Chapter One: A Bad Start
Cloudchaser’s sweet sleep was disturbed by rays of sunlight through the window. She wasn’t eager to get up yet; instead she wanted to stay in bed at her sister’s side. Flitter, however had other plans, the playful mare left a soft trail of kisses on her sister’s snout.
“Good morning,” she eagerly whispered at the end of her trail, giving her sister a loving gaze.
Cloudchaser shifted and turned until she met the gaze of her sister. “Good morning to you too, my love,” she replied, planting a soft peck on her muzzle.
They both stayed like that for several minutes, but eventually Fritter rose and slowly made her way to the bathroom. After some time she returned, planting another kiss on Cloudchaser’s forehead.
“It’s unfair that you have another day off. I have to work like normal today,” she purred, but smiled at the view of her sleepy sister.
“I can take care of things around the house today, like that extra door you wanted, and I’ll do some shopping. Don’t worry, I'll have enough to do,” came the reply from her sister. Despite her assurances, Flitter could see that that Cloudchaser wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
“Do we have anything other than cereal?” Flitter asked.
“Nope,” came the reply from Cloudchaser before she turned and buried her head back in her pillow.
With a sigh Flitter made her way to the kitchen, opening the cabinets to take inventory. They hadn’t brought much over from their old home. Flitter was happy that she had to work today, because she hated long shopping trips and judging from the contents of the cupboards, this would surely be a very long shopping trip. Smiling, she grabbed a quill and paper, making some notes for Cloudchaser.
That should be enough so she doesn’t forget anything.
She laid the note down next to the fridge and turned back to the cabinets, preparing herself a bowl of cereal. It wasn’t much, but it was better than trying to work on an empty stomach.
Especially when working with Rainbow Dash.
Looking out of the window and enjoying her rather simple breakfast, Flitter suddenly realized she was going to be late. She hadn’t accounted for the fact that they were now living on the outskirts of Cloudsdale, and the journey to work was going to take a lot longer.
“Oh, for the love of… I’m gonna be late the first day after the move. Rainbow will have my head on a platter,” Flitter silently cursed. She quickly finished her meal, and grabbed her saddlebags.
She stepped out of the front door and took off, leaving her new home behind her. It took her longer than expected, but soon she reached the small gathering area where the weather team met before starting work. Flitter cursed her bad luck to see Rainbow waiting there with an impatient expression on her muzzle.
“Flitter… I thought I made myself clear the last time. I’m not waiting for any sleepy heads.” Rainbow gave her an angry glare before motioning into the row.
Flitter quickly took her place and waited for the instructions. Rainbow took her time today, going through various lists before gazing at the pegasi in front of her.
“I really need an egghead for all this paperwork…” she muttered before raising her voice. “Alright you lame-o’s. Today we're preparing for the big spring breeze. That means we have to pull up our reserve of storm clouds. Get into teams of four ponies, then meet up for further instructions. Any questions?”
“No, ma’am,” came the shouted response back, the discipline displayed by her team caused Rainbow to grin.
Flitter teamed up with Cloud Kicker, Dewdrop and Lavender Skies, and went to get their assigned tasks from Rainbow. They were to gather the stormclouds from west Cloudsdale and position them over the parks.
All four of them shot away, collecting cloud after cloud. Flitter tried to keep her head clear, but she kept catching herself thinking about Cloudchaser, making it hard to concentrate on dealing with the stormclouds. As she daydreamed about her sister, she bumped a cloud, and a painful shock burnt her wingtip.
“What in tarnat-- I really need to save my fantasies about Cloudchaser for home,” she muttered, shaking her wings angry about minor laps.
“Flitter, stop daydreaming, we don’t have all day,” Dewdrop shouted as she flew by, chasing two black clouds.
Flitter shook her head and started pushing her cloud in the same direction. “I wonder what my sister is doing right now…”
***
Cloudchaser stirred and rolled over, trying to avoid the sun on her face. The task wasn’t easy as her new position caused her to be greeted by another beam of light.
Next time we’ll only add one window.
It was her last day off for a while and she wanted to enjoy it to the fullest extent possible. She stirred again and her right wing touched an empty space on the bed, missing something. In a blink, she rose and looked around before relaxing again.
“She already went off for work. So much for enjoying the time in bed,” Cloudchaser muttered as she buried her head deep in her pillow.
As much as she wanted to stay in bed, she had promised her sister a few things, and shopping was one of those things, regardless how much she hated it. With a lazy groan and a sigh she got up, and walked towards the bathroom.
The room was barely finished.
Oh, right. The new cloudshower should be ready today. I have to pick it up from the factory.
A few drops of water splashed on her face did the trick and she walked into the kitchen in a vain attempt to put together something vaguely edible. A pathetic plate of ‘whatever she could find that did not look like it was trying to escape’ later and she noticed a small note on the counter, signed with a kiss from her sister.
Good morning, sleepyhead!
Please don’t forget to go to the market today. We’re nearly out of food. You should also check the factory today to see if our things are ready. We’re still waiting for two frames, doors, and the new shower.
Flitter x x x
PS: Don’t buy too many of those Hersheys again!
Cloudchaser smiled at the end of the letter, signed with a kiss. She wasn’t really a mushy pony, but her sister seemed to be turning her into one. She shrugged it off.
It’s worth it.
She noticed some bits on the counter and looked for her saddlebags. Finding them in one corner she put them on and threw the bits inside. She wasn’t the kind of mare to enjoy an all day shopping tour, but for Flitter, she would just have to gulp it down and do it. Even if it just meant they’d have something more exciting in the house than what she assumed had been baking soda, it would be worth it because it would make her happy.
With a quick motion she grabbed the letter with her wing and dropped it into her saddlebag. She wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t forget anything. Another glance around and she was ready to go. She left her house on steady wings and took off into the sky.
It wasn’t a very long flight, but it was a lot further since they had moved house. Smiling about the memory, she dove over the clouds, enjoying being able to give her wings a bit of a stretch. She would never admit it, but being grounded drove her crazy; even cloudshaping couldn’t satisfy her need to exercise her wings.
However, she would never tell that to Flitter. Her little sister and lover, she was sometimes too cautious about everything that went on with her. It was something — in fact, the only thing — Cloudchaser didn’t like about her sister: being too caring for her. Though it was understandable, given what had happened in the past, and it was a small price to pay as she loved Flitter with every fibre of her heart.
And I can’t deny that I worry awfully about her myself.
She chuckled and dove back down, heading for Cloudsdale’s main market. It was a big place, covered by a cloud roof on some columns. As she neared it, she spotted huge crowds of ponies all over the place.
With a sigh, she landed and took her place in the queue. She needed some fruit and vegetables. After that she would have to go to the bakery to get some bread, and then she could stop in at the factory on the way home to check on their orders.
The line was long and nearly an hour passed before she was served. Cloudchaser got everything she needed — apples, oranges, and even some strawberries — which she was delighted about, strawberries being Flitter’s secret weakness. Both in the kitchen and in the bedroom.
Filling her saddlebags with everything, she winged the market stallion some bits and intend to taking off, heading for the bakery now.
“Cloudchaser? Is that you?” a voice behind her called out, causing her to freeze in place. As she turned, she found herself standing close to a blue pegasus, one she remembered all too well. “Hey, it’s me, Cerulean Skies! You must remember me!” he continued with a friendly smile on his face as he stepped closer.
“Yes, I remember you, and what you did. Not… one… step… closer!” she said, the last sentence cut off by her anger after every word. Blood was boiling in her, the past coming up in front of her eyes: She, a young mare at flight school being separately trained side by side with the blue pegasus around her age; them becoming much closer until he betrayed everything.
“Don’t be like that, Chase.” he smiled and lifted a hoof. “I know you overreacted last time and I forgive you. I know we had fun that night.”
“Fun?! Fun?! After everything you did, you really have the guts to talk to me?!” Cloudchaser didn’t scream, but she wasn’t her usual collected self either.
“You overreacted, Chase. It was all good fun. Besides, I know you wanted it too,” he said. His smile only got friendlier. “Come with me, it can be like old times, I know we have a lot to catch up on.”
“With the way you used me?! I’m not going anywhere with you!” she shouted.
Don’t show him you're afraid…
Cerulean wasn’t used to being rejected. “C’mon Chase, let’s go, we can discuss this in private.” The pair were starting to attract a lot of unwanted attention. He grabbed at her before they attracted any more.
Cloudchaser wanted to scream, but the pain over her past was too much. She whimpered as he dragged her along, their destination unknown to the mare. All she thought of was Flitter, and how helpless she was in this situation.
The thoughts of her sister gave her strength. She bit at his hoof and swung at him. Anything to get him to leave her alone. It happened by accident, but when Cerulean raised a hoof to defend himself, he ended up hitting Cloudchaser square in the jaw.
Please, somepony help me… was her final thoughts before she passed out.
“It’s just an accident everypony. I’ll get her home and take good care of her!” Cerulean called out as he picked up the unconscious mare and placed her on his back. He had not lied; he did forgive her for putting him in jail, he could forgive this too. After all, they were meant to be together.
***
Flitter was pushing cloud after cloud over the park. She wasn’t able to get her sister completely out of her mind, but she was able to concentrate enough to finish her work. Rainbow Dash watched, satisfied about everything, with everypony working faster than she had expected.
The day seemed to be over in a rush, and Flitter couldn’t help but think about her sister doing all the errands. Moving was a lot of work and she felt bad about Cloudchaser having to give up her day off without anypony there to help.
Suddenly, a deep pain developed in her gut. It felt as if something was off, or just not the way it should be. She couldn’t tell why, but it felt like something was wrong. Eager to be done as quickly as possible and rejoin her lover and sister again, Flitter moved cloud after cloud, not really taking note of her growing exhaustion.
After a while her wings hurt and she was out of breath, but the work was done. Rainbow saw her and hovered over.
“Hey, Flitter, you okay?” Rainbow asked her.
“I guess… just need time to breathe…” she answered and landed on a nearby cloud.
Rainbow wanted to argue; she could see that there was something off. She decided against it. As much as she was loyal to her friends, she couldn’t help but think Flitter and Cloudchaser were only setting themselves up for heartache. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea that she was planning to follow her best friend.
“Alright, everypony, c’mon here. I got something to tell ya all.” Rainbow shouted and everypony in the weather team lined up in front of her. “As most of you know, I’ve been working here for two years now. Together we’ve been through a lot, and made the Cloudsdale weather team the very best in all of Equestria. However, you will have to do it without my help in the future.” Everypony gasped. “Yes, you heard right. I’m moving to Ponyville; I’m leaving Cloudsdale.”
Everypony was shocked. Too shocked to say anything at first, In the end it was Dewdrop that broke the silence, “Why now?”
Rainbow focused on her with a sad smile. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re all good friends of mine — everypony here. I’ve really enjoyed working with you, but it just doesn’t feel the same anymore. I’m moving to Ponyville because my best and oldest friend lives there. My uncle even got me the rights to build a cloudhouse over the town.”
You could see how excited she sounded, but it broke the team. After the announcement, Rainbow dismissed them for the day, but everypony had something on their mind now. Some asked who the new leader would be; others were angry because they thought Rainbow was leaving them hanging.
It was still early in the day, just a few minutes after noon. Flitter did not want her lover to see her in a big mess worried about nothing, so she took a quick detour through the park.
A little relaxing before going home won’t hurt.
Flitter sped up and passed the market. She gasped to see the long line in front of the stands.
Maybe Cloudchaser is still there, queuing up for the stands?
She slowed down and dove deeper, keeping an eye open for her sister. When there was no sign of her, she sighed.
She must be at the bakery or even the factory already.
Flitter laughed uneasily and continued on her way. Sometimes maybe she worried too much about her sister. Cloudchaser was a grown mare and could take care of herself. Flitter shrugged the feeling off and tried to focus on the time when they would be reunited later in the day. Every time felt like their first, and they knew what they had was precious, despite the taboo against it.
Just as she was beginning to cheer up again, she spotted something on her right that made her blood freeze. She spotted her sister on the back of a blue stallion — a stallion she hoped she would never have to face again; the stallion that broke her sister. Her brain ignited with anger and hate, something that was rare for Flitter. With a scowl she dove downwards and aimed to intercept the stallion.
She landed hard, maybe harder that was necessary, but it did the job, the stallion stopped dead in his tracks. Cerulean Skies smiled at the new treat. He smiled a smile that soon turned into laughter.
“Oh look, Chase, your little chicken of a sister is here,” he turned back to the mare on his back, blood slowly dripping out of her mouth.
Flitter’s anger boiled even more at this sight. “Let her go!”
“I don’t think so. You’d better step out of the way now, before I get angry, filly. She is mine and I will take her!” On the last sentence he stomped his hooves.
To her credit, Flitter never backed away an inch. In fact, to the contrary, she started walking towards him. “Let her go, now!”
“Aww, what are you going to do now, little filly? Protect your sister? I’m going to take her. She needs a stallion like me!” He puffed out his chest at the last words, seemly proud with himself.
“And so you hurt her? Force her like the last time?! She doesn’t need you!” Flitter was unsure how all this would end, but the blood dripping more and more out of her lover’s muzzle blinded her with anger.
“Why wouldn’t she need me? Of course she needs me. She wants me. She just doesn’t know it yet. She doesn’t need you, featherbrain. She needs a stallion at her side, not a sister,” Cerulean laughed.
The anger in Flitter’s mind exploded; her wings burst open in anger. “You. Do. Not. Touch. My. MAREFRIEND!” she scowled and leapt at him.
Cerulean was shocked by her statement and Flitter’s blow connected shortly after. They both rolled over and Cloudchaser fell off the stallion’s back. Flitter’s vision was red; she punched and bit every inch of the stallion she could find. He hurt her lover and now she would hurt him back.
It wasn’t long before the ponies on the street called for the guards, quickly followed by the Wonderbolts. Soon there was a squad heading for the two fighting pegasi. They lifted away Cloudchaser who was still flat on the clouds lying next to the fight, then they held their spears up.
“In the name of the princess, stop your actions immediately!” their captain shouted, but Flitter didn’t even notice him. She was too busy stamping on the stallion under her hooves, who was barely conscious. She continued until one of the unicorn guards trapped her in his magic aura and lifted her off the stallion. Her anger continued to boil, she tried to kick Cerulean more, but was incapable of doing so.
The guards surrounded her and carried her away from Cerulean who spat blood before screaming, “that mare is crazy! She attacked me for no reason!”
“That’s a lie! He attacked and captured my sister!” Flitter screamed back. Soon both of their muzzles were shut by magic.
The captain shook his head, this was far, far too much to deal with right now. However, protocols are protocols and as soon as she mentioned a possible kidnapping, he had no choice but to take everyone in for questioning. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you two will accompany me to headquarters, and you will stay in the cells until you have calmed down! I’m taking you both into custody until I get this mess figured out.” Flitter looked at him in shock.
“Didn’t you hear me?! He captured my sister!” she screamed but the captain just sighed.
“If you’re telling the truth then there is nothing you have to be afraid of. But for now, you stay under arrest,” he answered. He turned away, making it clear that the conversation was over.
Flitter looked shocked, but knew there was nothing she could do now. “Please, take care of my sister. I don’t know what he did to her, but she was bleeding out of her muzzle. She’s hurt, please.”
The captain turned back, his expression softened. “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her.”
They carried Flitter and Cerulean to a carriage while two unicorns examined Cloudchaser. Now that she thought about it, she knew what was strange. Those unicorns walked on clouds. They had to be using a spell or trick, since even school fillies knew that only a pegasus could walk on clouds.
She sighed and let them carry her to the chariot that swiftly took them to the Cloudsdale headquarters. With everything that had happened, she had expected worse. Looking out of the small window of her new cell, a window secured with bars, tears began to form under her eyes.
And I thought nothing could happen to us. I love you, sister....