Rainbows and choices

10

The next day started with kindness lessons from Professor Shy. She started to go over the names. When she was done I raised my hoof in the air. 'Sorry, Professor Shy, but you forgot me.' I said. Fluttershy turned and looked at me. 'Oh, I'm sorry, Black Blue. I don't usually say your name because you're gone anyway.' She said. She wanted to turn around but then looked back at me. 'You're back. That's amazing. How was it?' She asked. 'Okay, but maybe we should start the lesson.' I answered. 'Good point. In the coming weeks we will learn about responsibility by taking care of animals. Today we will take care of these baby birds.' Fluttershy said. After I had fed and cared for my bird I tried to teach him to fly. He soon realized how to do it. Everyone who could fly learned it to his or her bird. Smolder and Ocellus seemed to have some problems. 'Why doesn't it work?' Asked Ocellus. 'We teach them how to fly like dragons and changelings. Not like birds.' Said Smolder with a sigh. 'How is that different? And why are we the only one with that problem?' Asked Ocellus. 'Because the rest teaches them how to fly with feathers. We don't. And birds fly with feathers.' Said Smolder. 'Maybe I can help you.' I said and I stood between them. 'You have to show them how to do it. Just imitate me.' I said and I started to spread my wings and hovered above the ground. Ocellus and Smolder also started to fly, but in their own way. I shook my head and pointed at my wings. Ocellus landed and started to flap her wings with me at the same pace. Smolder followed her example. She landed and started to flap her wings in exactly the same way as I did. Of course they couldn't fly like that. They had a different kind of wings. Ocellus just stayed on the floor. Smolder took off, but struggled to stay stable and even crashed a few times. The birds watched their movements and soon they themselves flew through the air.

The bell rang and we had a break. 'Thank you for the help. I had no idea how the hell I could teach that bird to fly.' Said Smolder. 'Yeah, I mean, I didn't even get off the ground.' Said Ocellus. 'You're welcome, and Ocellus, I want to say sorry because I yelled at you yesterday.' I said. 'It's okay.' Said Ocellus. My friends exchanged a few dark glances. 'What is it?' I asked suspiciously. Sandbar sighed. 'Something we still have to tell you.' He said. 'Something Silverstream would like to tell you.' He pushed Silverstream forward. 'I, oh, uh, it's just that ... Gallus would like to say it.' Silverstream said nervously. 'Well, Than I say it.' Gallus said. 'I don't know if you've heard it, but they found out Snow Star cheated on her test.' My friends seemed a little worried about my response. 'Yes, I heard that. So?' I said emotionless. 'Pony had to do her test again.' Yona said. 'So?' I asked again. 'She didn't make it. She was sent away.' Said Smolder. 'So?' I asked again. 'Your friend has been sent away and you don't mind?' Silverstream asked. 'She had a year for extra training and already knew what would be asked of her. It was up to her to save herself.' I said in a tone as if we were talking about the weather. 'How can you say that? She was your friend.' Asked Devo. 'You are not a pegasus. I don't expect you to understand.' I said. 'Then explain.' Said Ocellus. I sighed. 'In Cloudsdale, failures are looked down on in the worst way. They are a shame for the Cloudsdale reputation.' I explained. 'That's horrible. You cann't do that.' Said Ocellus. 'It's part of Cloudsdale's culture. Not doing it would be like Yona not allowed to smash things, like Ocellus who couldn't change her form, like Silverstream who couldn't thank the sea for protecting them, like Smolder not allowed to eat gems, like Gallus who cannot have bits or as Devo who should not use magic. You are not a pegasus. You are not from Cloudsdale. You do not understand.' I said. 'Is there a reason why you skipped me?' Asked Sandbar. 'I don't know what is typical of earthpony culture.' I admitted. 'Yona knows for sure that not every pegasus feels that way.' Yona said. 'Only the failures themselves. All others Do. Even those who have not yet taken their test. Watch. Fleur! Come here!' I said. A light orange pegasus with yellow and dark orange mane came to us. 'Guys, this is Fleur Flowers. Two years ago she was chosen as the nicest creature in school. Tell me, Fleur, what do you think of the pegasi that don't pass their flight test?' I asked. 'They are terrible. Not worthy of the Cloudsdale name.' Fleur Flowers said. 'But I heard that your sister Sara Sunshine did not pass her test.' I said. 'Then she is no longer my sister.' Fleur said. 'Thank you for giving us your opinion. And good luck with your test next month.' I said. Fleur flew back and I looked at the rest with an "I told you so" look. 'We'll ask Professor Dash. After the break we still have her loyalty lesson.' My heart skipped a beat. I would see Rainbow Dash outside the Rainbow factory.

After class we all went to talk to Rainbow Dash. 'Unlike most, I don't think the failures are completely worthless. Although I think it's good that they are removed from Cloudsdale. They only ruin our reputation.' Said Rainbow Dash. The others left, but Rainbow Dash stopped me when I wanted to go. 'I haven't had time to make a list for the order of the failures. If you come to the Rainbow factory tonight, take those Owen Zipper and Lovely Gold. They work on my nerves.' Said Dash.

Before I knew it it was lunch break. Silverstream was reading the newspaper while eating. I could just read the title on the front page. "LEADER OF THE WONDERBOLTS CRASHT DOWN" 'May I borrow that?' I asked Silverstream. She gave me the newspaper and I started reading the article.

LEADER OF THE WONDERBOLTS CRASHT DOWN!

On Saturday afternoon during an open training from the wonderbolts, the wonderful leader Spitfire crashed. The stunt she did was surprisingly similar to one of the components of the flight test. After the recent discovery that the test is sometimes cheated, we take no risk. The entire family is suspected of not having done his or her test fairly. Certainly after Spitfire's brother Cloud Walker wanted to fly to his crashed sister and crashed in his rush. Next month the three children in the family will be tested again to make sure that they can pass the test effectively. Spitfire, Cloud Walker and (although not related by blood) Black Blue will be tested next month with the others. This time with strict controls against cheating.