it before she could lock me out. In my urgency, I didn’t notice the pain. She kept trying to use her magic to push me out, but I held firm. I couldn’t bear to lose this newfound friend.
“Please, just let me in. I need to talk to you! It’s not about the tickets!” Twilight hesitated.
“What is it?”
“Can I come in?” After what seemed like an eternity, the door swung open.
“Alright.” I gratefully stepped inside. “Now, what’s this all about?”
“Um… Twilight?” Fluttershy whispered.
“Yaaaarg!” Twilight whipped back in fright. Our other five friends sheepishly smiled down from her balcony.
“UGH! No, no, no! No more favors! I can’t decide! I just can’t decide!” Twilight whined. “It’s important to all of you and I just can’t stand to disappoint any of you and giving me gifts and doing me favors isn’t going to make a difference because you’re all my friends and I wanna make you all happy and I can’t. I just can’t!” She lay on the ground with her face buried in her hooves, trying to hide from the whole situation.
“Twilight, sugar?” Applejack began, coming down from the balcony. “I didn’t mean to put so much pressure on you.” She stretched out a hoof to stroke her bangs. “And if it helps, I don’t want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won’t feel bad. I promise.”
“Me too,” Fluttershy spoke up. “I feel just awful that I made you feel so awful.”
“And me too. It’s no fun upsetting your friends,” Pinkie agreed. 
“I’m sorry too” Rarity’s eyes watered with sincerity. “Twilight, it was unfair of me to try and force you as I did. In doing so, I not only hurt you, but Acrylic as well. You know I didn’t mean it that way, dear, but I am sorry.” I tried a smile, but it came out crooked and wavering. I bit my lip so I wouldn’t cry. 
“Twi? I just wanted you to know that I really wasn’t trying to guilt you into anything before. That’s just plain low, and I’d never do that. I truly never thought of us… any of us… as really close friends.”
“Now what in Equestria would make ya think that, sugar?” Applejack sadly smiled.
“Every one of you is great and all, don’t get me wrong. It’s just, back at home, everyone’s ‘friends’ with everyone, but you never get very close to anypony in particular. Ponyville isn’t like that. Tonight you made me realize that I have… real friends. I came back to apologize, but also to thank you. What you said was worth so much more than some old gala ticket.” Twilight’s eyes watered, and she brought me into the biggest, warmest hug she could manage. It wasn’t long before the rest of them pressed in, most of us crying tears of joy.
“YES! That means the ticket is mine,” Rainbow giggled, the only one not joining our group hug. “I got the ticket, I got the ticket!” she sang. Glares from all around shut her up. “You know, I haven’t perfected my signature moves for the Wonderbolts anyway. I don’t need that ticket either.”
“We all got so gun-ho about going to the gala that we didn’t see how so un-gun-ho we were makin’ you,” AJ apologized.
“We’re sorry, Twilight,” we all said in unison. 
“Spike, take down a note,” Twilight called, sitting up with a smile. The dragon was ready in an instant, pen poised. “Dear Princess Celestia, I’ve learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there’s not enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So, though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala.”
“WHAT?” the rest of us burst. 
“If my friends can’t all go, I don’t wanna go either,” she declared. 
“Twilight, you don’t have to do that,” Applejack tried to assure.
“Nope, I’ve made up my mind. Spike, you can send the letter now.” The purple dragon opened up one of the windows, took a deep breath, and evaporated the letter in a gust of magical green flame. 
“Now you won’t get to go to the gala either,” Fluttershy reminded. 
“It’s okay, girls. I couldn’t possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me, so I’d rather not go at all.” Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie led the girls in another group hug. However, disgusting gurgles were coming from across the room, ruining the moment. Spike proved to be the source of the noise. 
“Well, wallop my withers, Spike. Ain’t that just like a boy? Can’t handle the least bit of sentiment.” With one final and tremendous belch, a letter was spewed out of his mouth and to the ground. “WHOA, Nelly!” Applejack reared in response. It was our first time seeing how this system of sending and receiving letters via dragon assistant worked. 
“A letter from the Princess? Well, that was fast.” Spike caught it before the scroll hit the ground, opened it and began to read.
“My faithful student Twilight, why didn’t you say so in the first place?” His eyes widened. “Seven tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!” He held them up for all to see, and the shimmering sparkle of an extra for me made my stomach tickle with excitement. 
“Now we can all go!” Twilight cheered. The rest of us followed suit. Twilight’s stomach gurgled again. She sheepishly giggled.
“Allow us to treat you to dinner,” Rarity offered.
“What a great way to apologize!” Rainbow agreed.
“And to celebrate!” Pinkie put in. “Come on, everypony. Cupcakes are on me!” I was the last one out the door, mostly because one of the books on the library shelves caught my eye. I didn’t spend much time at the Golden Oaks, so I hadn’t seen it before. My eyes became glued on the cover of Legends of Equestria. A thestral was plastered right on top.
“You coming or what, Acrylic?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah! Coming!” I hurried out the door after them. One of the unicorns in our company was kind enough to levitate the last ticket over to me. Spike suddenly looked disappointed. 
“How come I don’t get a ticket to the gala?” He pouted, but was interrupted by another enormous belch. “And one for you, Spike,” he read, pulling another golden ticket from this second scroll. He giddily skipped out after us, stopping when he realized AJ and I were still watching. “I mean, I have to go too? Gross.” But AJ and I knew the truth. We laughed as we headed out for dinner at Sugar Cube Corner. 
I toyed with the cupcake Pinkie supplied, not really interested in food. My mind was elsewhere. That book, for instance. It was the only one I had seen on thestrals. I would have to go back for it. I wanted a better understanding of how thestrals were viewed. 
“Equestria to Acrylic,” Rainbow waved a hoof in front of my face, jolting me back to reality. “You phase out a lot, don’t you?”
“Occupational hazard,” I blinked. “Got to keep the creative juices flowing. What are we talking about?”
“I asked what you were going to do at the gala, now that we’re all going.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll find a nice quiet corner and make a few sketches.”
“You should bring a portfolio to the gala, Acrylic.”
“What a grand idea, Twilight,” Rarity agreed. “All of the most important ponies will be there. A portfolio to show off your work is sure to attract good business for your shop. What were you calling it? ArtLife?”
“Acrylic’s ArtLife,” Pinkie corrected, taking a big chomp out of the cake. “I came up with it!”
“Well, that explains it, then,” Applejack giggled.
“What’s wrong with it?” I asked, now slightly concerned. “Too cheesy?”
“No, no, not at all. I like it,” Rainbow giggled. I flattened my ears. Were they laughing at me? I decided I could just simplify it to Art Life. 
“I can’t believe I’m going to meet the Wonderbolts!” Rainbow went on. “After they see me at the Grand Galloping Gala, there’s no way they won’t let me into their team!”
“Sorry, Rainbow,” I sighed. If only she knew.
“For what?” All eyes turned to me. Did I say that out loud?
“I mean... I just wish I had wings. Then we could start our own flying group or something. That would be sure to catch their eye.” I sagged at relief at my own quick save. 
“A flying group of our own? Hey, maybe we still can! Er, I still can. But yeah, it’s a shame you don’t have wings. You’d make a great flyer, the way you managed yourself back in the Everfree.” My expression became pained, but I didn’t let anypony see. What right did I have to keep this secret from her? I knew Rainbow longed for a flying partner. If I could just show her, she would have the choice to accept my dragon wings or not. I knew I couldn’t. Especially not without knowing what was in that book. While Rainbow worked out her new plan to form a flying team to impress her greatest-heroes-of-all-time, I zoned back out, falling victim to the depressing mental battle of should I, should I not. 
I suddenly felt the all-too-familiar itch in my back. My eyes shot open, pupils shrunk down to pinpoints. 
“I’ve gotta go.” I sat next to Rarity and Twilight both in the booth, pressing me against the wall. This was a bad time for a wing spring. Before Rarity and Twilight had time to scoot over, I’d jumped on top of the bench’s backboard, and balanced atop before jumping to the floor.
“Wait! You didn’t finish your cupcake!” Pinkie reminded.
“Not hungry,” I called back as I rushed out the door. I didn’t have time to make it home. I could already feel the nubs sprouting. Instead, I dashed into a dark alley behind the bakery, and huddled among discarded boxes as I heard Rainbow busting out the door after me. 
“Where’d she go?” came her squeaky voice. 
“She didn’t just disappear,” Applejack snorted from below. I cowered deeper into the shadows. This was a rather late dinner, and night had already descended, which helped to mask my figure as well.
“Well, she isn’t here, either. Has she been acting funny to you?” There was a long pause that caused my heart to sink. 
“Maybe that’s just Acrylic. We wouldn’t question Pinkie if she ran off like that.”
“So you have noticed. There’s something weird about that pony, and I don’t mean Pinkie Pie weird. This is like she’s-hiding-something-weird. And I want to find out what it is.” She started flying off. 
“Where do you think you’re goin’?” 
“She probably went back to her shop. I’m going to see what she’s up to.” A loud whistling told me that Rainbow was on her way. I was just leaving when I accidentally upset the stack of boxes I was hiding behind. 
“Hello? Is somepony there?” I heard hoofsteps approaching, and matched them with Applejack’s heavy accent. She was going to find me! How would I explain this? I didn’t think I had time to retract my wings, but even if I did, the crunching of bones was sure to raise questions. Unless... no, it was too risky. “Acrylic? Is that you? What in the hay are you doing back there?” She was getting closer. I had to make up my mind. I closed my eyes. It was time to take a leap of faith. I concentrated. The final changes took place, and luckily, they didn’t cause any more noise. My eyes glowed like search lights, pupils reduced to blade-like slits. Even my coat darkened by a few shades of gray. I ripped the ties out of my mane and tail, letting it all hang loose. Finally, I removed the plaid beret. Clutching it to my chest where it was out of sight, my wings snapped open. 
I was thirty feet in the air in a second flat, my huge wings easily catching air. Applejack clutched her own stetson as the huge gust of wind I produced nearly took it off. She looked up, wide eyed as the mysterious figure took off. I couldn’t tell if she’d recognized me specifically through the horror already plastered on her face. “Well, some ponies just don’t have any consideration. Watch where you’re flyin’!” she yelled back at me, waving a hoof angrily. I did a triumphant twirl of success. She hadn’t identified me. Unfortunately, the thunderous crack of wings and zooming streak of gray had attracted other eyes. There were still a few ponies out at this time of night, so I glided into the clouds for cover.
“Hey, you!” Rainbow was hovering in the air below, admiration gleaming in her rosy eyes. “Come here. I wanna ask you something!” Oh no. I knew that look. Why couldn’t I have kept my mouth shut about the flying team thing? With a heavy heart, my wings snapped back into action. “Hey, wait!” Rainbow called. “I’m talking to you!” As I expected, she zipped after me in rainbow blur. My thestral wings kept me in the lead, much to her astonishment. She was so caught up in trying to keep pace and dodge the clouds I spun around that she didn’t notice where I was leading her. Folding my wings, I dove right into the canopies of the Everfree. “WHOA!” she shrieked, trying desperately to stop in time. Her angle was completely off. That would be a hard landing. Shoot, Rainbow, why do you do this to me?
I broke into an all-out sprint, trampling the bush I’d intended to be my cover. With a crack as loud as thunder, my wings brought me soaring back towards Rainbow Dash. There was no way she could ignore my wings now, and I felt her eyes drawn to them. I couldn’t tell if she saw my face just yet, because I had been doing everything in my power to hide it. I let my mane fly into my eyes in an effort to conceal myself, which almost threw off my aim. I managed to catch her in time, though I had to spin underneath her so I could haul her up by the elbows. This angle also made it harder for her to twist around and identify me. The wind was blowing my incredibly long mane away from my face, but I urgently tried to keep it in place. I knew my cover was blown, but I couldn’t accept the fact, and kept postponing it for as long as I could. Depositing my load on the ground, I circled back to the Everfree. As careful as I had been, there was no way to tell if she’d seen or not.
I stormed through the Everfree, crashing through the underbrush like a mad pony. Tears streaked my cheeks, my sapphire eyes turning red from the salty water. They were the first to return to normal. Then my coat lightened, and my wings retreated back to their rightful place. I couldn’t keep this up. If my friends didn’t find out, it was still tearing me apart. Though I was fleeing for my life, I’d finally tasted the sky for the first time since arrival. These pegasi took it for granted. I wasn’t like that. I needed to fly. It was part of me. Once you touched the sky, and I mean really felt it, your heart never came down.
I ran until I could run no more, finally collapsing in the dirt. I fell asleep in the Everfree that night. I couldn’t help but feel like this was where I belonged. 





I woke up in a much better mood. Though I slept on the cold hard ground instead of a comfortable bed, I felt refreshed. I’d forgotten how nice it was to wake to the first rays of dawn. Stretching, I looked fondly back at my wings. I’d neglected them for a month. Stretching them had felt so good last night. Last night. My face fell. Did they know, now? It was time to find out. I started off back the way I came, marked by a line of trampled undergrowth. My gaze again flicked to my wings. Maybe a brief flight couldn’t hurt. Smiling, I eyed an opening in the thick tree branches and made for it. No one was flying nearby. With this all-clear, I began the return flight back home, keeping low to the trees should I need to make a hasty escape.
Now that my reputation wasn’t at stake, I was able to enjoy myself. I glided over the tree tops, letting the tips of my wings unfurl so low that they brushed the leaves. Wind ruffled my mane. It felt so good to let it down again. Speaking of which, I needed to pull it back up before I got into town. I didn’t worry about it. I had all the time in the world; the sun was just rising, creating a warm sensation on my back as I soared through cool fog.
I touched down behind my home, making sure there still wasn’t a soul in sight. I stopped only long enough to make myself presentable for the day; I quickly brushed off the leaves and dirt still clinging to my coat after a night in the forest, fixed my hair, and of course, retracted my wings. I picked up my moth-eaten saddlebags and money on the way out too. There were errands to be run, and I might as well do them while I was checking up on things. Twilight would be opening the library by the time I got there. I could finally go back for that book.
No one gave me funny looks on my way, which was a good sign so far. Then again, Rainbow could have had enough sense to keep it in our circle of seven. Eight, counting Spike. I tried to put it out of my mind as I came up on the library. Twilight typically kept the door cracked to let ponies know when the library was open. It gave way just as I was lifting a hoof to knock.
“Oh, hi, Acrylic. Come in.”
“Thanks.” I steadied my breath when I followed her inside. She wasn’t acting strange. Now I just had to make sure Rainbow wasn’t keeping my secret to herself. 
“Is everything okay? The way you ran off last night made us wonder.”
“Everything’s great,” I answered. “I just got really sick all of a sudden. A night’s rest did me a world of good.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that! But... I’m glad you’re feeling better. Do you know what caused it?”
“Probably just too much time making paint. The fumes get to you after a while.”
“There’s got to be a way to reduce that,” Twilight thought. That gave me an idea.
“Actually, I was just coming to see if you might have any books on that,” I fibbed.
“Oh! Well, if it’s a book you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. I’m sure we have something here.”
“Great. What do you suppose it would be under?” 
And so we checked F for fumes, G for gasses, and even S for symptoms, but Twilight finally uncovered one hidden in the N’s for Natural Paints. As she filled out the checkout slip, I pretended to browse the other shelves. I quickly happened upon Legends of Equestria, and plucked it off the shelf, casually leafing through the pages. 
“What’s this?” I asked as though I was really clueless. Twilight finished signing off on the sheet and looked up. Lifting it with her magic, she rifled through the pages. 
“It looks like a reference guide to all the creatures from Equestrian Legends and folklore. Legends of Equestria. Huh. I’ve never read it. It looks interesting, though.”
“It sure does. You know, my mother used to tell me stories about these guys. You know, aponies, hippocampi, thestrals and such.”
“Oh, really? Well, maybe you’d be interested in taking it, too.”
“Can I check out two at a time?” I smiled, triumphant. Twilight was so pleased to be sharing her beloved tomes to notice my smirk. 
“Of course! Just let me amend this slip, and it’s yours.” I felt like hoof-pumping the air. Unfortunately, I hadn’t succeeded just yet. Rainbow Dash flew in like a hurricane, producing so much force that the door slammed open in her wake. 
“Twilight, quick! I need a book! What are you guys looking at me like that for?” She took one look around at out stunned faces before zoning in on the cover of Legends of Equestria. “Aha! Perfect. Thanks, Twi! I’ll bring it right back.” Rainbow snatched the book out of Twilight’s levitational hold and took off, just like that. 
“Hey!” Twilight complained, landing face-first on the floor when her lost grip on the book caused her to fly forward. “Ugh. Sorry, Acrylic. I’ll hold it for you when she comes back with it, if you like.”
“That’s okay. Thanks, Twilight.” I stuffed the other book in my saddlebag, practically dancing on the spot. I ran out after the rogue pegasus before she could get another word in edgewise. 
Luckily for me, Rainbow settled down on a cloud overlooking a meadow on the outskirts of town to read it. 
“Rainbow Dash?” I practically screamed. 
“Oh, hey, Acrylic. Sorry, I can’t talk now. I’m busy.”
“Since when do you read books?” I tried.
“Since a thestral saved me last night.” I shut up, and Rainbow took it for shock. She smirked, thinking she knew something I didn’t. She brandished a hoof on her chest. “Yep. A thestral. And here we thought they didn’t exist. I’m telling ya, one of these guys saved my life last night.” She purposefully gestured to the leather cover, the rearing imprint of one of my kin stamped into it. “Hey, you were about to check this out when I flew in, weren’t you? My bad. Here. I’ll come down so we can look at it together.”
“Don’t bother.”
“Are you sure? Because I don’t mind-”
“Rainbow, you have to promise to keep a secret for me.”
“What? What kind of secret?”
“A secret that might mean life or death one day. You can NEVER breathe a word of it to another pony so long as you live.”
“Okaaaay,” she rolled her eyes unbelievingly.
“Promise me, Rainbow. You have to swear on your life that you’ll never tell anypony.”
“Okay, okay. Tell you what, I’ll do better than that. I’ll Pinkie Pie Swear.”
“Pinkie Pie Swear?”
“Yeah. You can never tell anypony something if you Pinkie Pie Swear.”
“Alright, then.”
“I cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” she vowed. 
“Alright.” I broke into a gallop.
“Hey, what are you-” Her eyes widened in horror as wings sprouted from my back, sending me into the air hurtling right for her cloud.