> Hold On Tight To Your Dreams. > by Clever Twilight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Into The Fire. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- " Take this and that!, How about nine of these!!! " A small blue filly yelled aloud cutely, her small hooves flinging every which way wildly. Small wings on her backside fluttering in a frantic motion as she lifted a few feet off the floor. " Solar Bolt!- do ladies fly in the house? " The melodic sweet tone of a mare spoke aloud as a light blue pegasus walked out of the kitchen within the small home, a smile across her lips, mane frazzled after a long days work. " Ummmm....sometimes? " Solar squeed softly her mother casting a blank stare towards her. " Phssst...No a lady is poised, polite and...ummmm...Presses tears?..." Solar tapped her small hoof on her chin lost in deep thought for a second. " Perseveres honey, not presses tears. " The mare giggled as she kneeled down to her filly, gently nuzzling her childs cheek. " Now go brush your mane to prevent tangles and get ready for bed." The mare smiled using her hoof to gently pat her daughter's backside, the small filly galloping over to her mom's pink vanity table as she cluthed a small brush in both hooves. " Mommy. Do you think one day I can be a Wonderbolt like Daddy was? " Solar asked the brush gently running through her night blue mane, Magenta hues gazing up to her mother who sighed softly. " Honey. You need to get those silly dreams out of your head, a Wonderbolt is not a career a lady should follow it's dangerous and only for fools! " The mare huffed walking over to her daughter and taking away the brush, sitting down behind the child as she ran the brush through her daughters mane softly. " But mom...I want to feel the wind in my mane!, see Equestria and help..." The filly tried to speak as her mother frowned in disapproval into the mirror from behind the child. " Look to your reflection my love, what do you see? " The mare smiled as she leaned inward to gently brush Solar's mane into a elegant fashion. The child gazing to her reflection in silence. " I don't know..." She replied gazing down sadly. " Well what I see is a beautiful young mare, one who will change all of Equestria one day.- as a doctor, a school teacher or even maybe a princess! " The mare giggled kissing her daughter's cheek, soon after she gently nudged the small child off to bed. The small filly crawled in under the sheets in silence. Her mother tucking her in and wishing her the best of dreams, the door soon closing behind her leaving the filly alone in the darkness with her thoughts. " Princesses are boring..." Solar sighed as she quickly ran her hooves through her mane, fluffing it out wildly as she quickly rolled out of bed, falling to the floor with a soft thud. Walking over to her open window, she lifted up to her hind legs. Magenta hues sparkled softly in the moonlight as she allowed the silence and beauty of the world to take her soul high into the clouds. " One day I'll be the best Wonderbolt there is! " Solar smiled happily. Knowing in her heart, she belonged in the sky. >>>>>>> Present Day. Solar Bolt swooped through the air at top speeds, her flowing blue mane being caressed by the wind. The mare made quick work of the sky around her, swooping through nearby clouds without a care. Only to dive down towards the earth below, passing through a large meadow of flowers only feet away from the ground, her speed pulling the plants back as she passed them. Dashing upward into the clear blue sky, the mare extended her wings proudly allowing the air currents to hold her in place above the clouds. A content smile crossing her lips before swooping down below in a flash of speed, the navy blue blur making her way to Ponyville below. Coming in for a risky landing Solar Bolt swung in close to the ground, her hooves cantering across the soft grass at a high rate of speed trying to come to a stop. Ponies gasping aloud through main street as the odd mare was coming within crashing distance of them. Slamming down her hooves the slender pegasus skid across the dirt road, coming to a complete stop just outside of The Carousel Boutique. " Package delivery!- For a Rarity!!? " Solar yelled out in a brash tone, lifting her hooves to bang on the door just as it swung open to reveal a elegant white unicorn mare. " Eep! " The mare gasped sidesteping a hoof swipe barely, her eyes becoming narrowed in anger. " Do you mind! I have company from Canterlot visiting!, could you not speak more softly? " Rarity huffed as Solar just rolled her eyes slightly. " So sorry Ms.Mare-ity..." Solar spoke in a casual tone, flashing a slight smile. " It's Rarity!- what is your business? " The unicorn spoke bluntly, getting straight to the point. " I have a delivery for you Ma'am!- Six rolls of Canterlot's best finery. " Solar smiled happily as she reached behind her, removing a large saddlebag connected to her backside. " Really?- I didn't think it would be delivered quite so fast! " Rarity spoke in a impressed tone. " Well you happen to be in the presence of Equestria's next top flyer!- when you need something I get it done fast!! " Solar giggled proudly her chest puffing out slightly, her hooves flipping open the saddlebag to find it was empty. " Where are my materials darling? " Rarity simply gazed into the empty bag then up to the mare with a confused look. " What? " Solar replied as she quickly poked her whole head into the bag before lifting it out. " Oh Celestia on crap bucket!! " Solar moaned aloud in defeat. " On a what?!! " Rarity gasped taken back a bit by the mare's crude tone. " Hehehe...I was kind of doing tricks in the air and well your package might have fell out over a meadow." Solar flashed a weak smile to the unicorn as her ears folded back softly. " A meadow? " Rarity spoke in utter shock. " Or a river!...or a dirt road...maybe even in that cave shortcut I took? " Solar slowly went into deep thought, placing a slender hoof on her chin as she bit her lower lip. " You lost my materials?- My one of a kind patterns, which took five moons to have brought over from Saddle Arabia to Canterlot? " Rarity whimpered her lower lip quivering softly, eyes filling with tears. " Errrrr...Maybe? " Solar tried to flash a smile yet was cut off my the sound of crying. " No! Please don' cry! I promise I'll find those materials! " Solar spoke up as the mare gently sobbed into her hooves before her. " This is the worst thing ever!!! " Rarity continued to weep, Solars words going un-noticed for the moment. Solar sighed softly turning around, her eyes gazing off into the distance which stretched endlessly into the horizon. With a huff and a determined look forming on her face, she knew she'd be able to fix this tiny mishap. How hard could it be? > Up There. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- " Ow...ow...owww." Solar Bolt moaned softly her once clean coat filthy, with small bruises and knicks up her slender legs. For what felt like years she scanned over every piece of land she had passed in the early morning, yet even with her best efforts she could not turn up Rarity's missing materials. A pit grew ever so slowly down in her stomach, she felt horrible as it was for not being able to right her wrong. But the one thing that loomed overhead was what she dreaded the most. Worse than a pack of timberwolves or even a cluster of changelings. " Rarity stopped by to let me know about your delivery! " A chill yet stern voice echoed from the living room, Solar gently folding her ears back in shame. " Mom let me explain..." Solar parted her lips to speak, her mother swinging up from the small red sofa she was sat upon. " You were doing those idiotic tricks again!- Weren't you! " Her mother snapped as she narrowed her eyes in anger, coming muzzle to muzzle with her young daughter. " They are not idiotic! " Solar replied with a pout, gazing away from her mother's cold eyes. " Don't you dare speak back to me!! " Her mother huffed aloud, running her hoof roughly through solar's tangled mane. " Oh my Luna!- Your mane and coat are just horrible! Not only that but because of your foolish nature I have to pay to replace the materials you lost!! " The mare shook her head in shame, her voice never easing up a bit. Solar bit her lower lip hard, trying with all her heart to hold back tears. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to see her cry. That would be the breaking point of her if she did. " I was wrong to think you could handle a job! " The mare sighed shaking her head side to side slowly. " You are not mature at all!- I'll call the postal service and say they need to find a new Mail Mare. " Her mother spoke in a icy tone as Solar felt a chill run down her spine. " No! - I want the job! It's the only time of day I can explore outside and fly..." Solar tried to reply, the mare standing in front of her in anger. " I didn't allow you to get a job for pleasure!- it was to teach you the value of a hard day's work! " The mare stomped over to a small door in the corner of the room, swiftly pressing it open. " But I was wrong!- you are just a child, one who needs just a little more time in the nest, before she is able to survive out in the world! " Her mother pointed a hoof into the room, demanding she went inside. " No!!! " Solar felt the words escape her mouth in a loud yelp, gently her hooves rising to her lips in shock. Her mother slowly let go of the door, it crept closed with a eerie creak. Soft but stern hoofsteps made their way to the blue pegasus, Ice cold eyes gazing deep into her own, her mother's shadow overcoming her with ease. Solar felt herself lower down to a kneel, fear entering her heart. " You just simply won't listen." The mare softly caressed her daughter's cheek with her hoof. " I'm trying to protect you.- You think you can just go out into the world, that ponies of this land will merely accept you as one of their own? " Slowly Solar felt her mother wrap her hooves around her neck, pulling in for a soft warm hug. Rain gently began to fall outside, the sun being overcome by the darkening sky above. Much like she felt her mother's shadow did to her. The gentle tapping of the rain outside against the window sounded almost like the playing of a piano, a solemn tune filling the house. " Equestria is cruel. " Her mother hummed aloud in a melodic tone. " Equestria is wicked. " The mare whispered into her daughter's ear, placing a soft kiss on her cheek afterward. " It's I alone whom you can trust in this whole world.- I who love you, dress you, teach you and keep you! " The light blue pegasus sung aloud in a wicked rhythm, walking to the nearby window as she slowly closed the blinds, the room becoming cold and dim. " I who look upon you without judgement!- How can I protect you girl, unless you always stay here!! " Her mother sung aloud in a icy tone, violet colored eyes burning like coals in the dim lighting. " Away from the sky...you must never fly..." The mare allowed her voice to become warm if only for a minute, looking deeply into her daughter's eyes with love and compassion. " Remember my little Solar Bolt, what I've told you time and time before." The mare smiled happily nuzzling her cheek caringly. " You are talentless. " The voice of warmth faded away, Solar Bolt felt her heart sink in her chest. " I am Talentless... " Solar repeated in a soft whisper, the rain pouring faster outside. " And you are a failed flyer! " Her mother spoke up in a proud tone of voice. " I am a failed flyer...." Solar folded ears back completely, gently curling up into a small ball on the floor. " These are traits that those above will show no pity! " The mare stomped a hoof down on the floor in anger, pacing around in circles around her daughter. " You are my one defender..." Solar sung along with her mother's tune in sadness. " Out there they'll consider you a failure! " The mare sang lowering herself down to her daughter's level, gently caressing her mane with a hoof. " I am a failure..." Solar felt the tears building in her eyes. " High above in the sky!- They'll hate, scorn and jeer! " The mare sung louder, her voice hidden by the sound of thunder outside. " Always a failure..." Tears ran down the young mare's cheeks. " Why invite in their hatred?- force yourself to live in fear!?- Just stay in here... " Solar felt her mother kneel down at her side cuddling close to her. " Be faithful to me." She whispered into the child's ear softly. " I'm faithful..." She replied back sadly. " Be grateful." Her mother cooed in a softer more gentle tone. " I'm grateful..." Solar spoke gazing up to her mother with tear soaked hues. " If that's true then obey!...and stay right here. " Her mother smiled in a loving manner, though Solar could only see a wicked smirk. " I'll....stay...here. " Solar slowly got back to her hooves, she felt faint and tired while walking past her mother and into her dimly lit room solemnly. " Thank you mother. I'm sorry for how I acted." Solar turned back to gaze to her mother sadly, who in turn simply smiled back happily. " It's alright my dear.- I'll tell your boss you just need a bit more time, before you are ready for of all things a job. " Her mother giggled walking over to the door, slowly closing it as the light drained from the room. " Remember Solar Bolt my love, this is your home....this is where you belong. " The older mare spoke in a stern tone, clicking the wooden frame shut. The sound of the door being locked from the outside echoed around Solar, she merely sat in the middle of the room, ears folded back as she allowed the darkness to wrap around her. Her heart felt as if it were about to shatter into a thousand pieces, she had cried in front of her mother something she vowed never to do. Now it was known she was stuck here, a bird inside a cage unable to fly in the sky. Her one chance in years to be able to have a job in which she was able to glide in the sky and see the wonders around her, runied because she couldn't control her joy. She'd never be free. The rain slowly came to a halt, Solar allowed her soft magenta eyes to glance outside her bolted closed window. Taking slow hoofsteps towards the small view to the outside world, placing her hooves on the window sill in deep thought. This action she'd done since she was just a filly, her mind wandering to thoughts of being free from this place. But how could she?- her mother needed her, to abandon her family would be something she'd never do. But would damning herself to this prison be any better? " Safe behind these windows and parapets of wood. Gazing at the ponies high above me. " Solar whispered in a soft hum, thoughts running wild again, her voice gentle and melodic in tune. The wind outside forming into a melody, the drops of rain from the tree's almost sounding like a piano playing along. Her eyes watched in awe as the pegasi above in the sky cleared away the dark clouds, far in the distance she could make out others dashing playfully across the sky. " All my life I watch them as I hide in here alone. Hungry for the adventures that they show me. " Solar sadly sang aloud in a whisper, walking away from the window. " All my life I memorize their faces. Knowing them as they will never know me. " The mare allowed the words to escape her lips in a quivering voice. " All my life I wonder how it would feel to pass a year... " She slowly turned towards her right wall filled with many posters of The Wonderbolts and a few spare pictures of Rainbow Dash she came across in the Foal Free Press her mother brought in. " Not below them! But part of them!!! " Solar allowed her wings to span out proudly as her pitch became a bit louder. " Up there! Living near the sun. Give me one year up there!! All I ask is one. To hold dear forever!!! " Her voice sang along in joy as she fluttered over to the window, lost in the beauty of the sky above her. " Up there! Where they all fly as one. What I'd give! What I'd dare! Just to live one year up there!! " Solar felt her voice yell aloud in a musical tune, her wings lifting her high into the air of her room happily. " Up there among the flyers and the storm chasers and the large open skies! Through the clouds and mist up above I can see them! " Solar bolted over to her wall, gently placing her hoof atop her Wonderbolt poster. " Everyday they talk and giggle, going about their lives. Heedless of the gift it is to be them!" She swooped in near her window again, watching pegasi above her house chat, laugh and live. " If I was in their coats! I'd treasure every instant! " Solar giggled as she floated away from the window excitedly. " Up there! Flying by the sun! " She sang with a soft sigh, allowing the warmth of the sun outside to shine upon her coat. " Taste a morning up there! Like ordinary mares. Who freely fly about there! " She sang in a joyous melody flying quickly to her shelf, slipping on a pair of goggles happily with a smile. Her mane fluffing outward cutely as she did a few spins in the air, barely missing the ceiling with a quick dash. " Just one year and then I swear! I'll be content with my share!! " She placed her hooves softly across her chest while singing. " Won't resent! Won't despair!! " She quickly twirled around the middle of her room, hugging her slender frame gently eyes closed in thought. " Old and bent! I won't care!! " She swooped in front of her window like a lightning strike, eyes open and hooves placed firmly on the window before her. " I'll have spent! " A smile as wide as the horizon formed across her lips. " One year! Up there!!! " Solar's voice echoed happily through her whole room, her song filling her soul with warmth and light. For a second in a few years. She felt hope for the future. >>>>> Unknown to Solar just a mere few feet away from her door, her mother sat kneeled before the raging fireplace. The flames dancing within wickedly, Rarity's materials being engulfed with ease. The older mare watching in silence, she did what had to be done. Solar Bolt was not ready to go out on her own. This was her home, this was where she belonged.