Eagle-Eye Dash's daughter: Chapter 3

Chapter 4: A Cold new world.


As Rainbow Dash grew older she saw less and less of her father. He was rising through the ranks in the ministry of geography and this meant he spent more and more time away from home on expeditions to faraway lands. He wasn't even there when the family moved to Cloudsdale so they could be nearer to Canterlot, and also as Eagle-Eye put it. 'Seeing how she can't land without crashing she's probably safer in Cloudsdale than on the ground'.
For the first time in her life Rainbow Dash got meet other pegasi. And they were slow! It amazed her just .how slowly and carefully other pegasi flew, and it annoyed the hell out of her. "Maybe if you flew a little slower you wouldn't crash so much" her father observed coldly
"But I don't" Rainbow started
"No excuses!" Eagle-Eye cut over her. "Yes sir" Rainbow muttered meekly, somewhere along the line she had started calling her Father 'Sir'. She didn't't like it much.

… … … … … … … … … … … …

The first day of school wasn't a good one for Rainbow. She woke up to a cold day in the large, grand, empty house she lived in now and walked quietly down stairs, there was a new rule about not making noise in the house. After a breakfast held in silence her mother took her outside "I've got good news for you Rainbow. We've got a friend to go to school with you"
"Huh? That's great! What's she called?" Rainbow flapped furiously in front of her mother's face, she had developed the habit of never staying still if she had the chance of flying. Infinity just smiled her usual smile "She's the daughter of a childhood friend of mine. Her name is Fluttershy. I'm sure you'll love each other".
Just then Eagle Eye walked through the door. He stopped to kiss his wife on the cheek. "I love you" he said stone facedly. "I love you too" she replied, eyes closed.
Eagle Eye turned to Rainbow, she settled on the Cloud's surface mutely. "Study hard Rainbow"
"Yes sir"
"Be polite and respectful to your teacher"
"Yes sir"
"If you work hard at School, one day you will be able to do anything set your mind to" Rainbow looked down at her hooves. "I'll do my best sir"
"Good girl" Eagle-Eye said not smiling. Then he flapped his wings and speed of in the direction of Canterlot. Once more rainbow watched him until he was out of sight  
"It would be awesome to be able to fly like dad does!
"One day Rainbow just be patient….. Oh look here they come now", over the clouds came two Pegasi, a gold coloured one and a much smaller yellow one. When they settled Infinity and the golden Pegasus hugged in the pony fashion (neck to neck) and chatted about things past and present. Rainbow Dash trotted over to the yellow Pegasus, keen to make friends "HI I'm Rainbow Dash!" she said very loudly. The yellow Pegasus flinched and backed away. 'I'm doing something wrong?' Rainbow thought "Umm, you must be Fluttershy, it's great to meet you" Fluttershy nodded mutely. 'I'm still doing it wrong'
"Hey are you excited about going to school?" this time Fluttershy shook her head vehemently "Huh? Why not?"
"Fluttershy gets very nervous around new ponies, I hope you won't mind looking after her at school" Fluttershy's mother said talking to Rainbow Dash for the first time.
"Oh…. You count on me!" said Rainbow jumping up and flapping hard in a salute"
Rainbow Dash could never have imagined a pony like Fluttershy. On the way to school Rainbow flew rings around the two mothers, sped up and down impatient with how slow they flew. Fluttershy flew close to her mother, just trying to fly as smoothly and gently as possible. Rainbow was confused as to why she didn't want have more fun flying. And she almost never spoke; didn't she have anything that she wanted to say?
The school was a large building with high turrets and an imposing clock on the front. It reminded Rainbow Dash of big, empty house she lived in now. But it was a colourful building and it had a great playground in front of it. It had a sandbox, a colourful flower bed of flowers that could live at high altitudes, a roundabout, a maypole, a huge aerial obstacle course that Rainbow couldn't't wait to try out and any number of games and toys.  Right in the middle of it all was a tall statue of a gentle Pegasus pony who it said one a plaque at the statue's base had founded the school.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were taken to see their teacher, a grey Pegasus called Mr Airodite. "I'm gonna study really hard sir!" Rainbow told him proudly. "That's good" he told her "but remember to have fun"
Rainbow Dash wanted to make as many knew friends as she could. There were colts and fillies of every colour and character imaginable. But she had promised to look after Fluttershy and so she made sure never to leave her side, and it seemed to make Fluttershy feel a little better.
Then the bell rang and the lesions started. First Mr Airodite induced the class to the new fillies. Fluttershy looked like she wanted to run away but Rainbow Dash waved happily at her classmates, but they seemed uncertain as to how to react to this these strangers.
Rainbow Dash got though the first three lessons okay, sort of. Reading went well enough, but she was surprised at how much better the other foals were, even though she'd been getting home schooling for months now.
Writing and cooking weren't't any better. And as hard as she tried she found she was getting, well… bored. This was really, really boring! Her head started to fog up and even though she wanted to do well she couldn't concentrate. Her wings started twitching; she didn't normally stay still for this long. She wanted to go outside.
Mr Airodite wasn't impressed with Rainbow's spelling "Surly you can do better than this" he told her. And in cooking Rainbow some managed to burn her slice of toast when everypony else did fine. Three big colts laughed derisively at her. But Rainbow couldn't see what was funny about it.
Then it was lunch time. Rainbow Dash sat opposite Fluttershy while they both eat quietly.
"So, do you know any goodf lying moves?" Rainbow asked trying to kill the silence. Fluttershy shook her head.
Rainbow was determined to make at least one friend today "Hey how about I show you mine! I've got some really great flying moves maybe I could show you how do them. Would you like that?"
Fluttershy met Rainbow Dash's eyes and gave a tiny little "Yes". It was the first thing she had said to Rainbow all day.  She had the quietest and sweetest voice Rainbow had ever heard. Rainbow dash thought about trying to talk a little quieter herself, maybe that would work better.
When they had finished eating Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy trotted out onto the playgrounds. The three young colts showing off their flying moves outside, a large group of foals watching them, making noises awe and amazement.
Rainbow wanted to get back at the three for laughing at her in cooking. Feeling brash she yelled over and the foals watching them "Hey you think that's good? Well I can do stuff like that in my sleep!" The watching foals turned round to look at the new filly, not sure how to treat the intrusive newcomer. The colts gave Rainbow Dash dirty looks. Their leader a brown lummox called Restive yelled "Oh yeah new girl. I don't think you can fly any better than you cook." some of the foals laughed hard at this. Rainbow Dash forgot that she was going to Show Fluttershy how to do her moves "Well why don't you watch and I'll show you the best moves you've ever seen!"
Restive sniffed "better be good. Don't hold anythin back little girl. Go as high and as fast as can, if you're not chicken!"
Rainbow Dash welcomed the challenge, now she was going to do something she was good at.
She crouched down, letting the suspense build. Then she shot into the air like a firework, faster than the eye could follow. She would have to slow down just so they could watch her. She circled the playground a few time to get the feel of the wind. Then she went into action
She looped the loop three times and then performed a mid-air backflip! She could hear the foals below yelling and cheering. She felt better already than she had all day. She twirled around in midair lie an ice skater and then causally flew a backstroke over them. More cheers but also a flew jeers from below  
She had an idea that would really finish this show with a bang. She swooped around the school house and aimed for the statue of the school founder! Just when it looked like she was going to crash right into it she pulled straight up into the air at what looked from a distance like a ninety degree turn! Leaving a rainbow like trail of light behind her and turned round to land. The cheering grew even louder; this was life at its best!
Feeling very proud of herself she forgot that landings weren't her strong point. She wasn't even paying much attention as to how she landed she was so looking forward to her new friends praise.
She crashed into the clouds hard and gracelessly. It didn't hurt, they were just clouds. But she bounced like ball. Then she bounced again, and finally landed in the flower bed. Rainbow picked herself up; nothing was hurt except her pride. She smiled nervously at the gathered foals.
Restive gleefully yelled out "Nice finish, Rainbow crash!" his two friends started laughing, several others joined in. And the laughter spread, Rainbow Dash wanted to disappear.  But some ponies, including Fluttershy were impressed despite the disastrous landing, they clapped for her and it made Rainbow feel less embarrassed. Then Mr Airodite appeared in front of her. "What do you think you doing!?" Her teacher asked sternly. Rainbow Dash looked away, more embarrassed than ever
"I was showing my flying tricks and…. I'm not very good at landings" she tallied off.
"Well Rainbow Dash we don't allow fancy flying at this school. But as you are new here I won't punish you today. But don't do it again!"  
"I won't sir" Rainbow said meekly. A few minutes later class was called again. Maths this time.
Rainbow struggled and struggled but no matter what she did she couldn't solve any of the problems. She couldn't figure out more than a few basic problems 'Maybe I should ask the Mr Airodite for help. But what if he punishes me for not doing well? And everypony would see him yell at and they'd laugh at me' so she suffered in silence until the lesion was over.
Mr Airodite went round collecting everypony's papers. He stopped at the desk next to Rainbow's "Very good Fluttershy, that's surprisingly good work seeing as this is your first day" Fluttershy hid her Face behind her hooves with embarrassment. Then Mr Airodite saw Rainbow Dash's pitifully short list of answers to the questions he'd asked the class "Rainbow Dash, what is this?"
Rainbow Dash panicked "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry I didn't know any of the answers Please don't punish me, please!" from the middle of the class the three colts sniggered at her distress. Rainbow wished that she could turn invisible.
"We don't punish new pupils for doing badly" Mr Airodite said, but expect you to work extra hard on your homework"


… … … … … … … … … … … …


The final session was just the class listening to a story, and then the teacher asking the class questions about it. Just as well as Rainbow couldn't believe how badly the day had gone
The final blow came when at the end of the day they all got their work marked and returned to them. She had one even worse than she had thought. What would her Dad say!?
Outside the school Fluttershy's mother was waiting for them, but Rainbow Dash couldn't see her mother anywhere.
"I'm afraid that something has come and your house Rainbow dear. Your mother asked me to take you home. I'm very sorry. Did you enjoy your first day of school?"
"Umm… yeah" Rainbow Dash said uncertainly, her father had told her many times how wrong it was to lie but she couldn't bring herself to say what had happened. "A little" Fluttershy said to her mother.
On the flight home Rainbow Dash flew very slowly, she couldn't feel any of the happiness that being in the air normally gave her. All she could do think about what would happen when her father found out how badly shed done at school  
How angry would her Dad be? Would he yell at her? He often did if she misbehaved. What if he hit her? He had only hit her a very few times, but she was always afraid that he might do it again. And how long would he stay angry with her? Then it occurred to her that she had to go back to school tomorrow! What if she never learned how to do well in school? This thought shocked all the warmth right out her! She almost forgot to keep flying.
Rainbow Dash was so deep in thought that she was oblivious to the rest of world. Fluttershy saw clearly the pained emotions passing across Rainbow Dash's face. And though she didn't know what was going on in Rainbow's mind she could understand her feelings.
Nervously Fluttershy flew up the Rainbow Dash and whispered "Don't worry Rainbow. You'll do much better tomorrow"
Rainbow Dash was totally unprepared for this sudden burst of life from the pony who in squirmed every time somepony talked to her. "Do, do you really think so?"
Fluttershy giggled "I'm sure of it. If you like I'll help you, if you want me to. The teacher said I did well today and, and… maybe that means I could help you do well too" Fluttershy looked away afraid she had said the wrong thing.
Rainbow dash had felt a pang of annoyance at being reminded of how much better Fluttershy had done than her. And it was her first day too! But she could see what Fluttershy was trying to say and felt a little better.
"Hey thanks. That… would be great of you"
Fluttershy beamed "I'll do whatever I can to help. And, umm, your flying moves at lunchtime were amazing" at that moment the two fillies started to become friends. They started talking, and Rainbow Dash forgot all about her father until she got home.


… … … … … … … … … … … …


But when she returned to the stern sheer house where she now lived it all came back to her mother answered the door. Her normal maternal smile was gone "There's been a bit of bad news Rainbow"
Rainbow Dash gulped 'How could today get any worse?'
"Your Father has had to leave home very suddenly. A there has been an accident near the city of     Veri-Lumare, a forest-fire. They needed the fastest flyers in Equestria to get rain clouds from the south and your father volunteered as to help as soon as he heard. He only stopped here to tell me where he was going for a few minutes. He won't be back this evening, maybe not for a few days." Infinity sniffed a little as she finished speaking. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief.
When Infinity asked Rainbow how her first day of school went Rainbow felt a strong urge to lie. To say that she had done brilliantly in every class and had made hundreds of new friends. Her mother would never find out, would she? Surely not. She was just about to start the lies when she remembered a lesson her dad had given her.
'Our nation is built on the principals of harmony; do you know what these are? They are the very things that make it possible for ponies to live together. Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness and Generosity. You must try to live up to these virtues. Be generous and kind to all. Be honest and loyal to your friends and family. This is the path to righteousness. Follow it and the world a better place for your having been in it.'
Rainbow Dash couldn't make herself do it. "I… I did awfully mommy. I wasn't very good at reading or writing and I burnt the toast in cooking and I got all my answers wrong in maths." Rainbow started breathing very hard "and the teacher yelled at me for showing off and all the other foals laughed at me. Do… do you think Dad will be angry with me?"
Infinity face showed surprise and just a little hurt "Rainbow. There's no need to get so upset. Not every pony dose well at school. You have other talents."  Then Rainbow told her mother about showing off her tricks to the class, and how they had laughed at her when she crashed.
"I think this means you really need to start working on learning how to land properly. I'll do what I can but we really need your father for this. Speaking of which, remember what your father told you about overcoming the pain when you crash. The same thing applies when ponies are mean to you, their just being silly because they don't know any better."
"But what about Dad?" rainbow asked a small tear seeping from her right eye "Do you think he'll be made at me?"
Infinity wiped the tear away "I'm sure he won't dear. It's time for you to have your bath, come on" Infinity walked up the stairs. Unconsciously Rainbow flew to the landing; then she remembered the rule about not flying inside the house "Oh, I'm sorry"
"That's okay Rainbow, no harm done. Actually that was one of your best landings ever"  While Infinity ran a bath Rainbow noticed something in a glass case, between certificates in fancy writing that she couldn't read there was a bright silver medal attached to a red string. There were a lot of new things in the house, things that had been kept in boxes in the cottage on the ground, but this one really interested her. Her Dad talked about the services he did to Equestria but had never mentioned winning a medal.
"Come in Dashie your bath's ready" Infinity called out. The bath was very warm and had a nice smell to it, that didn't change the fact that Rainbow hated keeping still for so long, plus her feathers always felt heavy after getting wet. "You didn't know that I did badly at school, did you?" Infinity asked as she scrubbed Rainbow with soap.
"Yeah" Rainbow said apathetically "Did you get any better at it?"
Infinity Realized too late she had said the wrong thing "No I didn't but I've lived a happy life. I met your father, we fell in love. And then we had you. I have no regrets. My life has been so wonderful since you were born"
Rainbow continued staring at nothing, but the mention of her father reminded her of her fears "Will Dad be angry with me when he gets home?"
"Of course not Rainbow. I've already said so. Your Father will understand?"
"But what if I never get better at it? What will happen to me?" an expression of anger grew Rainbow's face, an expression that Infinity had never seen before "I don't want to disappoint my Dad!" she splashed the water morosely.
"Rainbow, there's no need to get upset. Look at me, please" Rainbow looked her mother in the eyes "Your Father loves you very much. It doesn't matter if you do well at school or not. Everypony has a special talent. Something to give to the world. And when they discover that thing that makes them special, then they get their Cutie Mark. For instance when your father found out he was a map-maker he got his mark. The four pointed arrow, the symbol of the compass."
"What's your Cutie Mark mean?" Infinity's Cutie Mark was a figure eight on it's side. "This? It's the symbol of infinity. Fitting isn't it? I think it's because I have infinite patience" Infinity giggled.
"When do I get my Cutie Mark?" Rainbow barked. "Be Patient Rainbow Dash, all good things come to those who wait"
"Fuck patience!" Rainbow said and then climbed out of the bath, dripping water everywhere.
"Rainbow! Where did you learn to talk like that?"
Rainbow shook herself off "I heard the foals at school saying it" she said sulkily.
Infinity pulled out a towel "We'd better make a new rule about that. No talking like that when your father's around" She dried Rainbow off leaving her more scruffy looking than normal. "How about we go outside I'll make you something nice to drink."
"Okay" Rainbow muttered, she wasn't happy, but she never questioned the rules.

On the way down Rainbow Noticed the silver medal again, it made her curious. Outside sitting on the clouds she put the question forward "
Hey mom, why do we have that medal in the glass case? I've never seen it before" Infinity was delighted by this question.
"That's quite a story Rainbow. Your father and I met at the Best Young Flyers Competition. I was just there with my friends to watch, but your father was a competitor, I found out later he'd been forced to take part by a friend of his. He had an elegance unlike any of the others there. He went into race with a Steel-clawed Condor, a very fast and very vicious bird of prey. Most ponies are too scared even to go near one.
Your father flew just like the Condor did and beat him too. When the race was over the Condor gave him the evilest look and raised a claw at your father, I thought the Condor was going to kill him. But he shook your father's hoof and flew away. He won the silver medal in the completion for that.
At the party afterwards I found him lurking in a corner. I told him very shyly that he must be very proud and he said to me-" Infinity did a surprisingly good impersonation of her husband's harsh voice "'I was thinking of throwing it in a pond' After that we started seeing each other more and more until we realized that we had fallen in love" a nostalgic smile spread over Infinity's face.
Rainbow brooded over the story "A silver medal's for second place, right?"
"That's right dear"
"Hmm. Dad should have won first place" the anger from earlier just audible in her voice
Infinity had never seen Rainbow angry before. She wasn't very angry of course but it was a side to her daughter that was totally new to her. Maybe her trip to school had hurt her more than she's wanted to believe. Hopefully it was nothing, everything would turn out fine. "There's nothing wrong with coming in second. Especially in a something like the Best Young Flyers Competition, pegasi from all over Equestria and beyond take part. And besides the act that won was very, very good"
Infinity started reminiscing about the three sisters that did win first place that year but Rainbow didn't pay much attention.
Then Infinity said something that did catch Rainbow's attention "After the competition your father was offered a chance to tryout for the Wonderbolts, but he turned them down. He already preferred looking at dusty old maps"
"Who are the Wonderbolts?" rainbow asked.
"Why they're a team of the best stunt and race flyers in the land. Only the very best flyers are offered to try out for them" Infinity replied "They often come here to Cloudsdale. We could go to see them perform someday if you want to"
Rainbow's mind lit on fire! "Do you think could be a member of the Wonderbolts!? That would be the coolest thing ever!" she flew up and started buzzing around. That's what I what do when I grow up, Yeah!" her eyes filled with stars at the thought of this. She almost expected a Wonderbolts cutie mark to appear on her flank (not that she would know what a Wonderbolts cutie mark would look like)
Infinity gave a joyful chuckle "Rainbow, your still a foal. You don't know what you'll want do when you grow up"
Rainbow snapped down onto clouds in front of her mother "Yes I do! Come on You know I would be perfect. How old do I have to be to tryout?"
Infinity was surprised by this show ambition 'Like her father' she thought. "Well if you really want to join the Wonderbolts already then your going to have to work on your landings. The Wonderbolts only take in flyers who can do graceful landings as well as amazing stunts"
It was said with good intentions. But what her mother said reminded Rainbow of the way the colts had laughed at her that afternoon, and she felt pain in her stomach. "Mommy" she said her feeling showing on her face "I Really don't want to go back to school tomorrow.
"I know Rainbow, most foals don't enjoy going to school. But don't you worry. Everything will turn out fine"
"But I know what I wanna do when I grow up. Why should I have keep going?"
"Even Aerialists need to go to school Rainbow Dash. You'll get used to it. And don't worry about your father; he loves you no matter what. As do I"
A cold breeze blew across the cloud, making mother and daughter shiver. "let's go inside Infinity suggested.
As she walked back inside Rainbow felt herself struggle with something she couldn't express. She didn't know why, but she didn't fully believe her mother.