I didn’t like my wings at first, they were big and cumbersome. The joints and muscles were things I was entirely unfamiliar with. Sometimes just acknowledging their presence made me feel uncomfortable.
Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof, was absolutely thrilled about my wings. As soon as she was able she sat me down and said, “Okay Twilight, at 3 PM tomorrow in the Silver Pasture Park we start your training!” and before I could reply she continued, “You’re going to have the best flight instructor in all of Equestria! How lucky are you? Just wait, you’ll see the best way to fly is to get out there and fly! So keep your muzzle outta those books okay? It’s only gonna ruin your concentration”.
Then she zoomed off leaving behind nothing but a faint rainbow and a curious flutter in my heart. We were still in Canterlot at the time and I was pretty busy with the other princesses finishing up all the legal work we had to do following my coronation. Incredibly enough, Rainbow Dash managed to pick one of the few times I would be free.
The entire day I kept thinking about the upcoming flight lesson. Against Rainbow’s wishes I cracked open a few books on flight so I could prepare myself. But curiously enough I couldn’t concentrate on any of it! I kept thinking about how scary it was going to be trying to fly and how nice it was that Rainbow Dash was going to be there for me… Even if she was the pony who shoved the lesson in my face without warning and flew off.
During dinner Rainbow Dash kept bragging about how she was going to teach me. She talked animatedly and I’m a little embarrassed to admit I couldn’t stop looking at her. I found myself saying things like “Oh I don’t know if I’m going to be all that great” and “We can’t expect to make too much progress”. But Rainbow Dash brushed away my concerns with a cocky smile and determination in her eyes.
At some point Celestia leaned down and asked if I was alright. Puzzled I responded that I was. She then pointed out that I’d hardly touched my dinner and reiterated her question. The shade of red I turned must have matched Applejack’s cutie-mark because Celestia raised an eyebrow. I muttered something about being nervous and started eating my (then lukewarm) dinner. Why was I even so embarrassed to being with?
The next day I woke up nice and early. I felt anxious and tingly with anticipation as I walked through the days various activities. The feeling only grew stronger as 3 PM approached. I tried once more to read up on flying but once again found my anticipating barring my ability to concentrate.
The next thing I knew I was standing at the park’s entrance. My whole body felt like little jolts of electricity were passing through it. But Rainbow Dash wasn’t in sight, I was just about to enter the park when…
“Hey Twilight!”
I jumped and whirled around to see Rainbow’s grinning face. She laughed at my reaction, “Looks like somepony was thinking a little too hard! Don’t sweat it Twilight, you’re gonna do great! Because you have the best flier in Equestria teaching you!”
I wondered how many bits I would have made between yesterday and today if I got one for every time she said “… best flier in Equestria”.
“Alright! Now, here’s what we do…. “
My shoulders ached in ways I never thought were possible. In fact, my entire body ached furiously and I found myself wishing I wouldn’t have to move again.
I felt the cloud I was laying on compress next to me. Suddenly, the little electric tingles were back and I turned my head to look at Rainbow Dash who was settling down by my side.
“You know, I kinda figured you never really exercised or anything. But wow you burnt out fast” I wanted to be angry, but the laughter in her tone made it pretty hard.
“Yeah that happens when you try to exercise limbs you just acquired” I replied dryly, turning back to face upwards. I could practically see the amused smirk on her face as I gaze at the white puffy clouds above us.
“Yeah, yeah, but trust me. You’ll get used to it. Once you start flying you’ll never wanna stop”.
I didn’t bother to voice my doubts. Rainbow Dash was the kind of pony who was 100% certain in her beliefs. Besides, the cloud we were lying on was extremely comfortable. Without thinking I found my eyelids drooping down.
It was like lying on strangely firm air. The cloud was slightly cool to the touch but in that “I just flipped my pillow over” kind of way. It supported every aspect of your body but you didn’t sink too far into it. I vaguely recalled Rainbow mentioning that once I got the basics of flight down she was going to teach me cloud manipulation. Maybe I could get a cloud mattress like she has. Maybe one day she’d let me sleep over because cloud mattresses sounded divine and her bed always looked really comfortable
Yeah, that sounded really nice to me.
I imagined us being up in the clouds and having fun together. She would teach me the ins and outs of Pegasus weather manipulation and how to make different kinds of clouds. Then we would sit down on a cloud just like this one. She’d put her wing over my back and talk about the Wonderbolts and I’d listen to every word because I…
“Hey egghead! Don’t fall asleep on me! We still gotta get down from here ya know and I am sooo not dragging this cloud down to the ground. Clouds may not look it, but they can be heavy!”
Her face suddenly felt very close to mine. “Especially if there’s a big purple alicorn lying on it!” I must have blushed again because she burst out laughing.
With slight reluctance I opened my eyes and did my best to put on a grumpy look. She was sitting up and looking down at me. Her response was to grin and I had to fight the urge to smile at the playfulness in her magenta eyes.
“Okay Twilight, let’s get on down there! Now landing is one of the hardest parts of flying…”
As she started to explain the daunting task I had ahead of me I could only think one thing.
I could get used to doing this.