Rainbows and choices

15

The story had spread like wildfire. I was called to Twilight's office the same day for a talk. Apparently she thought it was the emotions of the loss of my siblings. Somewhere inside I felt proud. I soon learned that in addition to a broken wing, Music Shine also had 2 broken ribs. That had to be a kind of record. My friends told the school that I had trouble controlling my anger through the loss of first a good friend and then a sister and brother. That was not true, but nevertheless I was glad that they were blowing it around. It was a good excuse. For a few weeks I did not dare to face my friends. I was a little ashamed of them.

One day I was sitting on the roof of the school building. I used to sit there often because I could be alone there. Yona, Sandbar and Devo came out below me. They sat down on a bench. 'Yet Yona is worried.' Yona said. 'Calm down. They will come back.' Devo said. 'Gallus, Ocellus, Silverstream and Smolder are coming back tonight. Just have a little faith.' Said Sandbar. My curiosity won over my shame and I flew down. 'Where are the others?' I asked in an attempt to pretend that I had not been eavesdropping. 'They're in Cloudsdale.' Sandbar Said. 'What! Why?' I asked confused. 'Pony hasn't seen it yet?' Asked Yona. 'What not seen yet?' I asked. Devo conjured up a newspaper article and gave it to me.

Cloudsdale wants more control in the sky!

As most creatures know, Equestria nowadays has several non-pony allies. Some of them (Dragons, Griffons, Hippogrifs and changelings) can fly just like our pegasi. Cloudsdale sees the sky above Equestria as a pegasi domain and has decided that every flying creature that wants to live in Equestria must prove that it has just as much flying talent as a pegasus. Consequently, they must now perform the same flight test. Living means that the creature stays more than three weeks in a row in Equestria. For example, temporary visitors are not required, but students who follow their studies within Equestria and therefore also stay here are. "This should not be seen as the umpteenth case of racism against non-ponies. On the contrary, this is a step to treat the non-ponies more like pegasi." Says the Cloudsdale board.

'Don't worry. All four can fly very well.' Devo said. But it was already too late for a "don't worry" I gave the article back and as fast as lightning I flew to Cloudsdale. I landed out of breath. I looked around. I soon saw them standing among the group. The supervisor had just finished his explanation. 'Dexter! Clear, Fly, Fall, Complete!' He called and a blue Pegasus with black mane rose. 'There you are!' I said as I landed panting between Gallus and Smolder. 'Black Blue? What are you doing here?' Asked Smolder. 'I-I ha-ve come to see you ag-ain.' I panted. 'Calm down and take a deep breath. What is it?' Asked Gallus. I took a moment to get my breathing under control. 'I've come to warn you about the test.' I said. 'We know we will be sent away if we fail.' Said Ocellus. 'That's not it. If you fail, you must flee. Go back to your own realm. We will visit you and so on. Don't stay here. If you fail, flee.' I said. 'Flutter Butter! Clear, Fly, Fall, Complete!' The supervisor called. 'Maybe the city of the exiled is nice.' Said Ocellus. 'There is no city of the exiled. Please, it's important. Promise it! Promise you flee if you fail.' I said begging. 'Gallus, Clear, Fly, Fall, Complete!' The supervisor called. 'Promise it, Gallus!' I said. 'Relax!' Gallus said and he walked away. He took off and soon he came to the right height to start.

Though Gallus was not used to kicking clouds, he soon cleard the sky. He started flying through the hoops. I soon noticed that he had a disadvantage. The wings of a griffon are larger than those of a pony. He had to fly very carefully and timed so as not to hit his wings against the side of the hoops. Now that I thought about it, the wings of a hippogrif are also bigger. Fortunately Gallus had noticed this himself and he flew very carefully. He didn't hit a single hoop and flew up a bit. He took a deep breath and closed his wings. 1..2..3! He opened his wings again and quickly rose. I was very relieved. With larger wings you naturally had an advantage to pull up faster when you're falling. Gallus had passed his test.

'Happy Scissors! Clear, Fly, Fall, Complete! ' I turned to the other. 'Please! Promise it. Pleas. I know things about the sent-out failures. It really is the best. Promise it. Please.' I begged. 'Okay. I Pinkie promise that I will flee if I fail. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.' Said Smolder. 'Me too. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.' Silverstream said. 'I don't know. I'm sure they just do what's best.' Said Ocellus. 'Ocellus, please! It is really important.' I said desperately. I had already lost so many creatures I care about. I didn't want to lose anyone anymore. 'Okay then. I would rather go home anyway than be exiled. Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.' Said Ocellus. I sighed with relief.

Out of the blue Rainbow Dash landed next to me. 'I just need Black Blue for a moment. Success everyone.' She said. Of course. We had to go get the failures. 'See you tonight.' I said. 'Or in your own realm if I come to visit as quickly as possible.' I added in a whisper after Rainbow Dash took off.Far too quickly the carriage with failures stood in front of me. I looked inside nervously. I saw no dragon, no griffon, no hippogrif and no changeling. I would have liked to do a dance of happiness. But I kept my concentration. 'Where do those mice come from?' Asked Rainbow Dash. Only then did I see that there were two mice in the corner. I was shocked when one with a green flash turned into a changeling. It was not Ocellus though. It was a yellow and orange changeling. 'What's your name?' Dash asked the creature. 'N-Nasus.' Said the changeling scared. 'Well, Nasus. STAY IN YOUR OWN FORM OR WE WILL CUT OFF YOUR WINGS!' Rainbow called. Nasus crawled scared into a corner and with a second green flash the second mouse turned into ... Ocellus.