//------------------------------// // Chapter one: The last day in Cloudsdale // Story: Little Mac and Cannotfly // by Akataja //------------------------------// Celestia raised the sun, like she did every day, everywhere in Equestria. The sun's light broke through the clouds of Cloudsdale, letting them shimmer in a majestic Silver. That was a regular view for most Pegasi, but there were some ponies who woke up early just to see that light and Fluttershy was one of those individuals. She climbed out of her bed every morning, setting her front hooves on her windowsill looking at the sunrise with big gloomy eyes. Why did she climb out of her bed and not just use her wings? Fluttershy wasn't the best flier in town. In fact, it was hard for her just getting her body up in the air. The other students at flight school had nasty nicknames for her, like Fluttercry, or Sissyshy, or just Cannotfly, but those days were over. Yesterday was her sixteenth birthday, she graduated flight school and was looking for work. She wasn’t in a big hurry because she was always a bit late. For example, she got her cutie mark just a week ago. She was really ashamed for being a blank flank for so long, and her classmate Rainbow Dash was also very late, but she was always so full of confidence. They got them at the same time when Fluttershy’s fall was stopped by butterflies and she saw the Rainboom in the sky. The moment when she realized how much she loves animals and working with them was the happiest moment in her life. She couldn’t wait to come home that day because she wanted to show her father that she finally had her cutie mark. But her dad was like he always was. Fluttershy’s dad was a local prominent, a former member of the Wonderbolts, Who was highly decorated, a real ace in the sky who was unbeaten in speed and strength, Admiral Crossfire. But since his wife died while giving birth to their only foal, it was very quiet around that hero of Cloudsdale. But still foal's were his fans, mares wanted to be with him and stallions wanted to be like him. Fluttershy knew about her father's past, but she never saw him that way. Her father was always silent, he didn't smile very much and had an awful habit with alcohol. When she entered the living room she was very proud of her cutie mark, she knew her father wasn’t the most emotional type, but she expected at least a hug or a smile. But he did nothing like that. He was a tall stallion with a dark gray coat and a burning cloud as a cutie mark. He just looked at her, taking a sip from his bottle and telling her “you’re late. Go and make dinner.” Back at this morning in Fluttershy’s room: “Well… he is a bit stone faced… but I know he loves me, at least as much as I love him.” She spoke to herself while watching the sunrise. It was a new day and a new chance for her to prove her worth, she would get that hug from her dad, that was her wish. So she had a shower and was ready for leaving the house, she didn’t want to eat breakfast at home. Maybe I should buy a hay sandwich on my way to the factory. She thought while she dried her hair and made a new plaid in her mane, like the one she saw on her mother's pictures. Lightbreeze was a beautiful mare and she was always wearing a plaid. Fluttershy always wanted to be like her and help her father. Now she tried to find a job. She already tried her best in the colosseum, but she was too quiet for selling snacks, so nopony could hear her. But I screamed as hard as I could “please buy snacks, if you don’t mind, imeanicouldwaitherewhileyouarethinkingaboutit”   And she was too shy to sell tickets, the one time when a really big stallion wanted a better place and screamed at her, she made herself so small that nopony could see her behind the table. And when she tried to distribute posters, her wings were already exhausted when she was nearly 20% done. So she wanted to try the jobs in the rain factory, maybe she was good at making rain clouds or painting rainbows? I like all the colors and rainbows are so peacefully. When she went to leave the house she saw her father, already awake and today without a bottle and shaved. That’s a good sign, right? He was looking at her, she smiled at him while speaking “Good morning sir, you slept well, right?” no answers, he just took a little slurp of his coffee. She continued to speak “I am leaving now. Going to the factory, as I said, that means, if you don’t mind, I couldalsojuststayathomeand” “your birthday was yesterday, right?” his words took her by surprise. She smiled “yes father, that’s right.” So he does care! I knew it! Oh, father, I'm so happy! She almost lost a little tear. It was a wonderful moment for her, maybe today she would get that hug? “And you’re 18 now, right?” he asked again. “Oh! Oh no, sir, ehm, I mean I am 16 now, but that’s easy to mix up and it’s hard for me to remember sometimes too.” He raised a hoof to interrupt her “just be sure to be back on time.” “Oh! Sure sir.” She smiled again and left the house. He is planning a birthday party, I'm so sure! Oh, that’s exciting! I knew he was proud of me! I hope he invited Rainbow Dash, she is such a nice pony. The day in the factory wasn’t much better than the day in the colosseum, her shyness and her weakness were her weak spots. But at least she was good at making rainbows, maybe not the best, but it was no disaster like when she tried to load up some lightnings. She took them out of the machine and put them on the table, but when she was frightened by the thunder, she let them fall and caused a little fire in the factory. But there was no free job in the rainbow painting workshop “but I'm sure there'll be a free place for you in the next two years.” Said the boss to comfort her. At least I'm not a total failure and I'm pretty sure I will get this job in less than two years! Oooh, Father will be so happy!!! When she arrived home she could already see some carriages in front of her house. So it’s true! There are visitors, that means a party! My birthday party! Finally! She opened the door with a smile, waiting to see her long unseen grandparents, or rainbow dash or some other friendly faces when she entered the kitchen. But there were just three elderly stallions she'd never meet before and her father. “Come in Fluttershy.” Said her dad and she was following that order because it was her father telling her. But she was very nervous, her wings were pressed tight and close to her body, all four legs were a bit shaky and she seemed a bit clumsy. “So that's your daughter Crossfire?” asked one of the stallions. “Like I said.” answered crossfire. "Yes, like on the pictures. You’re sure she is already 18? She doesn’t look like it.” “Is that really important for you?” the stallion began to laugh, but it wasn’t  quite a really happy laugh, for Fluttershy, it seemed a bit frightening and dirty. She whispered very quite to her father, hiding her face behind her pink mane “W-what's going on sir? Can I go upstairs in my room?” He was looking to her, put an arm around her and pulled her to his side “We're running out of bits.” He said while holding her almost painfully at her shoulder “And you didn’t find a job, right?” “Well I, ehm, I mean, there were the rainbows and, ehm” She gulped “No, sir…” “but you keep on eating and using hot water and so on?” “…” “So, today you will make us some money.” What? Oh no? he couldn’t mean… “Father?” she was really afraid now, she really loved her father and she would do anything for him, but not that. He was looking direct into her eyes when he said “you will go upstairs with these Gentleponies and will do what they wish. And you will smile for them and be nice and kind!” “B-but sir, I…” she was terrified, taking a step back, poking with her tail against a shelf “please, no” tears begun to fall as he grabbed her with his arm “Why?” He looked back at her “because I…" he made a little break, seemed like he was thinking. Should he say it? Should he lie? Should she know the truth? He carried those words for so long in his chest, it was time to let them out "I hate you! I really hate you! It’s your fault Lightbreeze died! And you’re an absolute disappointment!" His face was finally showing a real emotion, but no love, just anger "I wish she was still alive and you were the one that had to die on that day!” Something broke in Fluttershy at this moment, she could see the deep hate in her Father's eyes and her heart stopped beating for a short moment, frightened by absolute terror. She couldn’t think anymore and her primal instincts took over control with just one single order, flee! She freed herself from her father and dashed out of the window, breaking the glass, cutting her flesh and hurting some bones, but she didn’t feel pain, she felt nothing except the wish to escape. She lost conscious as she dashed through the clouds.