- >Flip it open. Flip it closed. Flip it open. Flip it closed.
 - >It’s been like this since Dash left two days ago.
 - >Of all the times you’ve seen her, this is certainly the most impatient one.
 - >Happy face, sad face. The cycle continues.
 - >You’re not sure how long you’ve just sat here watching her.
 - >A part of it is the humor of it, but the other part feels sympathetic towards her.
 - >”She still at it partner?”
 - “Yep.”
 - >Applejack sighs and adjusts her hat, “You talked to her yet?”
 - >You shake your head.
 - >”Think I should?”
 - “Eyuup.”
 - >Applejack moves off to talk with the bipolar Pinkie by the mailbox, another mare siting down by you.
 - >”Still at it?”
 - “Yep.”
 - >”Poor dear. She’s always so worried about her friends.”
 - >Sometimes it’s worth the wait for your friends.
 - “Pinkie just wants to maximize the time she has to respond to Dash’s letter.”
 - >Rarity should’ve been there when the mail p0ny came by the first time ‘round.
 - >She was so excited that she tore open her mail with the ferocity of a Bengal tiger.
 - >The look on her face was priceless.
 - >You don’t think she needs to be worried about avoiding those embarrassing wingboners.
 - >Spam mail.
 - >Even in Equestria…
 - >”She really should put her mind elsewhere. All this worrying can’t be good for her.”
 - “I wouldn’t worry about her worrying. She’s been eating plenty of grass and sleeping with one eye open.”
 - >”W-what has she been drinking?”
 - >You put on a sly grin to creep her out.
 - >”You’re sick.”
 - “And you love me anyways.”
 - >”That can be fixed.”
 - >No it can’t.
 - >You lean back on the bench, cracking the bones pleasantly.
 - “I’ve been running water detail for her. Someone has to.”
 - >”Well you don’t have to do that anymore. I’m going to help as well.”
 - >*growl* Dammit still? It’s been quiet for a good week now, yet it always seems to pop up.
 - >”I think you should fetch some food yourself.”
 - “You can say that again. Keep an eye on her for me?”
 - >She nods and you take a short stroll to Sugarcube Corner.
 - >The door dings upon your arrival and the smell of fresh goods does not help your growling stomach.
 - >Just need something to take the edge off.
 - >Mrs. Cake is working the register today and you wave at her.
 - >”Good morning Anon. How can I help you?”
 - “Hmmm, let’s see.”
 - >She’s got the usual stuff, but you’re craving a good cupcake right now.
 - “I think I’ll take one of the Sugar Surprises.”
 - >”Good choice.”
 - >Of course it’s a good choice. It was one of Pinkie’s specials after all.
 - >A trade secret they called it, one that you can’t tell even yourself.
 - >Serious business.
 - >She slides the treat over the counter.
 - “How much do I owe you?”
 - >”Don’t worry about it hun.”
 - “For reals?”
 - >”For reals.”
 - >”With the way you’ve been watching over Pinkie it’s the least I can do.”
 - >You shrug and take the plate.
 - “Who am I to say no to free food?”
 - >”You take care now.”
 - >Thanking her you head back outside the rest of Pinkie’s friends trying to talk some sense into her.
 - >Breakfast and a show. What else can you ask for?
 - >You take a bite as you overlook them.
 - >Hmmm, raspberry this time. Gives grape a run for its money.
 - >Pinkie’s still rambling on about how Dash will forget about us.
 - >Dash would never forget her friends, you know that, but maybe it would be nice for her to see a friendly face.
 - >As a present to Pinkie Pie, you’re going to head on up there and jog her memory.
 - >But how to get up there?
 - >Now that you think about it, you know a Pegasus who could help with that.
 - >You head outside P0nyville and spread your wings, as far as the nubs could spread.
 - >For a hulking guy he really had some pathetic extremities, wings not being the last of it.
 - >Flapping your wings came as easily to you as walking does now, probably due to his muscle memory.
 - >Such a complex act memorized through repetition.
 - >You still look silly as all hell, but damn if you aren’t flying.
 - >As you head closer to the academy you make sure to keep a low profile.
 - >Some p0nies from town had been called up here and Snowflake would have some explaining to do.
 - >That’s something you don’t want to get into.
 - >You head up from the bottom and land right up on the edge of the Academy.
 - >Dusting a few clouds bits off your shoulders you walk out onto the open field, a few of the fliers in the throes of their training.
 - >Well more caught up in with the whole of them wound up in the clouds.
 - >Must’ve hit a snag.
 - >”Hey! Visitors are restricted from the track until break!”
 - >That tone, those glasses, that whistle, that military uniform.
 - >You fucking hated that type.
 - >You recognize the Pegasus as Spitfire, Dash shoved the poster in your face when you didn’t know who the Wonderbolts were.
 - >Never say that to Dash.
 - >She and her two staff members approach you on the track, “Care to explain yourself.”
 - >You look around trying to find something.
 - “Oh sorry, I was just looking for the sign that said that.”
 - >She points her hoof off to the side, the sign a giant middle finger to your entire argument.
 - “Fucking hell…”
 - >”Anything else you got wise guy?”
 - “That’s my bad than ma’am. I didn’t see it.”
 - >She huffs lightly, “Don’t worry about it. I’m just thinking of your own safety here. Don’t want a stray flier crashing into any bystanders.”
 - “You don’t need to worry about that ma’am, I’m made of sterner stuff than I look.”
 - >Taking another look into the mess of fliers you don’t notice Rainbow Dash.
 - >”Visiting someone in particular?”
 - “Yes actually. Do you happen to know where I can find Rainbow Dash?”
 - >She points over to one of the buildings up in the clouds.
 - >”She and Lightning Dust just finished up the course. They’ll be off in the mess hall.”
 - “Thanks for your-“
 - >She stops you as you try and walk away, “How’d you get up here by the way?”
 - >Gotta think fast.
 - “I know a guy who gave me a lift.”
 - >”You able to walk on clouds?”
 - >You scratch your head as a feeling of nervousness washes over you.
 - >”I think I’ll follow you just in case.”
 - “Thanks.”
 - >She nods to her fellows and takes you by the arm to the cloud top.
 - >She’s definitely strong for a Pegasus.
 - >”Alright now I’m going to let you off gently. If you don’t feel your feet touch it then tell me right away.”
 - >Spitfire lowers you down your feet hanging just above the surface.
 - >Moment of truth.
 - >The soles of your feet shift as you touch the cloud’s surface.
 - >It’s a strangely familiar sensation.
 - >You felt the same when you were impersonating Snowflake.
 - >”Well I’ll be- You’re just full of surprises.”
 - “You don’t know the half of it.”
 - >She lets go and hovers a few feet away as you get used to your footing.
 - >So altered muscles isn’t all you got from Snowflake after all.
 - >At least hoof-foot isn’t as noticeable as those damned claws.
 - >”If you ever need another lift just find one of our staff and we’ll help you out.”
 - “Appreciate it.”
 - >You move up to the mess hall that she pointed out earlier and step inside.
 - >The hall’s mostly empty save for two pegasi. One turquoise mare you haven’t seen and-
 - “Well well well,” you slowly clap your hands, “If it isn’t the infamous Rainbow Dash.”
 - >She turns her head with a grin, “Anon?”
 - “Expecting someone else?”
 - >She flies into you for a hug before releasing you for a hoof bump.
 - >”What in Equestria are you doing here?”
 - “I came up to do some recon and make sure you haven’t completely forgotten about us.”
 - >”Like I could ever forget you guys.”
 - >You look over to the other Pegasus who’s slowly walking up.
 - “And who’s your friend?”
 - >”Oh, this is Lightning Dust. Dust, meet Anon. He’s a friend of mine from P0nyville.”
 - >She shakes your hand, “Sup.”
 - >There’s something about her that you can’t quite place.
 - >”Does your friend want to join us for some grub Dash?”
 - >Dash looks to you, “Got anything to do?”
 - “Not at all,” she leads you to one of the tables.
 - >”Give me a sec and I can grab you some chow.”
 - >She’s off like a bullet and you look to Lightning Dust who’s polishing some trinket on her suit.
 - “What’s that?”
 - >”This? Oh it’s nothing, just my badge for being Lead P0ny.”
 - >Looks nice.
 - >”Isn’t easy to be the best, but I manage.”
 - >Alright that’s what you smelled about her.
 - >She’s a stuck-up cunt.
 - >But she’s a friend of Dash and that means you’ve got to be nice to her.
 - >That smug grin on her face makes you want to slap the shit out of-
 - >…
 - >Twilight needs to hurry up on that project of hers.
 - >It isn’t easy with this virus in your veins.
 - >The thwack of the platter brings you to, Dash sliding beside you.
 - >”Sorry about that. I couldn’t figure out what you wanted.”
 - “No worries Dash. Thanks again.”
 - >”Anything for my friend.”
 - >You take a bite of some jello when you catch a glimpse at her badge.
 - >Lightning Dust’s was gold, but hers is silver.
 - “What’s with the badge?”
 - >”Oh that…”
 - >Lightning Dust cuts in, “She’s my wing p0ny. Together we’re an unstoppable team. I wouldn’t want any of those other chums by my side.”
 - >And there she goes with the talking again.
 - >Every single time…
 - >You can tell that she’s getting on Dash’s nerves as well.
 - “Really? I always thought of her as more of a leader.”
 - >”Spitfire said I like to push myself so that’s why she made me Lead.
 - >”It’s for the best,” Dash says with a tinge of pain in her voice.
 - >Being a Wonderbolt has been her dream and now it’s in danger because of Thunder Cunt here.
 - >Maybe if you… No, don’t even think about it.
 - >You try and drown out the voices by devouring your food but they don’t help.
 - >This amuses Thunder Cunt, “Slow down there champ it’s not going anywhere.”
 - >Your eyes meet hers and she backs the fuck down.
 - >”Not that I could tell you how to eat.”
 - >Or who.
 - >Your stomach growls roughly and you wince.
 - >Dash puts a hoof on your arm, “You OK Anon?”
 - “Must’ve eaten something bad.”
 - >She looks at you with concern, “Did you order a Sugar Surprise?”
 - “It was free!” you try to reason with her.
 - >”That’s just like you. You know how they knock you on your flank.”
 - >So very worth it, but you know this isn’t because of that.
 - >You need a warm fleshy body to dive into.
 - >You could put on their flesh like a new coat and take a stroll.
 - >The sun beating down on you, wind at your back.
 - >You squeeze your leg through your jeans and inhale sharply.
 - >The strength of your grip fights the durability of your bones, neither able to overcome the other.
 - >That just makes this an incredibly painful ordeal.
 - >One that takes your mind off of things.
 - >Dash watches as you finish off your plate, “Gonna lick the rim?”
 - “Rarity would have my head.”
 - >She rolls her eyes, “You’d roll over and beg if she wanted you to.”
 - >You’re appalled. How could she think something like that?
 - “I’d roll over but begging is one step too far. I have my standards.”
 - >”I thought you turned those over for her to redesign.”
 - >You squint your eyes and think of a response.
 - “Touché.”
 - >You put down your fork and rub your belly.
 - “Damn that hit the spot.”
 - >”Glad you liked it.”
 - >Lightning Dust clears her throat, “We going to stretch for the next exercise or do you two want to talk all day?”
 - >”Yeah. You don’t mind do you Anon?”
 - “Not at all. Have fun.”
 - >You follow Dash out the door and watch as she flies down towards the field.
 - >”So what’s the deal with you?”
 - >Thunder Dust approaches from the back while Dash is away, “Do you have a problem with me?”
 - “I keep to myself thank you.”
 - >She moves around you to block your path, “Right there, I heard it in your voice.”
 - “Do you want me to be frank?”
 - >”I sure do.”
 - >You rub your chin and stare her down.
 - “I don’t think you’re worth being Lead P0ny. You’re not the type. Headstrong. Dash is the same way, but she doesn’t reek of cunt all the time.”
 - >”You think you have me all figured out don’t you?”
 - “No, but I could tell the second I met you that you’re not worth my time, let alone the Wonderbolts.”
 - >Take that cunt face.
 - >She glares at you with response, a seething rage carrying off her body.
 - >”Let me tell you something Anon. I don’t care who you think you are, but I’m more than good enough for the Wonderbolts.”
 - >She points out to Spitfire out on the field, “She promoted me to Lead P0ny. She’s the one I’m trying to impress not some bipedal monkey with a big mouth.”
 - “Big words for a tiny mare.”
 - >”Your friend is good, but I’m better. You want proof? Fine, you’ll get your proof. Try not to get blown away.”
 - >She gives you one last glance before bolting off to join Rainbow Dash.
 - >Something about what she said was downright unsettling.
 - >Your not so much worried about what she could do to you, but more so what it might take for that to happen.
 - >”Alright let’s gather up,” you hear Spitfire yell from the field below.
 - >You head to the cloud’s edge as the previously occupied fliers meet up with their drill instructor.
 - >You want to be there for Dash but when you look around you don’t see any of the so called staff Spitfire told you about.
 - >The gap between you and the floating course is fairly wide…
 - >An idea drills its way to your conscious mind and you silently grin.
 - >Worse case scenario you miss and morph back into Snowflake.
 - >You back up to get a running start, grinding your feet into the cloud.
 - >Sprinting forward you leap up at the last second, your astounding strength sending you speeding upwards.
 - >Shit shit too high!
 - >You flail your body as you come falling back down to earth.
 - >You manage to slow down enough not to splat against the ground.
 - >When your feet touch the ground your body follows in a continuous roll forwards.
 - >The spinning is kind of annoying.
 - >After further slowing you manage to end your roll and land on your feet.
 - >You dust yourself off like nothing happened even as Spitfire walks your way with a chuckle.
 - >”Very smooth.”
 - “You should watch me dance,” you joke as she passes you.
 - >Spitfire leaves the runway off to her office no doubt, another staff member explaining the rules.
 - >It’s basically cloud smashing, but you have to stick with your partner the whole way through.
 - >You stand by the scoreboard, “Get set. Go!”
 - >A blast of wind hits you as Dust and Dash take off into the sky.
 - >Dust’s eyes hit you and a chill rolls up your spine.
 - >You won’t let her intimidate you.
 - “Go Rainbow Dash!”
 - >Dash smiles at you and pushes herself even faster into the sky.
 - >You couldn’t be more proud of her.
 - >She bucks her hooves into a cloud and it explodes into nothingness.
 - “That’s one point for Dash.”
 - >He tallies it up, Dash already scoring another two.
 - “Two more.”
 - >Looks like she’s going in for a super.
 - >Using her wings she slices three in a row and they fade into mist.
 - “Add three.”
 - >The Pegasus drops the piece of chalks in a fit of annoyance.
 - >”Do you want to do my job or what?”
 - “I’d certainly do it faster than you.”
 - >He steps to the side and lets you have at it.
 - >Like a sir.
 - >You jot down the scores, one eye on the sky and the other on the board.
 - >Derpy doesn’t have shit on you.
 - >”Two. One. One.”
 - >Ok you can see how he got annoyed by that.
 - >Dust certainly does a good job with Rainbow Dash, but nothing spectacular.
 - >They do make a great team.
 - >You could never deny that.
 - >But she’s not the hot stuff she implies.
 - >Dust turns to Dash and says something, but they’re too high up for you to hear them even with your sensitive ears.
 - >She looks at you, her eye’s holding a devious gleam about them.
 - >What’s she doing?
 - >Rainbow Dash looks uneasy but follows Dust nonetheless.
 - >The two fly in a circle, each loop subsequently faster than the last until they begin sucking up nearby clouds.
 - >She better not be doing what you think she is.
 - >They fade into the center of the building twister as it inches towards more of the clouds.
 - >”Wow,” the stallion whistles, “Keep tallying.”
 - >You drop the chalk and take a step towards it.
 - >”Hey what do you think you’re doing?”
 - >How could she be so stupid?
 - >The twister wavers, Dust shooting out the side.
 - “Shit! Get the other fliers out now!”
 - >”What’s the matter they can handle-“
 - >You grab him by the scruff of his jacket.
 - “NOW!”
 - >You lob him upwards and Dash soon follows in being thrown out of the twister.
 - >And now it’s coming right for you.
 - >You brace for impact and the twister takes you clean off your feet and spiraling inside.
 - >Clenching your eyes shut doesn’t help much but it does keep you from seeing funny.
 - >The sharp shrieks from the fliers reaches your ears and you feel yourself being sucked out just as fast as you were pulled in.
 - >Your back cracks against the flag pole and you grab hold of yourself painfully.
 - >The infection numbs the pain and you watch as the twister continues its rampage across the runway.
 - >What’s that at the edge of the field? It looks like a balloon and there’s-
 - >No no no.
 - >Dash sees the same thing and shoots towards them.
 - >The twister tears the balloon apart in a matter of seconds and- they fall.
 - “No…”
 - >Dust lands next to you, “Blown away.”
 - >You grab her neck.
 - “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?! This isn’t a fucking game you-!”
 - >You sprint down the track but stop halfway down as you see the other fliers touching your friends down.
 - >They saved them. Thank god.
 - >You- you have to find a place to breath.
 - >Moving over to the tree line you lean against one of the bases and begin to dry heave.
 - >A spark ignites within you and your fingers begin to press into the bark.
 - >Seeing them safe brings relief, but when you see the cause of their danger.
 - >Your teeth clench as your hands begin to shift and cut through the wood.
 - >The muscles in your arms ands legs double in size and you stare at Lightning Dust from concealment.
 - >Spitfire, pissed beyond belief, rips the badge from her suit and pins it on Dash.
 - >She slumps off in defeat, flying towards her dormitory.
 - >This is her last day at the Academy it seems.
 - >Good for you.
 - >You look to your left as you enter the dormitory.
 - >C54, Lightning Dust.
 - >So she rooms alone, even better.
 - >You knock on the door, Dust slowly opening the door.
 - >”Hey Anon,” she say softly and moves to her bed where she continues to pack.
 - >”Looks like you were right after all. Headstrong… Not good enough for the Wonderbolts.”
 - >You close and flip the door lock, the curves of your mouth flared lightly.
 - >”I did something that endangered your friends, Dash’s friends and my fellow p0ny. I don’t know what to say besides… I’m sorry.”
 - “Consider us even,” you respond earning her attention.
 - >”What- *gulp* W-w-what’s wrong with your hands…”
 - >You crack your neck and growl.
 - “This is personal.”
 - >You spread your arms and flip to the other side of the bed.
 - >A knock on the door stirs you from your light nap, “Dust you’ve got a half hour to get your stuff.”
 - >Oh yes. You rub your belly at the memory. Extra tender.
 - >So now that you’ve had your fill what next?
 - >Get off the premises disguised as Dust, dispose the baggage and-
 - >You look at yourself in the mirror.
 - >This is what you’ve become. It’s instinctual.
 - >The more you consume the more you lose sight of yourself.
 - >When you… did the others. The memories were hazy like- You don’t know.
 - >But when you shut the door on Lightning Dust it was so clear.
 - >You made the choice, it was you.
 - >You close your eyes and put your head against the mirror.
 - >Please god.
 - >End this nightmare.
 

