CherryRie

Starting slightly that she had been asked to speak so soon, Snowflake ginned apologetically and waved at the other team leaders. They had all been mingling with the crowd of foals until now, urged by the filly’s gestures to join the front ranks beside the tutors. Each was dressed similarly to the frumpy Pegasus, though the uniforms were of different colors and bore varying insignia. Clearing her throat quickly, Snow stepped forward along with her comrades to address the gathered foals.

“Wotcha campers! Looks like we’ve had a great turnout this year. I hope you’re all ready for a crazy summer at flight camp! I’m Snowflake, one of the team leaders. In a little bit, the tutors will let you know which flight team you’re going to be on; Ravens, Swallows, Turns or Robins.” She stated, indicating each respective leader as she called out their group “Each flight team has their own dorm and leader, like me! We’ll be taking care of you while you’re here and organising evening activities. So if you need anything, have a problem or something you need to talk about, just come find one of us. We don’t bite, promise.”

Okay, I’ve made a couple of assumptions here.

Given it’s a flight ‘camp’ and not a flight ‘school’ I’ve assumed that there’s a communal hut of a kind where everyone has met up before being arranged into their groups. Not sure whether this is right or not, but from what I've read it seemed the most logical rather than just a small class room. I've also made the insinuation that there are a lot more foals at the camp then just our players. This leaves the door open to npcs and additional players later on.

You mentioned via pm you didn't want too many tutors. So instead I’ve brought Snowflake in as a team leader, more of an organizational and support position. Is all that okay with you Dino? If theres anything you’d like me to change then just yell ^_^

Lastly, I really really REALLY think we need to change the location of this to somewhere in the main rp area. There is just sooo much potential in this for expantion and it is a reall shame to leave it stuck in the private area.

Two kilometers above the white landscape of the flight camp grounds, a tiny dot traced lazy circles through the empty sky. Snowflake was in that special place where body and mind floated free. At this height one would have thought the shear winds would rip the wings clean off a gryphon, never mind a fragile pony. Yet her luscious glacial mane and tail barely so much as wafted in the calm air. This was the Zenith, the place where two tidal forces of atmosphere collided, canceling out to form a thin band of total stillness. Few could reach this height; fewer still could remain there long enough to use its unique properties to traverse vast distances. Here, in this quiet little place she hung on wings whose span was easily twice her own height. One beat from these impressive appendages would have likely been enough to get the girl air born, if it weren’t for her frumpy figure. Though she had lost a lot of the weight that had once plagued her, the filly was far from a Canterlot-starlet.

Drunk on a mixture of euphoria and oxygen deprivation, the filly closed her eyes in a look of contented tranquility, folded her wings away and left herself to the whim of gravity. No Pegasus in their right mind simply allowed themselves to fall, control was paramount with such things. But this seemed to be exactly what the lass had done, skipping along the surface of the powerful winds before breaking the zenith to drop like a stone.

Perhaps, if she had been the showy type, this could have been part of some elaborate routine, a sharp dive followed by a sudden deceleration as an impressive show of power. But Snowflake sought to impress nopony, simply enjoying the feel of the unbidden air buffeting her falling form.

As she reached the first cloud layer, still far above the camp grounds, feathers slowly began to peak from her sides, straightening her corkscrew before gradually stretching to gently take control of the decent. By the time Snow was visible from the camp they had already stretched to their full span, slowing her fall into a leisurely glide.

Finally her hooves touched down on the cloud base, trotting a little way to lose the last of her momentum. Shaking out her windswept mane the Pegasus nickered and drew a long steadying breath from the clean morning air. Another glorious summer at flight camp was about to begin.

Her landing had brought the filly within a stone’s throw of the leader’s hq and her quarters within. Unbuckling the flight safe saddle bags, she trotted into the cloud structure and deposited her belongings in the lounge. There were already four sets of bags adorning various corners and cloud-couches. Clearly the other team-leaders and the instructors were already here and settling in. Was she late?

Resolving not to risk missing any important introductions and announcements, Snowflake opened her bags and withdrew her camp uniform. Within moments she had slipped into the old green vest and adjusted her mane to accommodate its matching beret, both adorned with the brightly colored ‘Robin’ team logo. While she had only just passed her instructors course for her temp position at the flight school, she probably wouldn’t become a tutor here just yet while there were team leaders still needed. ‘Robins’ always contained the youngest or weakest fliers, who often needed a lot of encouragement or someone to talk to if homesickness should strike.

Satisfied with her appearance, the mare trotted back out into the campgrounds and set her sights on the communal hall. Servings as a mess, teaching hall and night time leisure area, the Hanger was the most likely place new campers would be assembled. Sure enough the large open space within housed a gathering of twenty or so campers, all chatting excitedly among themselves. Towards the outside of the corral of youngsters the tutors kept close watch on the foals and had begun their introductions.

“Sorry I'm late!” She whispered cheerfully to Galdwin, stepping into line with the two instructors and the other group leaders. Taking up an easy stance, her eyes flicked over the large group of younglings, still wearing the giddy smile that had followed her the whole trip through the zenith, thankful that she hadn't missed much with her dawdling.

“Wonderful choice, I’ll just go see to that.” Chirped the unicorn cook, opening the double doors to the next room as she trotted away into the kitchen.

Several minutes of serenity passed, the passage of time marked only by the occasional clang of pots and sizzle of batta from the hidden galley. A steady trickle of students were dropping in for morning coffee on their way to the collage. By the time Maple trotted out from the kitchen, a healthy queue of ponies had already begun to develop at the till. Crossing the cafe with the utmost care, set gently set a steaming plate down in front of Flux.

Fluffy golden pancakes stacked six high seeped the tantalising aroma of syrup and melted butter, turning several heads as the platter floated past to its intended customer. Crispy hay and fresh greens garnished the other edge of the plate, completing a wholesome country meal. Unlike many of the snooty restaurants around the capitol, at the J&C ponies got what they paid for, in quality and quantity.

Turning to address the till, the rolling of cart wheels caught her attention. Just outside the cafe a long delivery cart had pulled up, its open top full to bursting with large oblong crates. At its front a grey unicorn unhitched himself from the pulling tack, put chocks brakes into place behind the cart’s wheals and shook himself in frustration. Clearly not used to the toils of the common labourer, the stallion wore a look of irritable haughtiness as he rearranged his ruffled smock and approached the front of the store

“Good morrow Madam,” he announced, accent so posh that he almost appeared to be yawning “Might I assume I have the pleasure of Mrs Maple Scoops? Filigree Twotone, proprietor of the Canterlot Theatre Hall. Afraid the janitorial staff have the day off, so I have been lumbered with the unsavoury task of pulling the cart.”

Lowering his snooty expression, the buck finally noticed Mr Symphony looking on with a knowing grin.

“By Jove! Symphony! How are you old bean?”

“Nice to meet you too, Mr Twotone.” Maple commented, rolling her eyes as she got back to addressing the ponies in need of service, thoughtfully shouting back to her mate“Try not to do yourself a mischief with those crates dear. Next please.”

A small cough interrupted the reunion of the old colleagues. The white Pegasus filly had finished her coco and was stood next to the two unicorn stallions, her eyes on the large cart outside "Ummm... Excuse me, sir. Do you want a hoof with those? They look heavy."

Behind the counter a roiling cloud of steam fountained up from the bubbling milk kettle. Frothy hot chocolate filled the large white mug, joined in short order by a topping of whipped cream and baby marshmallows. Satisfied with the effect, Maple lifted the mug in her magic and trotted happily onto the café floor. Barely breaking step, the unicorn plucked a bunch of thin paper menus from their stand, proffering one to their latest arrival.

“There we are dear, and your Coco Ma’am.”

With an appreciative grin, the slight Pegasus licked a glob of cream from the summit of the treat. Smiling gleefully, she lifted a snow white wing to retrieve four bits from her saddle pouch.

As Maple made her way back to the counter she took care to place on of the hoof made menus onto each fetlock high table. While each sported the same logo; a saxophone with two dollops of dipping ice cream in its horn, every menu had been decorated slightly differently. This was down to both proprietors making them by hoof rather than shelling out for immaculately printed copies like most fancy establishments. They were an interesting little addition to the overall quaintness of the café.

Just then a face appeared at the double doors connecting the little café to the larger music hall. It was a scruffy looking but bright eyed workhorse whom had been their onsite carpenter for several weeks, fixing up the last few nuances to their pride and joy.

“Wotcha Maple!” Chirped the stallion, “Ah think we’re about done. Stage is ready an’ ‘ah just finished puddin’up t’em lanterns for ye’. Just needs an airing now before the big night!”

Maples eyes light up like fog lamps “Oh my, that’s wonderful, Dusky! Thank you so much!”

Dusky nodded and held his head high “All in a day’s work ma’am. Now I’ll be back after hearth warming to finish of those barrel racks in the cellar, but if there’s anything else you spot needs seeing too, just holler.”

‘Just in time too,’ Maple thought to herself, as the earth pony slung his tools and trotted out of the door ‘the grand opening’s supposed to be tonight!’

“Sweetie?” She sang, looking over to her apron clad partner and gesturing towards “Can we open our Hearth Warming gift early? After all, Obo should be arriving with those old instruments soon!”

But I guess he can be sent off to school.

Think of it more as a summer camp in the sky, rather then a flight school. Lots of fun adventure activities and days out that happen to involve flying. Along with flight lessons campers can expect to learn about all sorts, such as sky-shelter building, cross contrary navigation and cloud sculpting.

Morning light crept across the sweet powdery hill, its golden rays curving in odd crisp shapes in a reflective dance across impossible steel walls. From beyond the curve of the bole, a single note drawn from the breast of a cello rose to fill every space, shaking loose boulders from the gradual slopes of the mountain. As the Obo joined its stringed cousin, five pail orbs peaked over the rim, suspended in the gentle yellow aura. With a crash of orchestral might the ovoids split, spilling their liquid contents into the grasp of the sultry glow. A spin of brass and the orange centres separated themselves from their jelly like cocoon, falling like enormous stars to the surface of the sugar coated world. Beyond the chrome walls a swell of milk passed the retreating egg white, spinning and tumbling in the harmonic thrall, whisked mid air into a frothy cream. Descending upon the crash of symbols the unblemished hills of Sugar Mountain were swept away, pulled into a palpitating ribbon of ingredients within the confines of the rapidly filling bole.

Sloshing and folding upon itself, the heavy mixture leapt from its prison on a wind of flutes, aglow with the familiar energy that had guided it thus far. Reaching its destination, the twisting mass cascaded into the boiling pot of sweet strawberries upon the hob, sweeping them up on the building crescendo. Within the embrace of the masterful artist, the ribbon danced in thin trails around a silent equine figure, her mane a bluster with the sudden blast of frigid winds encircling her creation. Winter descended the small room, welcoming the spun web of ingredients.

And in the swell of the final cord, five carefully arranged tubs received a filling of sweet delight, their lids clamping down to seal away the frozen contents from the world, awaiting the call of happy ponies.

Silence descended once more on the kitchen of the Jam & Cream. With a smile that brightened the world around her, Maple Scoops relinquished her charge of the latest batch of ice cream and turned her attention briefly to the grammar phone on the far counter. If there was one thing that ruined a perfect concerto, it was the scratch of the needle reaching the end of its track. The old thing had been an ‘opening-day’ gift from her work colleagues. ‘Old work colleagues,’ she mentally corrected, having not worked in any kitchen other than her own for going on three months.

Four weeks had passed since the grand opening of the J&C, premier ice cream bar for the student district of Canterlot, and business had been trotting along at a manageable pace. True there had been the occasional disaster and financial setbacks abound, but they had made it through in the end.

Work on converting the old firebarn had progressed steadily and, while they had to open the bar separately for income, with any luck the restaurant side of the business would be open before Hearth Warming. At least it’d better be, considering they were taking bookings already.

Placing the five containers into the long icebox, the cream coated unicorn trotted out into the serving area and gave the seating a last once over. Rhythmic hammering of a single diligent worker issued from within the cavernous barn next door, along with the rich voice of a stallion singing a Hearth Warming carol. For a moment, the mare stood and listened, humming in harmony as her magic reached out for the two signs by the elegant front windows.

Time to open the doors.

“Sweetie,” She called up the spiral stairs that lead to the offices and apartment above the bar, “I’m going to open up.”

Trusting that her voice had carried, Maple’s glowing aura grasped the bolts across the front door and pulled one of the twined portals aside. Brilliant warm daylight flooded into the Jam and Cream along with the frigid winter breeze.

Two the signs clacked open and were set down upon the cobbles. One read Jam and Cream, Open, Hot pancakes and Hay fries. The other was a black chalk board with a more up to date advertisement; The big barn Bash! HearthWarming grand opening. Live music and open juicebar. Book your table now!

Across the street, sat near the cliff railings, a young Pegasus had watching her work and now trotted up to great the cafe owner. This was odd. Usually customers didn’t start arriving until closer mid day, when hungry students were released from morning lectures in search of hot hay and cinnamon pancakes. But the filly that stood on their doorstep now didn’t look like the classical Canterlot college apprentice.

“Hello dear! You’re here early, we’re only just opening for the day. Eager to get some pancakes for breakfast?”

Straitening a stray lock of light pink mane, the white filly cleared her throat and smiled shyly at the steam on her breath “Umm, do you sell hot chocolate?”

Maple chuckled and trotted back into the cafe and ducked behind the counter, hearing the door close behind her as the filly followed her inside. Horn aglow, the unicorn fished out a tall mug from the shelf and set the water heater running, watching as the filly took up station on one of the large been bags by the window. Customers should be trickling in soon, so it was worth getting the kettle and hobs running properly.

As the energetic unicorn looked away, Peabee’s face slid from confusion into utter abject horror.

“Muh-Me? In the whu-wonderbolts?!?” She squeeked hopeing despirately that she had simply missheard the new arrivel.

But Sunrise was right, wasn’t she. All Pegasus wanted to be part of these aerial aces, how many others would assume that she would want to join too? Peanut looked around franticly, there were only a couple of other pegasi in the whole class, and none of them even looked ready to fledge! Oh Celestia, what if the wonderbolts themselves spotted her and assumed it too? What if they wanted to see her flying or... oh gosh, what if they wanted her to join them!?!

Mouth a gawk, the paint foal was snapped back to reality as the taller unicorn repeated her question

“Ahh, umm-puh-Peanut Butter,” Peabee stammered, frantic eyes snapping first to the troop of winged visitors and then back to the new acquaintance.

“You don’t think they’d actually...” she hissed in a panicked whisper, hooves covering her head as though the ceiling were about to cave in. “I can’t be in the wonderbolts! Dad would go Spare!”

I've been thinking hun, what about having different bands for different flying skill groups, like they do in Skiing?

Like, first time campers start off as 'Robins', then move on to 'Sparrows', 'Gulls' and finaly 'Eagles' (or what ever names we can think up for the difrent skill groups). There could even be a big campfire ceremony on the last evening where every pony gets awarded their camp badges for that year and a certificate or something, saying that they’ve passed that level of flight camp

Vonderba Brian! Well, I've added the final tag and removed that italics from the begining of her character summery. She's all set and ready to go ^^,

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I float."

I like this character idea, though it bounces around a little between the geeky and the zen distractedness. It's really lovely, though. The part that *hit* me was when she hit the zenith, and everything came in on her, the sense of beauty. That's a feeling that ... people spend their lives trying to find.

Or find again.

Thankyou so much Bramble ^_^

Sorry for the bounciness. I wanted to try and imply that, while the revelation she experienced changed her life, it didn't mean that it changed who she fundamentally was. This is something Snowflake herself is only just coming to realise as she advances through her teens. When she's older and wiser, no doubt she'll find that peaceful state comes far more easily, but for the time being; Yay hormones!

Do you think I should tone down some of the sciency stuff to compensate?

Well, I'd like to do a short rp before throwing Snowflake straight into the main Flight Camp thread. So I'll launch a one or two quick RP's in difrent areas of equestria with her haging up posters advertising the flight camp. Hopefuly this should draw some attention before you start the main one. What do you think? I'll bop a link into my siggy at the very least, thats another good way of drumming up some players ^_^

I have a suggestion too. Given that if this receives enough attention you might be able to end up with multiple threads running from the central theme, it would be worth getting as many ponies participating as possible. Perhaps it would be an idea to have some short setup rps running first? I was thinking I could have Snowflake hanging posters in the major cities and towns, advertising the upcoming flight camp. They don't need to be particularly active, but it'll raze awareness.

Okay, this is the excuse I've been looking for. I'll need to get her authed first, but fancy a volunteer instructor?

I am intrigued, do elaborate. Is there a specific story line or plot for characters to discover, or is it more of a spontaneous free for all?

I think we should run this in the Free for All forum. No aplications needed and we can go loonytoon if we want to ^^,

Rubbing a fetlock against his sore throat, Rich Tea fearfully met the stranger’s unforgiving gaze. Wrestling for control over his panicking senses, the slight stallion found himself unable to brake eye contact with the livid behemoth at whose mercy he was thrown.

“I just-” he began, interrupted by rasping choughs as his bruised airway protested “- had to be sure she was alright. I saw you carry her here last night, after you saved her. I – I was scared that the fall...”

For a moment the shaking stallion tried to stand, but the faiding surge of adrenalin had left his exhausted body unwilling cooperate.

“Please. You can do what you want to me, just please tell me she’s okay.”

"She is NOT." Virtue spoke, his inflection seeming to chill the air between them. The room seemed to darken, the shadows around him lengthening as Virtue clawed at Rich Tea's psyche with icy talons. "This is not a trial. You are unredeemably guilty. You cannot sway my judgement with pleas for mercy so I suggest you choose your next words carefully."

“I didn’t mean- It wasn’t meant to -” Rich bleated plaintively, floundering under the absurdity of his own excuses. Searching desperately for some manner of escape, the floor bound Pegasus found himself looking towards the door at the far side of the room, undoubtedly leading into the sweet’s meagre bedroom.

At once his panicked words faded, leaving a void in the chilly air where the excuses had been. She could be in there, right now, listening to this whole exchange. Deep within his rotten soul, the thoughts that were holding up his will finally broke. Lifting himself to sitting, the defeated Colt stared past his tormentor’s left ear, eyes never leaving the door.

In barely a whisper he let slip the truth and damned the consequence.

“It was the only way I could protect her.”

Silence met his words in both weight and measure, Virtue unchanging demeanour drawing the guilt from him.

“Things weren’t meant to get so out of control. When I heard that Cherry was in Filidelphia, I found out through one of her father’s contacts, somepony who suggested he was hiring Talon mercinaries to ‘retreive’ her. Gryphons! They’d have killed her if she resisted, and he knew as much! I went to try and find out what he knew, see if the rumours were true, but the guards caught me snooping. They were right in the meeting with the Gryphon, so I got offered an ultimatum. Either I brought her back, or he would send Talons after her.”

Rich Tea shuddered at the memory of the grizzled half bird’s furious response to this change of plans.

“If I could bring her home, she wouldn’t be harmed. He said I’d have stay with her, her warden and... partner. Azure’s sick idea of poetic justice; Cherry would hate me forever, but neither of us would be allowed to leave alive.”

“Buxer and Bolt were sent to watch me, make sure I did things right by Azure. Origionally I was just meant to meet up with her, slip something into her drink and get her home while she was out. But when I finally got here... when we met in the bar, I realised how much I’d missed her. A drink ended up as a day out, then an evening date and then... Cherry, never said good bye when she left Manehatten. I lost myself in the moment, I-I forgot about everything when I was with her, nothing mattered because I was so happy just to be with her again. And then those two caught up with us at the hotel, and so did everything else.”

Hanging his head, the errant Pegasus took a steadying breath as his downcast gaze examined the dreadfully cheap carpet.

“I bucked up, totally bucked the whole darn thing up. First I get myself sucked into betraying her trust, then I go make it worse by reminding her about what we had. I could have just told her to run, but with those two hoofers following me Azure would have known in minuets. The mercinarys would have caught up and used me to get to her. If I’d just stuck to the plan we could have been home by now, safe. Cherry would still hate me, she’d have every right to. But at least she’d be safe. I could have explained myself to her. She might see I hadn’t much of a choice, maybe one day she could have even forgiven me. But now?”

Looking back to the bedroom door, Tea’s signed solemnly. There was nothing else he could do here.

“Celestia banish me.” He muttered, returning his pleading eyes to Virtues emotionless gaze “Listen, when Buxer ran outside last night he left the sending-scroll that’d tell her father things had gone wrong. With that gone it’s a full day’s flight to Manehatten. I know I’m not in any position to be asking favours from you, but please take Cherry away from here while there’s time. Help her hide. Get her somewhere safe were Azure can never find her. Please.”

Outside, beyond the gloomy interior of Virtue’s motel dorm of solitude, Fillidelphia was enjoying a rare sunny day. For the first time in what felt like months the sky was devoid of water laden clouds, replaced by a vast ocean of the most spectacular blue. Wisps of high cirrus formations gave the impression of waves barring across the cityscape, dotted with the occasional colourful Pegasi revelling in the excellent flying conditions. Across the city ponies pranced about their day’s work or relaxed in the warming light. Foals played games in the gravel lined streets, dancing among thin rivulets of evaporating steam from the previous nights storm.

And for the second time in as many minuets, a pastry coloured hoof paused barely a breath from the unblemished wood of the motel door. Reluctantly it withdrew as its owner turned to face the city beyond with an irritated flutter of his dishevelled wings. Pacing the decking that ran the length of the motel rooms, the stallion wrestled once more with the weight of his conscience. He looked young, barely out of his colt years, with a thin complexion and a figure that suggested he hadn’t seen a day of hard labour in his life. That being said, this didn’t look like any high society tof. Far from superficial factors, such as his submissive posture or the tendency to mutter to himself, what self respecting business pony would be seen in such a scruffy state? His silky feathers were unpreened, a pale bleach mane hung ruffled and damp from the night’s storm. Dirt around his hooves and his puffy blood shot eyes lent ever greater evidence to his sleepless night on the streets.

Mumbling under his breath as though vocalising some heated inner debate, he finally arrived back at the door to the for bodeing room. In all likelihood he would regret doing this, at least for a little while. But that would be nothing to living with the guilt of not knowing. He’d stick to his cover story, just make sure, and then be gone before she knew he was even there.

With a steadying breath, Rich Tea confidently lifted a hoof to the half clasp door... and froze one again. Clenching his teeth, the colt silently cussed his own weakness as his head fell forward to bump against the woodwork. Why couldn’t he do this?

Sounds from within the dorm broke the colt’s melancholy. Indubitably the soft head butt had been a little louder then he thought.

Rich Tea had just enough time to right his posture before the door was pulled aside, revealing a more detailed version of the stranger whom had tackled both bodyguards the night before. There was a brief moment of confusion across the older Pegasus’ features, as though a series of dots were rapidly joining up in his mind and was just about to take a step back to look at the unpleasant picture before him. At first it looked as though Tea would launch into some rehearsed story, perhaps try and pass himself off as a member of motel staff coming to check on the late night lodgers. But the elegant lie caught in his rapidly drying throat. Trying again, the Pegasus was rewarded with a strained croak before the crude façade crumbled like so much dust.

Through the wreckage, those powerful judging eyes bore into him, blowing away the dust and leaving bare thoughts exposed.

“Is she... is she alright?”

Twi was right, this is adorable ^_^ Encore!

Nodding vaguely, Cherry seemed to slip from her distress into an emotionless void.

“They’re my father’s Colts.” She said at last, still not looking at the Pegasus across the table from her “My old bodyguards. Now they have come to collect me, to take me back to him. And he helped them.”

For a moment Cherry remained silent, only the slow ticking of the ageing wooden clock cutting seconds away from an undefined stretch time.

“it’s all over” Whispered the colour drained Pegasus, “just like that, over, gone…”

With barely a glance at Virtue, the filly stood from the table and started back towards the bedroom “I-I need some space. Just to think.”

Gently the door closed behind her, shutting with barely more than a dull click.

Alone once more the fog that had descended over Cherry’s thoughts solidified into a thick miasma of loathing. Part of her felt like breaking something, maybe plow her forehooves into a wall over and over until the plaster was as dust and the running pain drew out her inner agony. But the majority hated herself for being so naïve, so easily lured into the hooves of some pony she knew was under her father’s heal. The wonderful, romantic evening they had shared beneath Luna’s gaze melted in a boiling pot of peculating stomach acid.

Had he ever loved her at all? She felt sick, filthy, used.

Worse still, now this stranger had been dragged into her mess of a life. Buxer and Bolt were easy enough to handle, they weren’t the quickest pigs in the pen, but there were far worse beings on her father’s payroll and she could bet they would be on her tail.

But that was just an excuse, a solid motivation to eye the open window, the inviting sky laying just beyond a softly billowing floral curtain. The mind of a pony is that of a herding animal, to stay close to one another for the safety of numbers. Yet now, every bone in her body, every sinew of her diminutive being wanted to be as far away from this place as phisicaly possible.

Her wings stretched.

The curtain, blown breifly aside, hung lazily outside the empty room.

Two miles up and half a mile outside the city limits, Cherry paused, no longer able to see past the burred colours of a tear dashed world. Her wings were turning to beating lances of pain from the sudden demands that had been layed upon them. Yet even as she alighted upon a thin cirrus cloud they remained unfurled, begging for her to take to the air once more to out run the burning in her chest.

Looking back to the soulless mass that was the city of shattered dreams, the filly checked her surroundings and screamed her tortured anguish into the empty sky.

It is astounding how often atempts to hide in plain sight have the oposite effect. The fillies despiratation to remain unknoticed had Haze fretting and even Snails was looking at her worriedly.

“Oh no, please don’t be mytherin’ you two.” Peanut winced, accent slipping as another brick of guilt upset her wheelbarrow of woes “An' s’ne tha’, Hazy. Honest! Av’ missed you sum‘at fierce! Really, I'm okay. Tis’ just -- just, ya know... Stuff...”

Words failing her, the young Paint foal was rescued from certain oblivion by another late arrival. Practically floating into her seat, the bubbly unicorn filly took up station beside Hazy and launched into a string of excitable comments, barely containing her excitement within her athletic frame.

“Bodacious? That’s, umm... nice?” She replied, trailing off once she saw Haze’s attention drawn away from the uncomfortable conversation.

Distraction firmly occupying the earth pony, Peanut shrank back and tried to look innocuous, hoping that the line of question had been entirely abandoned. Though her attention was directed to the front of the class once more, the foal found herself glancing at their new row-mate. She was an odd little addition. Though no medicine mare, Peabee had come to recognise the symptoms of a ‘Jabbering Fan-spasm’ from one of her cousins, an Earth pony who reliably fainted at the sight of DJ Pon-3. Without doubt, Haze’s friend contained more vivacious enthusiasm for the wonderbolts then the rest of the class combined. The way she seemed to vibrate almost imperceptibly with ‘happy’ was almost mesmerizing.

YAY GIN!

“I’m sure he’ll be happy with whatever you get him... Ah.”

Grim apathy toward the fading scene of chaos painted Peanut’s features. One of the Wonder Bolts had attempted a dramatic entrance only to run headlong into a panic stricken filly, who was being accosted by a wayward amphibian. Cheerilee seemed tried to salvage the situation through distraction, but was interrupted by a dull thump as yet another filly ran into -- yes that was Soarin’. She hadn’t recognized the first one, but that was defiantly Soarin’ bringing up the rear. Legume farm held the annual Nut Family Bake-Off, an event that the stallion had attended consistently since he discovered the wonders of Grandpa Butternut’s pie. And then there was the mare, her flaming mane one of the few Peanut could recognise from the ground, often leading the graceful formations across the Nimberguist Highland.

Throughout their haphazard entrance, the foal remained quiet, lacking both the astute attention and the giddy excitement that seemed to infect the class. At least they were here now. They’d give a speech of some kind, answer a lot of dumb questions, probably show off some fancy flying and then flit away into the afternoon sky to the cheers of happy little ponies who didn’t know the first thing about them.

Peabee had a limited vocabulary when it came to describing things she disliked, thus “hate” wasn’t a noun that came easily. But as sure as Celestia was white, the little Pegasus hated this whole affair. She hated being stuck here. She hated being a burden. She hated that special arrangements were being made around her, like she mattered. She even hated that everypony around her seemed so much happier than herself, which for her was quite unusual indeed.

But most of all, she hated being so far away from home. Since becoming stranded, nopony had come to find her. Now they had stopped answering her daily letters, the reply of silence fueling the building doubt and paranoia.

Had she had been abandoned? Because she was different?

Not even her brother, Cashew, had wings. That meant something beyond the simple explanation of being ‘special’ that Mommy had proffered on many an occasion. All the whispering ponies did in town, the name calling at school, and the shouting at night that followed any incident. To Peanut, there was no such thing as inexplicable. Something about her had been driving them apart, and now they didn't want her anymore. Running off and getting lost had been the last straw.

It didn't matter that Mr Rockefilly had been so nice to her, or that Miss Birch had taken her in for the week, or even that she had met Haze by chance and rekindled an old friendship. Right now, she felt so alone, and it was all her fault.

Mumbling a word of thanks to her seat buddy, the filly tried a nibble of the sugary carrot stick, finding its fountain of wonderful taste soured slightly by her low mood.

Hay ya Gin!

You’ve got a really nice app shaping up here! Short but sweet, containing plenty of information and ticking most boxes first time.

Do you think you could expand a little more on his personality? We know that he is kind and puts others before himself, ever the little pony scout, but is there anything more to him then this? Though he’s still a colt, from his description I’m getting that ‘gentle giant’ vibe, something which I feel you could pull off quite effectively.

Assuming he grew up in Appaloosa, would you say that the frontier life has been a magre factor in his development? I’m also intrigued about his time at the train yard. Was it his first job outside of the family? How long has he been working as a puller?

Sorry about all these questions, but I am genuinely interested to see how this app could progress. From the look of things it might work just as it is, but there’s so much potential here that could be uncovered with but a few tweaks and elaborations.

Anywho, I need sleep now, I'm realy looking forward to seeing what you do with this ^_^