One-Shot
Flittering Away
Written & Edited by Seven81493
Edited by Miss Dark Angel
Sadness.
Deep down, in the pit of her stomach, that was all Flitter could truly feel. She was, of course, happy for her dearest sister. Yet, at the same time, it was as if her heart was being wrenched out of her chest. Her sister, who had come to be her best friend, was leaving her tomorrow. And so, she began crying. They were neither tears of joy nor tears of sadness. They were tears of both.
---
Exuberant
That was the only way anypony could possibly describe Cloudchaser at the moment. She was flying around her room excitedly, yelling about how she had finally done it. How she had proven her parents wrong and done something worthwhile with her life. But at the same time, a heavy weight was pressing itself down onto her shoulders. She was going to have to leave her sister, no, her best friend behind. The thought of this forced her to stop her jubilant yelling and lie down on her bed to think things over.
---
“Flitter, can I come in?”
When no reply came, Cloudchaser took it upon herself to open the door and peer inside. What she saw brought tears to her eyes. Flitter was lying on her bed, weeping into her pillow. Tissues were thrown around the room haphazardly. It was... depressing, to say the least.
“Flitter... are you okay?” she asked, hoping her sister would offer up a response. When none came, she took the initiative of moving to sit down on the bed next to her. “Look, sis... I want you to know that I don’t want to leave, either.”
“Then why are you?” came a very weak response, making Cloudchaser give a small smile. Finally, she had gotten something out of her little sis.
“Because I have to, Flitter. Being in the Wonderbolts has been my dream since I was just a little filly.”
“I know, but it’s not fair, Cloudy!” her sister exclaimed, pulling her head out of the pillow suddenly and turning to face her sister. “Why do they get to have you when I can’t?”
In an instant, Cloudchaser pulled her sister into a hug. “Heh, you make it sound like we’re dating.”
Flitter pushed her sister away at that comment, before breaking into giggles. “Shut up!”
“See, you’re smiling!” Cloudchaser stated, happy to see her sister in a good mood for once that night.
“But you’re the reason I’m smiling, sis’,” Flitter remarked solemnly, causing Cloudchaser to frown.
“Oh, come on! You were just laughing!” she exclaimed. Why did her sister have to be so difficult about this? It’s not like she was leaving forever. She was going to visit her between tours, so she’d still see her every few months. So what was it that was making Flitter so sad?
“I know, Cloudy, but I’m just so sad that you’re leaving.”
“But aren’t you happy that I’m going to be in the Wonderbolts?”
“I am, Cloudy, but it’s still so hard to come to terms with the fact that you won’t be here tomorrow.”
“Sure I will!”
“Huh?” was all the confused Flitter could utter.
“I’ll be right here,” Cloudchaser stated, pointing a hoof at Flitter’s chest, where her heart would be.
Flitter let out a few giggles at that. “Heehee, that was lame even for you, Cloudy.”
“Oh, please, I think awesome is the only way to describe me,” she boasted, causing Flitter to roll her eyes, albeit smiling at her sister’s ridiculousness.
“Sure...”
“Aw, you’ll come around eventually. Now come on, let’s go get something to eat. My treat.”
---
As the sun rose, and Flitter opened her eyes, a sigh escaped her. Today was the day Cloudchaser would be leaving. It tore her up inside, but for some reason, a smile forced its way onto her features. Sure, she wouldn’t see her sister for a while, but their talk at dinner last night had cheered her up.
---
”Here, I want you to have this, Flitter.”
“A... feather?”
“Not just any feather, sis’. My feather.”
“B-but pegasi feathers are so important! I can’t accept this...”
“Do you know why they’re important, Flitter?”
“Not really...”
“They’re important because it’s tradition to give a feather to the pony you love the most.”
“Y-you love me more than any other pony?”
“Of course I do, Flitter. You’re my little sister, and nopony can ever replace the bond we have.”
“I-I don’t know what to say...”
“Then don’t say anything. Just... keep it safe, alright? Promise me you’ll keep it safe.”
“I will, Cloudy. In fact, I know just the place to put it.”
---
As Flitter put her bow on, preparing to say goodbye to Cloudchaser, she took a look at the newest addition to her wardrobe. Her sister’s feather was placed in between her ear and hair, much like a teacher would put a pencil there. The feathery end was extended back towards her bow, and it made her smile. Cloudchaser may have been leaving, but she was right when she said she’d still be there.
At least, a part of her would.
---
Outside of their home, Cloudchaser and Flitter were chatting away, saying their goodbyes.
“That feather looks really nice on you, Flitter.”
“Hehe, and you talk about me acting like we’re dating.”
Cloudchaser gave a chuckle at that, but she needed to stay on topic before she had to leave. “I’ll be sure to visit every possible moment that I can.”
“I know you will, Cloudy, but it still hurts...”
“Hey now, none of that! You promised you’d try your best to cheer up.”
“Sorry,” Flitter relented sheepishly, “you’re right.”
“You’re darn right I am,” Cloudchaser said with a smirk. “But it looks like my carriage is here, Flitter.”
Taking a look at the road, Flitter saw that her sister was right.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye, then, Cloudy...”
As Cloudchaser hugged her sister one last time before she left, she whispered in her ear. “No, it’s not. Don’t say that. ‘Goodbye’ means going away, and ‘going away’ means forgetting.”
With that, Cloudchaser pulled away from her sister and made her way to the carriage, stepping inside. It wouldn’t be long before she was in Canterlot with the rest of the Wonderbolts, preparing for their first show.
As Flitter watched her sister take off in the carriage, a stray tear made its way down her cheek. Wiping it away with her hoof, she took one last look at her sister, gave a wave, and walked back inside. She had come to terms with the inevitable. Her sister was...
Flittering away...