Rainbow Dash was flying nice and slow, giving Scootaloo support when she needed it but for the most part, letting her buzz forwards on her own power. That is until Soarin came whizzing past them at breakneck speeds, balancing Button Mash on one hoof, “Keep up slowpokes!”
Scootaloo regained her balance and then shouted for Dash to give chase, to which she readily agreed. A backward glance by Stoner showed Rainbow Dash hot on their trail; her face showing a playful determination like she thought this was a game. Stoner felt a cold lump rising in his throat.
This was no game.
Button Mash’s little hat buzzed madly and then went flying off his head, but Soarin didn’t go back for it as they raced through the maze-like back alleys of Canterlot until Dash and Scootaloo cornered them in an alley, forcing Soarin to fly straight up into open air. Soarin slowed, and Rainbow Dash caught him up a few seconds later; looking concernedly at a pale, airsick Button Mash who was holding onto Soarin for all he was worth, “You OK Mash?”
“He-he… he killed Smash Bronies.”
“Lousy joystick came off in my hoof, and the manager made me pay for an entire new console” sighed Soarin, “Can you believe that? Now tell me; how do you give a flying lesson?”
Rainbow Dash paused uncertainly, but Scootaloo giggled, “Rainbow Dash always drops me and sees how long I can hover.”
“Sounds like fun.” Soarin flipped Mash upside down and swiped him off his arm, smiling as he watched the foal fall screaming for several seconds before swooping down to catch him and bringing him back up. “That was fun.”
“Dude; that was totally inappropriate!” scolded Stoner.
“Was it really Button Mash?” Dash asked.
Button Mash, too scared to speak, tried to shake his head, but Soarin grabbed him behind the skull, at the base of the mane, and forced him to nod; like some kind of demented dark puppet master.
“Don’t do that man!” Warned Stoner, “If the kid doesn’t want to fly, let him go; we could get in trouble!”
“Just be careful” Cautioned Rainbow Dash, “It looks like it’s his first time flying, so try not to freak him out too much.”
Scootaloo snickered, “Sometimes Rainbow Dash throws me to see how far I can fly.”
Before Dash could protest, Soarin had taken off; gained altitude and momentum and then hurled Button Mash with all his might. The foal held his breath as he soared towards his apex, shouted when he began falling which broke into a full-throated scream when he passed over the walls of Canterlot, and the drop beneath him went from three hundred to four thousand feet. Soarin flew upside down next to him, casually keeping pace. “How are you holding up?”
“Let me go! Let me go!”
“Me? I’m not touching you.”
“Put me on the ground!”
“That’s where you’re going.” Explained Soarin mockingly, “The ground!”
“Soarin! Knock it off!” ordered Stoner.
“Lift-me-up-lift-me-up-lift-me-up!”
“So you want to go up now?” mused Soarin, “You know that’s not where the ground is, right? So which is it; do you want to go up or down?”
“Up!”
Soarin caught Button Mash under his arms, and then slowly decreased their speed over a few seconds and then brought them to a hover; “Don’t…” Panted Button clinging around Soarin’s neck; “Don’t…ever not do that again.”
“Don’t… not do it again.” Pondered Soarin thoughtfully, “So you want me to do it… OK.” Soarin rocketed up and away from the Canterhorn, climbing a few hundred feet in the space of a few seconds and then threw Button Mash a second time; who trailed yellow water behind him as his bladder emptied itself in terror.
Soarin wove his way unscathed through Button Mash’s yellow water, caught him, and prepared to throw him again! “If you really don’t like falling so much, you shouldn’t keep letting yourself get thrown off cliffs!”
“Dude he’s terrified! Let him go!”
“SOARIN!”
Stoner looked up in relief and saw Rainbow Dash racing towards them; the look on her face giving Stoner hope that she finally understood the gravity of the situation. Undaunted, Soarin hurled Button Mash a third time, Dash went to catch him, but Soarin grabbed a nearby cloud and threw it into her face. She faltered, only for a second, but that was long enough for Soarin to sandwich her between two more clouds and then spin her; throwing her completely off balance. By the time she had regained any sense of direction; Soarin had snatched Button Mash and disappeared into a dense maze of clouds where it would be almost impossible to track them.
“Dude; stop before it’s too late!”
Soarin spun rapidly with Button Mash, and then pivoted him a fourth time, feeling his tiny joints pop with tension and his face screw up with pain as well as panic. Stoner knew that Soarin was too far out of control; he was having too much fun and, left to himself, he would continue this game of catch and throw until he killed Button Mash. Stoner couldn’t rely on Rainbow Dash; if anyone was going to stop Soarin from something he’d regret for the rest of his life, he needed to do it himself.
As Soarin prepared to throw Button Mash for the fifth time, Stoner braced himself. When Soarin threw him, braking sharply; Stoner leaped forwards head-butting the tear he’d etched out earlier, forcing the hole wider.
As Soarin began climbing again, Stoner jumped back into the saddlebag again and waited until Soarin slowed down to catch Button Mash, and then ran forwards and doubled the size of the tear with a punch from his muscular granite arm. “Hold on Button Mash! I’m coming!”
When Soarin started climbing again, Stoner slid back inside the saddlebag one last time; rapidly recalling everything Soarin had ever taught him about flying. Soarin threw Button Mash, and when he stopped, Stoner plunged forwards; through the hole, out of the saddlebag, and into open air.
As Stoner reached his apex, he too began to fall; tearing like lightning through one cloud after another; looking for Soarin and knowing he only had one shot. Soarin had flown several stories of cloud down and was looking up for Button Mash so he could catch him again.
Stoner charged him from the same direction as the sun. There was a flash as Stoner’s shadow passed over Soarin’s face. Soarin spun around to see what was there, and that was all the opportunity Stoner needed. As he closed the final inches, Stoner bellowed out a mighty war-cry, “Higghhhhya!” as he pivoted with all his might and kicked Soarin between the eyes; knocking him unconscious.