//------------------------------// // Flight Training // Story: Shooting Star // by Phoenix Nebula //------------------------------// Chapter 5: Flight Training Knock knock knock Twilight awoke to a knocking sound at her door. She had apparently fallen asleep on the floor last night. She turned her head to see an orange stallion sleeping next to her. Flash had calmed her down last night after they got back from meeting with the princesses about sending her on a journey. Apparently she was so emotionally exhausted she fell asleep in Flash's arms. She sighed happily as she gently nudged him. "Flash," She whispered."Flash wake up." He stirred a bit before slowly opening his eyes. "Morning beautiful," He bounced his eyebrows. Twilight blushed a bit at his comment. "Oh stop it," She playfully shoved him. "What, I can't call you beautiful?" Twilight just chuckled at his fake confusion. She leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "You’re too sweet," She cooed. "That's good right?" "Oh now you’re just being silly, but yes that's a good thing." "That's good to know," He kissed her on the cheek. They were interrupted by another knock at the door. "We should probably get that." He said as he stood up. "You know what time is it any way?" She asked as Flash helped her up. She looked at the clock and it read 9:23. After she got up, they walked to the door and she opened it. They were greeted by a white unicorn with orange and gold mane."Oh, morning um... Phoenix right?" "That is correct princess," He bowed." I wanted to discuss with you about the journey." "Oh of course come in," She stepped aside to let him in. As he walked in, she noticed his hooves weren't touching the floor." Um Phoenix, why are you floating?" "Hmm," He looked down."Oh right, STORAGE MODE," He commanded. Suddenly, his titanium armor materialized around him. It started to unfold and open up and he stepped out. The titanium armor continued to fold itself into a cube. After a minute, the armor had folded itself into a 5 meter wide cube with its owner’s cutie mark glowing on one side. They both just stared at it in absolute awe. They were snapped out of there daze by Phoenix." I can see you’re impressed," He chuckled. They just nodded, still too surprised to speak. “I can tell you two about it later, right now I need to talk about what I came to talk to you about first," He said as they walked over to some cushions and sat down on them. “Okay so lets get down to business," He started." I came to first ask you how good you are at flying." "Um, well..." She trailed off." I don't really know how to fly to well, why?" "I wanted to know because you’re still important and it would be a good way to escape if there is a threat." "Oh I see, but no I don't know how to fly to well. I've been meaning to ask my friends to help but Rainbow isn't really patient enough to be a teacher and Fluttershy isn't the strongest flyer herself," She said sheepishly. "Hmm, maybe you should have Flash help you." "I don't know I'm not really a good teacher," Flash rubbed the back of his neck and turned to Twilight sitting next to him. She was giving him a hopeful look."But I guess I could try." Phoenix smiled and nodded. "After you learn how to fly well enough, then we will work on combat. It's important that you know how to defend yourself if flight is not an option." "I know plenty of combat spells," Twilight stated. "Yes but magic may not always be an option. No what I mean is hoof to hoof or weapon combat." "I know quite a lot about non-magical combat." Flash proclaimed."I could try and teach her some skills." "I don't doubt you on that, but I have a friend who is a master in close combat," Phoenix responded." He knows quite a lot about it and is a great instructor." "That sounds good. but I don't know how well I'll do," Twilight said a bit worried. "C’mon Twily you can do anything,"Flash encouraged the princess causing her to blush a little, remember what we talked about last night?" Twilight started to recall last night. He was right, she had done many great things before, so this should be a walk in the park. She turned back to the Unicorn and nodded. He smiled and got up. He walked back over to the cube and reactivated it. "Well I guess I'll see you two later,"he said as he stepped into his armor. I'll be back later or maybe tomorrow to start your close combat training." With that his armor finally clicked into place and he left. After a few minutes Flash spoke up. "Well that was interesting," He chuckled." I wonder what other secrets he has?" "I don't know but we'll probably find out over time,"Twilight responded." But I'm actually excited to finally learn how to fly." "Well then lets go out side and see what we can do about that." ------------------- "Good now tilt your left wing down a bit." Flash instructed. He was trying to teach Twilight how to fly, so far she was doing very well. "Like this?" She tilted her left wing down causing her to turn left slightly. Right now he was teaching her to glide and it was easy so far. "Good now if you tilt your right wing up at the same time you'll turn more," She did as he commanded and tilted her right wing up, but she tilted too fast causing her to turn really fast, right into her instructor. Thankfully he was ably to catch her and stabilize himself. “Whoa careful there. I know I'm attractive, but I didn't think I was that magnetic," he joked causing Twilight to giggle. “How about we stop for today and get something to eat." the princess' stomach growled in response causing her to blush. “I'll take that as a yes." Flash landed and set her down gently. They walked to the Hay Burger and sat down at an outdoor table. A waiter came and took their order. After the waiter left the two just waited and shared some small talk. Soon there food came and they ate. They paid for their food and left to take a walk in the park. Once they got there they sat down on a bench and looked out over the lake together. For some reason Twilight had a sudden urge to fly again. "Hey you want to try flying again?" Flash suddenly asked. She was kinda surprised that he asked her just what she was thinking, but she just took it as a coincidence. "Sure I was just thinking the same thing," She responded while getting off the bench. Flash followed suit and they took off into the sky. After a while Twilight was confident enough to try something else. But just as she was about to ask flash spoke first. "Hey Twily you wanna race?" He asked. How does he keep doing that?, she wondered. Some how he asked her exactly what was on her mind. Again she took it as a coincidence. "Sure where to?" "How about to the Library?" "Okay that sounds good." "Okay. On your mark. Get set. GO!" Flash yelled. With that they were off. The park was on the opposite side of town from the park, so it gave them a good distance. Flash took the lead but Twilight was slowly catching up. He was surprised at first, but then he realized she was breathing heavily and she was sweating."Twilight are you okay?" He asked, but she didn't hear him. Eventually she pulled ahead. Flash was now starting to strain himself to keep up. He was surprised by how long she was holding up. She was panting really fast and sweating uncontrollably, yet some how she was able to pull ahead. Flash was no longer concerned about the race. He was concerned about Twilight. She was pushing herself too hard, and he was afraid she might hurt herself or worse. Soon they made it back to the Library, and Twilight had won by a nose, yet as soon as they landed she started to sway a bit. Suddenly she collapsed, but luckily Flash had ran up to her caught her before she fell over. "Th...thanks F...Flash," She said between breaths. She was tired and sore but she was fine. It was fun so she that couldn't complain. "Wow Twily, I thought you were going to pass out halfway through the race. You’ve got a lot of endurance." "Th... thanks. I wasn't really paying attention and I got caught up in the moment, sorry." "It's alright just don't push yourself so much next time, okay" "Okay," Twilight responded. Flash looked out to the horizon; the sun was just starting to set. "Maybe we should go inside, it’s getting late." He said. She didn't object to it, so he took it as a yes. He picked her up and carried her into the house. He walked into her room and rested her on the bed. "Ah! my wings," the alicorn groaned in pain as she was laid down."Faust am I sore." "Where does it hurt?" Flash asked. "At the base, where the joints are." She rolled over onto her stomach with her wings partially open. Flash sat on the bed next to her. "Here sit up and turn around," He commanded. "Okay..." She sat up curious to see where this was heading. She turned around and faced away from Flash."Flash what arAAAAAHH!!!" She was interrupted by something rubbing her wing joints, causing her wings to shoot out from her sides. Flash had started massaging her wing joints gently. She was shocked at first and considered punching him across the muzzle, but she started to melt under his soft touch and began to relax. "Is that better?" He asked. All she could do to respond was nod. She slowly started to lay down on her stomach as his hooves worked her sore joints. Flash positioned himself so he could reach her wing joints easily. Just then Spike walked in. "Hay Twilight I... what are you two doing?" Spike interrupted himself when he saw: Twilight laying on her stomach with Flash standing over her with his front hooves rubbing her wing joints. They both looked at him awkwardly"Never mind I'll just grab my bed and go." Spike quickly grabbed his basket and ran out of the room. "That was..." Twilight started. "Awkward." Flash finished. "Yeah," Twilight said as Flash stopped massaging and began to get off."Where do you think your going, I'm still sore" She said with a fake pout. Flash stopped himself and looked at her with a sly smile. He re-positioned himself and continued to massage her. This time a little harder, causing her to moan and sigh in comfort. After a while she was no longer sore so he stopped. Flash laid down next and smiled. "Feel better?" He asked "Yeah. Thanks again Flash." "Anything for you Twily." He reached over and wrapped her in a hug. "I love you Flash" She cuddled up against the stallion. "I love you too Twily." They started to drift off to sleep when suddenly a low growl sounded from Flash's stomach. "Hungry?" Twilight smiled. "Yeah." "Why don't I go make us dinner." She said while starting to get up. She got up off the bed but found that her wings were still sticking out. Flash stifled a laugh when he saw he wings shooting out. Twilight just rolled her eyes. She quickly gave him a playful punch to his right shoulder." You’re such a dork." "Ya but I'm your dork," He replied. Twilight giggled and gave him quick peck on the the cheek. "That's so true."