//------------------------------// // Chapter Seven: Flight Training // Story: A Dash Of Life. // by Unarmed Pony //------------------------------// "This is it? It's just a barren wasteland!" I said. "That is to an untrained eye. When you've been flying as long as I have then you see every cactus as an obstacle. See that V shaped one over there? I used that to help me gain precision and timing." "Well, we can try precision and timing when I can actually get more than an inch off the ground for more than two seconds." "Right. First, wing exercises. Give me ten wing push-ups!" I drop down on my belly and brace my new wings by my sides. I place them against the floor and push with all my might..... Nothing. "Yeah that's not going to happen any time soon. Got anything else?" "Just flaps. Flap for as long as you can without taking off. My record is ten minutes." "Doesn't seem that hard." "Trust me, after three, you'll feel like they're going to fall off." _______________________________ After doing the flaps for about 4 and a half minutes, I was knackered. I was still going though. I wasn't going to let Rainbow beat me. She was doing them right next to me. Another minute passed. I started to sweat. My wings felt like they were going to fall off at any second. Another half a minute. 6 minutes and I started going faster. My wings now used to the up and down motion. I actually began to feel lighter for a second. One more minute. The only thing going through my mind was Just three more minutes of agonizing pain! Two more minutes passed. I saw Rainbow start to get tired. She had a sweat breaking out on her forehead. Dampening the coat a little. Ten more seconds. Then I would win. I began to count them in my head. As soon as I reached zero, I collapsed on the floor. I couldn't take it any-more. I needed to stop. "Come on. Get up." "In about an hour." "No. The soreness is good. The wings are getting used to being used. You should at least be able to hover now." "Fine." I got up and spread my wings. As they reached full stretch a shot of pain went straight from the tip of my left wing and spread all through my body. I yelped and instantly retracted them. "What was that?" I asked while rubbing my wing with my hoof." "Probably a wing cramp. I think you overdid it a bit. I have some cream for it at home. Come on. That's enough training for today anyway." _________________________________________ As Rainbow was rubbing the cream into my wing, I took the time to admire her multicoloured mane. I don't know what happened but ever since I got turned into a pony, I have had this attraction toward her. My heart desires her. I don't know what to do or how to tell her but I know that I must have her. I decided to go for the stupid, yet subtle approach of complimenting her mane. "You know, your mane is really amazing." Rainbow hid her face. Presumably from blushing. "Thank you." "What's the probability that a pony would be born with a mane like yours?" Rainbow started to pack away the cream. "Unless you're from the Dash family then it's pretty much zero. Our family has a gene mixture that allows more than two colours in our hair. My granny says that we derive from Princess Celestia. But I doubt it's true." "Who knows. Anything could happen." "True. But still. It's unlikely." She sat down next to me on the bed. I rested my hoof on her back. "Thanks Dash." "For what?" "For everything. From the moment you came into my life to right now you've been supportive. Mostly in convincing me I'm not insane but some of it is physical support. Like today." "Well, it's what I do. Element of Loyalty and all that." She slumped down a bit and brushed my hoof off her back. "What's wrong?" "It doesn't matter. Come one. We need to rest up. I want you hovering by tomorrow." ______________________________________________ By three in the morning, I accepted the fact that I wouldn't be sleeping. I climbed out of bed and headed for the kitchen. As I walked down the stairs, I saw the slight flicker of a candle in the kitchen. I carefully approached the open door. I peeped my head around and what I saw I couldn't comprehend. Rainbow Dash. Hunched over the table. Head cradled in her arms. Weeping. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Rainbow Dash never cries. "Dash?" I knew she heard me but she didn't respond. "Dash? Are you all-right?" "Go away." She said. Voice muffled by her arms. "I'm not going to leave my friend in this state without trying to help." I walked over to the chair next to her. I sat down and laid my arm around her. "Sounds like you should be the element of loyalty." "Nope. That's your job. I'm just helping a friend in need." I puller her into a hug. She warmly accepted it and she buried her muzzle into my chest. "So what happened that got you so upset?" "Just some family issues that I have. Talking about family last night made me remember what I had been pushing out for so long." "What was it?" "I abandoned them when they needed me the most. My obsession with The Wonderbolts caused my fathers death. You might not think so by looking at me now but I used to be a farmer. There was really strong winds on the farm. And The Wonderbolts thought it would be a great test to get more people. I'm guessing to test bravery. But my family needed me to help secure the trees and stop them from falling. We got into a big fight and I went off to the audition. When I came back, there was an ambulance. A tree had fallen on my father. His last words were to me. He said 'Reach for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll still touch stars. Work to achieve your goals. Stun The Wonderbolts. Make me proud.' And then he passed away in my arms. I said I would do my best. After that, I left my family and moved here. To Ponyville. A nice quiet town with flight tracks. Ever since that day I have been going to ever Wonderbolts audition and failed every single one." By that moment we were both in tears. However my eyes were just tearing a little. Rainbow was still crying. Not as much as she was, but still crying. I gently kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. You'll get there." I stroke her mane. This seems to have a calming affect on her. "I really like you. Ever since you got turned into a pony, I've seen you differently. You are the most beautiful stallion I have ever seen." "Like-wise. When I became this, the only thing I could focus on was the silky smoothness of your coat. And the way your mane radiates light. You're the rainbow I see on a rainy day." "Nice play on words." "It's my speciality." "Come one. Let's go to bed." She stood up from her chair and started walking toward the stairs. Then I noticed something. She was walking differently. She seemed to sway more into her steps. And I swear she flicked her tail at me. She turned around and gave me a gaze I will never forget. She had her eyes half closed and a small smile. She batted her eye-lashes and said, "Are you coming?" I slowly stood up and walking toward her. It was like she was hypnotizing me with that look. I followed her to her room and we both laid down on the bed. I turned on my side and threw my arm over her. She crossed her legs into her chest and scooted in closer. We lay there, in each others embrace, until we both fall asleep. A/N - I know the relationship starts rather quickly but I didn't want to drag it out for loads of chapters and then get stuck and re-write the chapters. I do that a lot. I make up my mind and then change it. Besides, I needed to do it like this so it fits into the next chapter. And I'm no good at developing things like that.