Rainbow Dash was at Sugar Cube Corner talking to Pinkie Pie about making sure that the rest of the day went as planned.
“So you and the others know what to do right?”
“Of course, Dashie! Geez you act like I don’t know how this works by now.”
Dash gave Pinkie an apologetic look “Sorry Pinkie it’s just that…”
Dash was interrupted when Dinky came barging in.
“Rainbow Dash, come quick!” She said franticly as she looked around the room.
“What’s wrong Dinky?” Asked Dash, worried.
“It’s Clay, he’s doing something dangerous!”
Dash’s eyes widened as she thought of Clay being in danger.
“Where is he Dinky!?”
“He’s climbing a tree just outside Ponyville.”
Without even asking which one, Dash had flown out of Sugar Cube Corner faster than she ever had before in her life leaving Pinkie and the other ponies baffled. She hovered over Ponyville for several seconds and scanned the area until she spotted what looked like a yellow spot on a rather tall tree not too far from Ponyville. Dash took off again, the wind whistling in her ears as she desperately tried to get to her son.
Clay had climbed trees before, but he had to admit as he slowly edged himself closer to his new saddle bag just dangling inches away from his hoof; that climbing this tree was definitely harder than any other tree before this one.
Still he had come this far and the bag was right there all he had to do was grab it, climb down, and then try to explain to his mom how he lost the poster. As Clay edged his hoof closer to the bag he could just barely grasp the fabric. He moved closer and closer still; until he finally got a good hold on it.
“Gotcha!” Clay exclaimed as he grabbed the saddle bag.
He gave it a tug but found that it was still caught on the branch. Slightly frustrated he gave the bag another harder tug, but the branch held on to the silk saddle bag still. Clay continued to tug the saddle bag until the branch snapped from the pressure and pulled both the saddle bag and Clay back down to the hard ground below.
Clay screamed or at least he thought he did as the wind rushed passed his ears he couldn’t really hear anything, his heart was racing faster than he thought possible, as he saw the ground begin to get closer and closer.
“This is it.” Clay thought as everything seemed to slow down around him.
He shut his eyes and awaited the fall hoping that if it did end his life he at least wouldn’t feel it. He did feel something and the sensation made him yelp, but not from pain but rather from surprise. Clay opened his eyes and was relieved and terrified to see that he had been caught by his Mother, who was slowly lowering him down safely on his two hind legs.
Dash released him so he would fall on all fours. Clay was silent as his mother landed behind him, and he knew he was in trouble. He didn’t want to look his mom in the eye, but he knew he had to eventually. Slowly he began to turn around still not looking at her. All he could see were her four cyan blue legs standing up, and then he slowly and regrettably raised his head and met his mother’s eyes. She was mad, no…furious was more accurate. Her usual warm magenta eyes were now replaced by a cold hard stare that Clay had never seen before, and he didn’t like it.
He kept his gaze but didn’t speak; his voice was lost in his throat. Finally, after what felt like ages of silence his mother spoke.
“WHAT IN EQUESTRIA WERE YOU THINKING CLAY! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF DINKY HADN’T COME AND GOTTEN ME?” Clay flinched at the volume of his mother’s voice but still said nothing, “You’re not like mommy Clay, you could have gotten yourself killed! Do you know how upset you would have made me if you had died? DO YOU?!”
Dash stopped to take a breath and awaited her sons reply. For awhile he said nothing, for in Clays mind one phrase echoed in his mind.
‘You’re not like mommy.’ He knew he was adopted and had come to accept that and was comforted by the fact that his Mother loved him, but for the first time in his life he truly realized how different he really was from his mother. Dash continued to wait for a response; finally Clay looked back up at his mother his eyes full of tears as he said in a shaky voice, “I’m sorry mommy.”
He then buried his head in her chest as he continued to sob, Dash gave a sigh and then looked down at Clay giving a small smile, and she started stroking his mane.
“It’s okay Clay; I’m just glad you’re safe. I didn’t mean to yell at you that much.”
Clay began to settle down slightly, but he was still very upset.
“Come on let’s get you to Aunt Twilight, Mommy has some things to do with the Wonderbolts.”
Clay wiped the tears from his bloodshot eyes, while Dash looked up at the tree.
“What were you doing up there anyway?”
Clay pointed to his new saddle bag, which had been undamaged from the fall.
“How did that get up there?” Dash asked, confused.
“Sky Tearer,” Clay whispered.
“Oh, him again,” Dash said with an irritated look.
Dash took Clay to Twilight’s library. Spike was the one who answered the door.
“Dash...Clay. What’s up?”
“Hey Spike do you mind if I drop Clay off for a few hours while I get together with the Wonderbolts?”
“Sure thing RD, let me just get Twilight.”
As Spike ran upstairs to inform Twilight of the situation, Dash led Clay into the lobby,
“Now behave for Aunt Twilight you little squirt, okay?”
Clay smiled for the first time since he was saved by his mother. Whenever she called him ‘squirt’, it usually meant that she was happy with him.
“Sure Mommy.”
At this time Twilight came down the stairs, a happy expression on her face.
“Hi Aunt Twilight!” Clay shouted as he ran up to her.
“Hi Clay,” She gave him a hug, “did you like the book I got you?”
“I didn’t get a chance to read it yet.”
Twilight looked slightly saddened.
“Oh, well that’s okay. I’m sure you’ll like it, my father read this series when he was your age and then I read them, and I remembered how you said how much you liked adventure stories so I got you the latest one.” Clay looked astounded.
“Your dad read those when he was a colt?”
Twilight nodded, “It’s a very popular series Clay, all the way from Trottingham with the British ponies.”
Now he was even more excited about the book.
“Well I hate to drop him off on you Twilight, but you know the Wonderbolts,” Dash said as she started to head for the door.
“It’s no trouble at all Rainbow Dash.”
With that she kissed Clay on the forehead and left Twilights home where the sound of flapping wings soon followed. Clay spent most of his time with Twilight placing books back in their proper place. It wasn’t the most fun thing to do but he loved helping his Aunts do whatever they needed him to do.
Finally after an hour, Twilight trotted over to Clay as she noticed that he was looking tired.
“Hey Clay do you want to take a quick nap until your mom gets back?”
Clay normally would have refused. He hated sleeping and wanted to stay up as long as possible, but he had been drained from the climb up the tree and the near death experience. So he nodded his head and headed to the guest room, got into bed and rested his head on the soft pillow and before he realized it Clay was asleep.
Clay was standing in his home, from what he could tell it was bright and sunny outside, the sound of birds could be heard outside singing their usual happy melody’s, he couldn’t remember how he had gotten home, but he realized something was off. Everything had a grayish tint to it and the house itself was dead quiet save for the noises outside. Clay began to search around the house.
“Mom! Mommy…are you home?”
There was no answer Clay was starting to get worried as he searched every room until he reached his mother’s room and saw that she wasn’t there either. Now Clay was in full panic, he had never been alone at home before. He always had his aunt’s or mother with him. Clay started to hyperventilate when he heard the sound of flapping wings outside the window, Clay raced down the stairs faster than he thought he could and flung open the door; his face lit up as he saw his mother standing outside.
“Mommy!” Clay shouted starting to run up to her, but then he stopped when he got a closer look at her face. She looked sad, not crying, but still sad.
“What’s wrong mommy?” Clay asked worried. She didn’t answer. His mother simply stared at him with the saddest face he had ever seen from her, and then she suddenly turned and began to walk away
“Mommy where are you going?”
She still didn’t reply and continued walking away, Clay then began run after her, but the more her ran farther she seemed to be. Then after about ten seconds, she stopped walking and began to fly off the ground, causing Clay to panic.
“Mommy I can’t fly, don’t go, please!”
She didn’t answer or even look back at him; she just flew off farther and farther until Clay could barely see her.
“Come back mommy, please don’t go, please, please don’t go mommy!”
“Clay, wake up Clay.”
Clay snapped his eyes open and was greeted by the worried face of his Aunt Twilight.
“Clay are you okay, Sweetie? You were having a bad dream.”
Clay looked around and saw that he was still in the guest room, and then he realized that his face was damp apparently he had been crying in his sleep. Clay simply shook his head at Twilight.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Twilight asked softly, again Clay shook his head. Twilight had never seen Clay so upset before and the state she saw him in nearly broke her heart. She then hugged him hoping to ease his mind, but Clay still sobbed slightly.
“I think I know what might cheer you up.” She lifted him up and placed him on the ground.
“Come on, let’s get you home.” Clay didn’t say a word as he picked up his saddle bag and walked out the door with Twilight, he felt like he was going to be sick but nothing happened so he continued on with his Aunt.
It was now night time and Princess Luna’s moon shone brightly in the sky making it easier for both Twilight and Clay to find their way to his home, most of the shops were closed and all of the ponies seemed to be asleep by now. Finally the two ponies reached their destination, the house had no lights on except for the front door lamp, Twilight opened the door and stepped aside so Clay could walk past her; his head hung low as he entered the door way.
As he walked in Clay was soon startled by the lights flicking on and the thunderous “SURPRISE!” That accompanied it.
Popping out from behind furniture were various friends and ‘Family’ members including Dinky and Ditzy, as well as the now teenage Cutie Mark Crusaders Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. Standing in front of him were his Aunt’s: Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie (who had a party horn in her teeth), Spike, and Twilight who had joined the group.
Clay would have been excited with this being his first surprise birthday party, however he began to feel a wave of familiar panic in his chest as he looked around the room.
“Where’s Mommy!?” Before he could get a response everything went dark causing him to jump, then he heard a familiar voice.
“Guess who, squirt?”
Rainbow Dash had snuck up behind Clay and had placed her hooves around his eyes to surprise him, when she lowered her hooves so Clay could see he turned around to face her. The reaction she got from her son was not the one she was expecting as his expression went from shocked, to tear filled as he flung himself into Dash’s chest and began sobbing loudly. Immediately the party atmosphere evaporated in the room as every pony there looked at Dash with concern. Dash caught off guard by what had happened looked down at the bawling colt that was hugging her tightly.
“Clay what’s wrong did we scare you?”
Clay spoke, but whatever he was saying was muffled by Dash's fur.
“What was that?” Dash said as she leaned in closer, again Clay’s speech was muffled.
“Clay, I can’t hear you. What’s wrong?” Finally Clay lifted his head from his mother’s chest and with teary eyes he looked at her.
“I-I *sniff* thought I’d never *sniff* see you again, Mommy!”
Dash gave Clay a surprised look.
“Why would you think you’d never see me again?”
For a few moments, Clay just stared at her with tears streaming down his face. Then he started again his voice shaking and taking big sobs in-between his words.
“I-I thought that you were m-mad at me and w-wanted to replace me with another Pegasus pony so t-that you could have somepony take your place as a-a Wonderbolt. And…and then I-I had a d-dream where you f-flew away and left me alone.”
Clay then buried his face in Dash’s chest again who at this point was at a total loss for words as she looked at her friends who all looked absolutely heartbroken at what they were witnessing.
“Clay, Mommy would never leave you. Why would you think that I wanted to replace you?” Dash asked, still not sure what to make of the situation. Once again Clay raised his head.
“BECAUSE I’M NOT LIKE YOU, MOMMY!”
Clay once again buried his head into his mother. Dash’s eyes went wide as she remembered earlier that day when she shouted at Clay when he fell out of the tree. She looked down at her son.
“Is that what you’re so upset about?”
Clay simply nodded his head still keeping it hidden. Dash began to feel disgusted with herself for yelling at him earlier. Tears began to form in her eyes as she realized how much pain she had caused him. She never wanted to hurt him this much and yet she had. Clay took his head out of his mothers fur, and looked at her with tear filled eyes.
"I'll be good mommy I promise. Please don't leave me and fly away."
Tears began to escape Dash's eyes as she looked down at Clay before she wrapped her front legs around Clay pulling him in a tight hug.
"I would never leave you Clay...you're my son."
Dash wasn’t usually so open with her emotions, but she realized that Clay didn’t need Rainbow Dash the fastest flyer, or the Wonderbolt; but Rainbow Dash, his mother.
As mother and son hugged, the atmosphere in the room had changed dramatically again. The rest of the mane six had tears running down their faces, especially Pinkie who had tears shooting out her eyes like a fountain. Apple Jack had pulled her hat over her eyes but it was still obvious that she was just as upset as the others. Rarity was hugging Fluttershy as they both sniffled, while Twilight, and even Spike who was beside her; cried.
Twilight was one of the smartest and most gifted unicorns in Equestria, yet right now she felt like such a fool for thinking she could just cheer up her ‘nephew’ so easily. In the background Dinky and her mother had also began to hug, wanting to show that while they were different types of ponies, they still loved each other very much and even the Crusaders weren’t immune to the emotions that were emanating in the room, as they all hugged each other.
Finally Dash released Clay, but still had her hooves on his shoulders as she looked down at him tears still in her eyes as she spoke to him.
“Clay I am so sorry for making you feel like I didn’t love you. I’m sorry about today, Mommy was just scared that's all.”
Clay looked up at her, sniffling.
“Clay, I love you whether you’re a pegasus or a unicorn or an earth pony, I love you just the way you are.”
Clay rubbed his eyes as he looked into his mother’s magenta ones.
“But…I can’t fly mommy. You have to stay on the ground because I don’t have wings.”
Dash looked at him sadly, tears still falling down her face.
“I don’t care about that Clay. Mommy loves you no matter what, and I promise I’ll never yell at you again.” Clay looked up at his mother and in a small voice he asked “You promise?”
Dash smiled down at Clay to reassure him.
“I promise. As long as you promise not to climb anymore trees.”
Finally a smile returned to Clays face as he hugged his mother again and Dash did the same.
“I promise, Mommy.”
The room filled with happy sighs as the sadness began to disappear from the room. It got quiet and then Pinkie spoke up making everypony jump.
“Hey what are we all sad about; it’s a party, so let party!” She then threw a hooful of confetti into the air, instantly restoring the intended energized party atmosphere.
Soon after, Clay had gone around talked to all his friends and thanked his aunts for the presents Pinkie brought out a small cake that she and the cake twins had worked on for Clay. Clay looked down at the cake with seven candles sticking out of the frosting; the flames seemed to dance as every pony gathered around.
“Make a wish! Make a wish!” Pinkie said excitedly as she hopped up and down. Clay looked to his mother who nodded.
“Go ahead sweetie.”
Clay then brought his face back to the cake and focused on what he wanted most, then he took a deep inhale and with one blow extinguished the candles, everypony clapped then Twilight asked, “What did you wish for?”
But Pinkie objected “He can’t tell you otherwise it won’t come true!”
Twilight rolled her eyes. After they cut into the cake Dash pulled Clay away from the others and pulled out to his amazement the Wonderbolt poster that Sky had stolen. Clay took it and then stared at his mother dumb struck.
“How…” He started to ask, Dash gave a smug smile.
“I had a little…talk with Sky after I left you with Twilight.”
Clay looked at his mother with glistening eyes and then gave her a big hug as best he could.
“You’re the best Mommy.” He said happily.
Dash beamed down at him and wrapped one of her hooves around him giving a light hug.
Finally as all the guests finished having their cake they all said their goodbyes, Dash carried Clay up to his room as he was half asleep at this point. She pulled back his sheets, gently laid him down, and then pulled the sheets back over him.
Then she sat on the edge of his bed and slowly stroked his mane with a motherly smile on her face. Clay was fading in and out of consciousness, but he could still feel his mother through his hair causing him to have a dreamy smile. Dash kissed him on the forehead and said in a quiet whisper.
“I love you, Clay.”
Clay opened his eyes half way while responding.
“I love you too mommy”
Dash got up turned off his bedside lamp, turned on his nightlight, and started to leave the room when suddenly she stopped and turned to him.
“What did you wish for anyway?”
Clay replied with a yawn half dreaming half awake “To have wings like you mommy.”
Dash stood there her face expressionless, until a small tear began to roll down her cheek. It was hard for her to imagine that six years ago she was worried that the foal she had saved and resented at first would be stop her from reaching the top; was now the one thing that mattered to her more than anything…even the Wonderbolts. She then turned back to the door and slowly shut it behind her as Clay drifted off to sleep. As Dash walked to her room she whipped the tear from her face and said to herself with a slight sob.
“Darn it, being a mom’s made me sappy.”