> The Rise of the Raptor > by Raptormon132 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: The Birth > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hawk Eye paced back and forth in the waiting room of Cloudsdale Hospital. His wife, Nimbus Trail was due to having their first baby that day, and it had been two hours after the doctors told him to wait outside. As hours ticked by, Hawk Eye began to grow weary. "What's taking so long?" Hawk Eye thought to himself. "It's been two hours." Just as he sat down on a chair to relax himself, his ears perked up at a sound of a baby crying coming from inside the delivery room. It was a sound that made his mind at ease. Then some minutes afterwards, the door to the delivery room opened and the doctor came out toward Hawk Eye. "Well, Doctor?" Hawk Eye asked. The doctor smiled. "Congratulations, Hawk Eye. You have a healthy baby colt. You can go in now." Hawk Eye walked in to the delivery room to see his beloved wife in a hospital bed, holding their new born son wrapped in a blanket. His eyes became filled with tears of joy to know that he was now officially a father. He came closer to one side of the bed to meet his new born son for the first time. "Here's our baby boy." Nimbus Trail showed their new born son to Hawk Eye. "Isn't he gorgeous, honey?" Hawk Eye's eye widened when he saw his son. He saw that his new born son had a solid black colored coat with a solid red colored mane. The colors of his new born son did make him a little concerned. Nimbus Trail tilted her head as she noticed her husband's concerned look. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" "Why does he look like that?" Hawk Eye thought to himself, before turning to the doctor. "Doctor? Are you sure there's nothing wrong with our son?" "You're son is fine, Mr Hawk Eye." The doctor said. "He's very healthy and normal." "Well, why is he that color? Red and black? That doesn't look normal to me. Are you sure?" The doctor nodded. "I assure you, Mr Hawk Eye. There is nothing wrong with you're son. Ponies are born with different colors all the time." "Yes, but I don't think red and black is one of them." Hawk Eye said. Nimbus Trail stroked her concerned husband with her reaching hoof. "Sweetheart. If the doctor said nothing's wrong, then I believe him. I don't care what color he is, as long as he's healthy. Because no matter what, he's still our little boy." Hawk Eye turned to his wife, and looked at her with a calmer, but still unsure look. Seeing this, Nimbus Trail instantly thought of one way to ease her husband's mind. She offered Hawk Eye their son to him. "Here, sweetheart. Hold him." After a brief hesitation, Hawk Eye accepted to hold his son for the first time. He held on to his baby boy sleeping quietly in his hooves. After a few moments of looking down at his sleeping, newborn son, he began to calm down and forget about his concerns. The sight of how little he was made his heart melt with a smile. "Now do you see?" Nimbus Trail asked. "There's really nothing wrong with him." Hawk Eye sighed calmly and smiled. "You're right, honey. He maybe a different color...but he's still our little boy." One of the nurses came over to the new parents. "So what are you going to call him?" "I don't know." Nimbus Trail turned to Hawk Eye. "What do you think, Hawk Eye?" Hawk Eye looked down at his little boy sleeping peacefully in his hooves for a moment, before smiling proudly and giving his answer. "Raid Raptor. That's what we should call him. Raid Raptor." "Raid Raptor." Nimbus Trail and Hawk Eye snuggled lovingly with their new born son. "Our little Raid Raptor." The moment that they first meet their son was a happy moment. And right there was the start of a new life, for a raptor was born and was going to someday spread his wings and soar into the sky. > Chapter 2: A Birthday Flight > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exactly eight years had passed since that joyful day. And that day, Nimbus Trail and Hawk Eye were planing to take their little boy, Raid Raptor out for a picnic, as well as taking him for his very first flight for his eighth birthday, only they were going to safely do it on the ground. Raid Raptor was in the family wagon waiting, super excited on going out to the meadow on the ground. "Come on, Mum, Dad!" Raid Raptor said. "Let's go!" "Just a minute, sweetie." Nimbus Trail walked out with some picnic supplies. "We just need to pack the last things we need for the picnic before we go." Raid Raptor sat back down in the wagon, and waited as his parents packed all the things they needed. After five minutes of packing they were all set to go. "Well, were all set." Hawk Eye and Nimbus Trail harnessed the wagon to themselves. "You ready, son?" "Yeah!" "Alright, son." Hawk Eye said. "Sit tight. We're on the move." Soon enough, the whole family took off from their Cloudsdale home, and headed to the meadow on the ground some distance away. Raid Raptor looked over the side of the wagon, watching the clouds going as they passed by with the wind blowing in his face. Half an hour ticked by and Raid Raptor could see the meadow straight ahead on the ground. This made him all the more excited for him to see that they were almost there. "There it is!" Raid Raptor said. "I see it!" Hawk Eye smiled as they began to make their descend. "That's right, son! We're there!" Raid Raptor bounced with glee. "Yay!" Soon enough, they landed in a grassy green meadow in front of a sign that read "Welcome To Tempest Meadow. A Perfect Place For Young First Fliers". There were a few other Pegasi families around taking their children out for their first ever flight too, for it was considered by many Pegasi in Cloudsdale to be one of the best and safest places for little fillies and colt to try flying. They soon pulled the wagon until they found a nice spot to set up their picnic. While Nimbus Trail stayed to set up the picnic, Hawk Eye took Raid Raptor to teach him how to fly nearby. "Alright, son." Hawk Eye said. "Flap your wings, and try to get off the ground." Raid Raptor. "Okay, Dad." Raid Raptor spread his wings out and began to flap them hard. His father, Hawk Eye watched on with interest, then within a few seconds, he saw Raid Raptor beginning to hover a few inches off the ground. "That's good, son." Hawk Eye said. "Now, try and move forward." Raid Raptor leaned forward to move forward while hovering. He briefly moved forward until he lost his balance, and fell face first on the ground. "Ow!" "Whoops!" Hawk Eye rushed over to Raid Raptor's side. Raid Raptor sobbed briefly from the pain from the fall as his father, Hawk Eye brushed him off. "Don't worry, Raid Raptor. It's just a bump on the head. It happens to many of us on our first try, but let's try again." Raid Raptor rubbed his head were it was hurting, and began to frown. "I...I don't know. I'm scared to try again." Hawk Eye smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. "You should've seen me when I was your age. When I tried flying for the first time, I always kept falling down face first in the dirt. And I got all covered in sores. And believe it or not, I was at first afraid to try again." Raid Raptor looked up at Hawk Eye. "You were? But you're one of the best fliers of the Wonderbolts." "I know, but it's true. I was scared of getting hurt again on my first flight. But do you know what I did? "What?" "I kept on trying. I got up and faced it, and continued to practice. Until I got the hang of it, and soon I was flying like everypony else." Hawk Eye smiled. "So how about we try again, son?" Raid Raptor, thought for a moment, thinking about it. Finding out that his own father, Hawk Eye, one of the best fliers of the Wonderbolts went through the same as him. Raid Raptor got up to try flying with a look of confidence on his face. "Okay, Dad. I'll try again. I'll make you proud." Hawk Eye proudly. "That's my boy. Now whenever your ready, try again." After a moment to prepare, Raid Raptor once again spread his wings out and began to flap them hard. He closed his eyes and thought about how he wanted to make his father proud, and the the aerial shows he watch his father preformed. And within a few moments, he began to hover off the ground, only quite a bit higher than before this time. "Careful, son!" Hawk Eye said. "You're really high now!" Raid Raptor opened his eyes to see to his surprise that he was about 20 meters above the ground. He looked nervous and nearly lost control, but put on a face fall of great determination and confidence while remembering his father's story of what he went though. He leaned forward and began to move forward, then leaned left and right to get the feel of maneuvers. Feeling that he figured it out, Raid Raptor began to make some other maneuvers in the air, copying the maneuvers he watch his father do in the airshows he saw him preform, before deciding to making a dive. Hawk Eye watched with fright at Raid Raptor diving to the ground. Then right before Hawk Eye was about to try and catch him, Raid Raptor pulled out with his hooves brushing along many dandelions in the field and the white fluffy seeds fly away in the breeze. Hawk Eye sighed with relief at Raid Raptor pulling out, and gaining altitude again. "I can fly, Dad!" Raid Raptor playfully giggled with joy. "I can fly!" Hawk Eye watched with caution as Raid Raptor did many maneuvers in the air like if he was in an airshow having the time of his life. Hawk Eye was scared, but at the same time amazed at how fast he got the hang of it. Just fell down, then get back up and tried again. It was like if his son had been doing it all his life. And considering he was also a valued member of the Wonderbolts, and one of their best fliers made him all the more proud to see how his son was flying, for he knew his son had a good teacher. Nevertheless, the maneuvers Raid Raptor was doing was dangerous if one did not know what they were doing, and Hawk Eye was very concerned for his son's safety. Hawk Eye was about to tell Raid Raptor to stop and not get too carried away when Nimbus Trail called out from the picnic close by. "Hawk Eye, Raid Raptor!" Nimbus Trail said. "Lunch is ready!" "Coming, honey!" Hawk Eye turned back to Raid Raptor. "Come on down, son! It's lunch time!" "Yeah! Lunch time." Raid Raptor flew down and tried to land, but he did not know how to, so he had no choice, but to crash land on the most convenient thing he could think of. His own father's hooves. Raid Raptor began to direct himself and flew straight towards Hawk Eye. Hawk Eye got worried and rushed in a position to catch his airborne son flying straight towards him. Raid Raptor flew down at high speed, with Hawk Eye catching him in his hooves before falling backwards on his back on impact. Raid Raptor looks up face to face with his father, who looked back at him with a serious, unimpressed look like if he was in trouble. Raid Raptor braced himself for the worst. "Sorry about that, Raid Raptor." Hawk Eye said. "I guess I forgot to teach you how to land properly." Raid Raptor looked up at his father and smiled. "But did you see me? I was flying, and doing tricks, just like you." "Those maneuvers are very dangerous! What were you thinking?! You could get hurt those, or worse!" Raid Raptor looked away and frowned at his father, Hawk Eye's words with a small tear coming out of his eye, not expecting his father to be upset with him, instead of proud of him. Then Hawk Eye's serious look quickly shifted to pity at seeing his son saddened, for he understood that he was only trying to make him proud. "I'm sorry, Raid Raptor." Hawk Eye said. "I know you were trying to make me proud, and I am proud. But those maneuvers are dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. I do them because I practice them, and I know what I'm doing. I don't want you to do any of those without any proper supervision or training. I don't want you to get hurt. Can you promise me?" Raid Raptor said nothing, he just nodded sadly. Hawk Eye patted his son's head, and gently removed him up from himself to get up. "Come on, son. Don't be sad. You didn't get hurt, so everything's okay." Hawk Eye gave Raid Raptor a smile. "We'll continue practising, and talk about it later. Let's have lunch, and we'll have cake too. After all, it's your birthday. You shouldn't sad on your birthday. You'll feel better after that. Okay?" Raid Raptor sniffled and wiped his eyes. "Okay." Raid Raptor and his parents sat on a picnic blanket enjoying a really nice picnic lunch. After a while, Raid Raptor began to feel better from his father's understandable brief scolding. Then they all got to the very thing that they were all looking forward to enjoy, the birthday cake. A white-and-brown choc-vanilla cake with melted milk chocolate words "Happy 8th Birthday, Raid Raptor" decorated on the top of a slab of white chocolate on top, and eight birthday candles burned brightly. This sight made Raid Raptor all the more better and happy. "Happy Birthday, son." Hawk Eye said. Nimbus Trail smiled. "Now make a wish and blow out the candles." Raid Raptor took a breath and blew out the candles on the top of the cake. "Yay! This is a great birthday. Let's eat the cake." Nimbus Trail held up a gentle hoof to halt Raid Raptor. "Not yet, sweetie. We still have to give you your birthday present." "A present?" Raid Raptor asked. Nimbus Trail nodded. "That's right. You see, taking you out here for a picnic and to teach you how to fly wasn't your gift." She looked at Hawk Eye, and he nodded at her. "You see, your father and I have talked it over, and we decided to send you to Junior Speedster Flight Camp for the summer." Raid Raptor's face lit-up with overwhelming joy at what he was just told, for it was where he had always wanted to go to ever since he heard about it from other kids at school. "Really?" Hawk Eye and Nimbus Trail both nodded. "I will teach you many things first, but after seeing you fly like that today, your mother and I believe you're ready, and will be ready by this summer." Raid Raptor began to jumping with overwhelming joy, before he embracing his loving parents in a heartfelt hug. ”Yay! Thank you, Mum and Dad! You're the best mum and dad in the world!” "We knew you'd love that, birthday boy." Nimbus Trail said. "Happy birthday, son." Nimbus Trail picked up a cake knife with her mouth. "Now, let get to that cake." "And after this, we can start flying practice again." Hawk Eye said. They all sat back down as Nimbus Trail began to cut the birthday cake. After that, Hawk Eye and Raid Raptor continued flying practice, and started to teach him some maneuvers with safety. It was a great day out in Tempest Meadow, and they were all intending to enjoy every minute of it. > Chapter 3: Flight Camp Trouble > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two months later, summer had come. Raid Raptor, and his mother and father were standing at the entrance of Junior Speedster Flight Camp. Hawk Eye was holding Raid Raptor's suitcase full of things packed by Nimbus Trail that he would need at Junior Speedster Flight Camp for the whole summer. There were many other little filly and colt pegasi with their families saying goodbye to their children. Hawk Eye placed Raid Raptor's suitcase in front of him. "Well, it's almost time." Hawk Eye said. Nimbus Trail smiled. "We're sure you'll have a wonderful time. And you'll make some friends here too." Raid Raptor embraced both his parents in a warm, loving, group hug. "Oh, Mum, Dad. I'll miss you." "We'll miss you too, son." "We'll see you in two months, sweetie." Nimbus Trail said. "You spread you wings and soar into the sky, our little raptor." They released each other from the group. Raid Raptor watched as Hawk Eye and Nimbus Trail flew away into the air, looking back waving goodbye to their son one last time, with Raid Raptor waved back. "Bye Mum and Dad. I love you." When Raid Raptor's parents were out of site, he picked up his suitcase and walked into the entrance of Junior Speedster Flight Camp. There were many other little filly and colt pegasi around the same age as him all gathered round a stage where an adult pegasi couple stand up before them all. The couple was a light sapphire bluish gray colored stallion, and a brilliant arctic blue colored mare. Raid Raptor stood at the back of the crowd to listen, as the pegasi couple spoke out on a megaphone to the crowd of children. "Welcome youngsters!" The Stallion said. "I'm Storm Cloud!" "And I'm Stratus Cloud!" The children clapped and cheered at the Storm Cloud and Stratus Cloud for their greeting. Storm Cloud waved his hoof at the children to quite them to continue to speak. "We are the proud directors here at Junior Speedster Flight Camp. Equestria's most foremost facility in the sky for young flyers." "And we all hope each and everyone of you enjoy your time here!" Stratus Cloud said. "Cause we're all here to learn, to grow, and to just plain have fun!" The children clapped and cheered once again, until they were all quite down by Storm Cloud and Stratus Cloud on the stage. "Now we must ask all of you to form a line were you'll be sorted into your cabins!" Stratus Cloud pointed with her hoof. "So form it over here." Within seconds a long line of young ponies formed with Raid Raptor going right to the back of the line. Many minutes ticked by with Raid Raptor waiting, as one by one they were all sorted out, until at last it was his turn to be sorted in. Storm Cloud turned to Raid Raptor after the child before him. "Well, then. Lucky last, eh? What's your name?" "Raid Raptor." Storm Cloud looked through the list. "Let's see. Raid Raptor...Raid Raptor-. Ah, there you are. And you're in...cloud cabin 13, bunk number 20." Stratus Cloud pointed to a cloud cabin. "That's it. Just right over there, sweetie." Raid Raptor picked up his suitcase and made his way towards the cloud cabin he was assigned to. He got to the cloud cabin's opened front door and went inside. There were little colts Pegasi inside unpacking the belongings at their assigned bunk beds. Raid Raptor walk over to the bunk bed that had numbers 19 and 20, with the top bunk being number 20. He flew up to it and landed on the top bunk, where he began to unpack his belonging thinking about all the fun he was going to have for the summer. At that very moment, a grayish gamboge colored colt entered into the cloud cabin. He was a bit thicker than normal colts his age, and looked really mean. And he was accompanied by two average sized colts who looked just as mean. Within seconds, every little colt stood silently in fear at his presence, all except for Raid Raptor who had his back turned on his top bunk listening to music on his portable transistor radio from a pair of headphones, completely oblivious to what was going on. The light tan colored colt noticed this, and cracked a mean grin as he stared at the red and black pegasus like a hunger-eyed predator. "Fresh meat." He said, and he flew his way over to Raid Raptor. Raid Raptor continued to listen to his portable transistor radio enjoying himself, unaware that he was targeted by a possible danger. He felt a hoof poke his shoulder that instantly got his attention, only to have his eyes meeting with the grayish green eyes of the light tan colored colt. "Hey." He said in a friendly tone. Raid Raptor smiled and took his headphones off. "Hi." "I'm Raging Wind" "I'm Raid Raptor." Raid Raptor, offering his hoof for a friendly hoof shake. "Nice to meet you." Raging Wind reached out with his hoof and shook Raid Raptor's hoof. All of a sudden, his friendly face quickly shifted to an angry face. Then without warning, he yanked Raid Raptor hard and roughly towards himself in a threatening manner. "Now get off my bunk!" Raid Raptor was shocked and confused at this colt's sudden shift in personality, but thought he was mistaken. "Your bunk?" Raid Raptor asked. "That's right. That's my bed bunk you're sitting on." "But the list said I'm at this bunk." "Listen here, tar coat." Raging Wind said. "I come from the wealthiest family in Cloudsdale who own many things, including this place. And my father is captain of the Wonderbolts. Therefore I'm in charge here and I call the shots, that also means getting anything I want, even whatever bunk I want. Now unless you want any trouble, get off this bunk or el-" "Attention, Junior Speedsters!" Stratus Cloud suddenly called out from outside before entering the door of the cabin. Raging Wind quickly let go of Raid Raptor, and positioned himself innocently like nothing was going on to avoid detection from the camp director. "It's time for lunch." Stratus Cloud inform. "Then after that we can begin with fun flying activities." Stratus Cloud moved out of the cabin to give the same announce to the other cabins. Many colts began to exit out of the cabin. Raid Raptor began to make his way out when Raging Wind pinned him against a bunk post with his hooves. "Tar coat. You've just made yourself a dangerous enemy." Raging Wind quickly let him go, and walked out of the cabin leaving Raid Raptor all shocked and confused. Raid Raptor had never expected anyone to be so mean and rough, especially when he did not do anything wrong. It was there that Raid Raptor knew that this Raging Wind was nothing more than a bully. His shock and confusion was quickly overcame by hunger as he got up, and when to the camp mess hall for lunch. Raid Raptor sat in the mess hall with other fillies and colts. He was enjoying an egg salad sandwich, his personal favorite type of sandwich to eat at lunch times. He was halfway through eating his sandwich when a little short colt with green framed glasses came up to him. "Hey, new guy." The little short colt he tapped Raid Raptor on the shoulder to get his attention. "Excuse me?" "Hi." Raid Raptor said with a mouthful of food. "My name is Shifty Breeze. And I saw what happened back at the cabin earlier." "You mean with that Raging Wind boy?" Raid Raptor asked. Shifty Breeze nodded. "Yeah. You're new here, so you have no idea what you've got'en yourself into." "What do you mean?" Raid Raptor asked. "He's just a bully." "He's more than just a bully." Shifty Breeze adjusted his glasses. "Do you remember what he said to you back there?" "Listen here, tar coat. I come from the wealthiest family in Cloudsdale who own many things, including this place. And my father is captain of the Wonderbolts. Therefore I'm in charge here and I call the shots, that also means getting anything I want, even whatever bunk I want." Raid Raptor puzzled for a brief moment as he recalled Raging Wind's words. "So are you saying...?" "Yeah." Shifty Breeze said. "All of what he told you is true. His parents are the wealthiest ponies in Cloudsdale, and they own many things, and this flight camp is one of them. Raging Wind takes advantage of i,t and does whatever he wants. He's a thug, and a tyrant. He lies, and if he's got a bone to pick, he'll do anything to pick it. And his Dad is Raging Typhoon, captain of the Wonderbolts." Raid Raptor eyes widened with realization . "Typhoon? That's my dads leader." "Your dads leader?" Shifty Breeze's eyebrows rose with surprise, but kept his voice down. "Are you saying your dad is a member of the Wonderbolts too? Which one?" "The best flier on the team. Lieutenant Hawk Eye." "Lieutenant Hawk Eye?" Shifty Breeze asked. "For real?" Raid Raptor. "Yeah." Shifty Breeze leaned in to whisper to Raid Raptor. "If I were you, I wouldn't go round telling everypony who you really are. If Raging Wind or his two right hooves catches wind of it, they might try and take advantage of it. There was this little colt who told everypony that his father worked at Cloud-nine cafe, and when he stood up to Raging Wind, his dad got fired." "Fired?" Raid Raptor asked. Shifty Breeze nodded "Yeah. So whatever you do, don't tell anypony around here about that. And don't worry, your secret is safe with me." "Thanks, Shifty Breeze." Raid Raptor smiled at Shifty Breeze. "I'm glad there's at least one pony around here I can trust." Shifty Breeze winked reassuringly. "No problem. I thought I'd take the time to warn you about Raging Wind and his gang while they're distracted by having lunch. Anyway, I better get back to my seat before they notice me. See you later." See ya, Shifty Breeze." Raid Raptor said. Raid Raptor watch as he saw the small, glasses wearing colt, Short Stack walked off and sat down at a table some distance away in the mess hall. He then continued to eat the rest of his sandwich, with the thought that he had at least one child he could trust.