Crashing Angels Chapter 8

A group of young pegasi walk out of the older foals playground laughing to each other. Things had quietened down substantially since the exit of the younger duo and the group were seeking out fresh entertainment.

From behind a stunning cloud pillar jumps a multi-spectrum ball of rage. Rainbow Dash tackles the first colt in sight, slamming into him and laying down furious blows as she attempts to take the older pegasus down.

Caught off guard, the stranger flails about, unable to hit his tiny assailant as she lays into him. He cries out in pain as her small hoof connects with his head. In an urgent attempt to get away, he flaps his wings, powering into the sky. The angry filly falls from her victim and stands, poised ready for a fight.

"Hey look It's Rainbow Crash!" One calls, laughing.

"Come to have a go at us now that your little fillyfriend is safe?" One of the fillies, a tough looking youngster with a rugged black mane points a dark blue hoof at the cyan plush ball.

"She's not my fillyfriend!" Dash yells, running at her.

With ease that comes from having beaten up angry younger foals before, the stranger dodges Rainbow's attack, slamming a hoof into the back of her head. "You can't touch me Rainbow Crash. Try that again and I'll rip you a new one."

Knowing they are about to get a good display, rest of the group slowly steps back to allow the strong filly to move in on the small sky blue ball of angry pegasus who glowers back at her. With a final flare of her wings, Rainbow Dash gallops towards her target, intent on scoring a successful blow. The cocky live target lifts off before she can be touched.

Hovering in mid air, the young bully grins down at the pegasus she is taunting. "Come get me Rainbow Crash! Oh wait... you can't fly!"

"Can so!" Tiny sky blue wings power up, propelling the younger filly a few feet into the air before she comes crashing back down onto the soft cloud covered floor.

"Oh... I'm so scared! The mighty Rainbow Crash can crash."

"Come back down here!" Calls the youngster, still unable to do anything to the pony she wants to have a go at.

"You really want me to? I'll kick your flank into next week!"

Rainbow aggressively leaps up, still unable to have a hope at reaching the pegasus who is taunting her.

With a cruel grin, the older filly folds her wings and dives towards her would-be assailant, ready to take her out.

---

Fluttershy runs, tearing through the corridors, hurrying to the destination she has been told of. The nurse's office. She runs, not caring who sees her, tears flying from her eyes, heart racing and gut wrenching. All that she needs to know is that her roommate is in there after sustaining injuries from a physical fight. Worry eats at her, as does sorrow. But the tall filly wastes no time, letting nothing stand in her way.

Upon arriving at the nurses's office, she finds the nurse tending to an injured Rainbow Dash. She wails, crying more, and rushes to her side.

"Rainbow!!!"

Cracking an eye open, said youngster grins lopsidedly at her best friend as she pears out from under the bandages. "Hey Fluttershy... I gave it to them good for all those names they were calling you..."

"...Is that why you left me?" Fluttershy whimpers, tears falling down her cheeks. "You left me to do that?!! Why?! That was....Rainbow, you're hurt!! After that, all I wanted was just to be with you! I thought you left because you were ashamed of me!!" She wails, not angry, just upset.

"I had to defend your honor! Nopony insults my best friend and gets away with it!" The bold youngster announces, defending her position, hiding the pain she has suffered as she animatedly waves a hoof to reassure her friend.

"...I...." Fluttershy stares at her wounded friend, amazed. As much as she is upset about what she did, a part of her can't help but feel just so touched. To think her best friend would go out there and defend her honor, stand up for her. For them. "Rainbow...I understand...but you still got hurt! Don't do that again! Please! And don't leave me....! You promised we'd be friends forever, you promised you'd stay with me and let me snuggle you!!" She begins to cry again, placing her forehooves on her friend's little body where it won't hurt and burying her face in her mane. "I just wanted to be with you after what happened..."

The egotistical blue filly stares at her friend in shock. Despite her best efforts, the shy pegasus has still wound up in tears. "I... I..." No further words want to find their way out of her and she sighs, ruffling her friend's mane gently as the distraught filly cries.

"....Thank you...." Fluttershy mumbles, sniffling as she cuddles closer to her companion, minding her injuries. "I....I am grateful you standing up for me... It's the nicest thing anypony has ever done for me.... Thank you... But please don't do that again...not like this... I don't want you to get hurt.... I don't want to lose you.... You mean way too much to me for that...please..."

"O-okay... I thought I was the one who was hurt Fluttershy..." The speedster giggles lightly despite her injuries. "But you're the one crying. You don't need to cry for me. I'll be fine. I always am." Her regular pride is re-entering her voice, alongside her playful grin.

"You better be!" Fluttershy yells almost angrily. "If you do this again, I'll tie you to my bed!! I am not letting you do that again, Rainbow Dash!! Don't do this again or so help me!" But she begins crying all over again and clings to her friend, trembling hard.

'Where did ... that come from...?' The cyan filly wonders as she stares in shock at her friend. Under the emotional onslaught from the yellow pegasus she finds herself unable to do anything except let the larger filly grip her, continuing to hold on for dear life.

Moments later, none other than the Headmaster enters the nurse's office, quietly, but still enough to rouse the attention of the two fillies. With a grim look upon his face he unhurriedly makes his way across to the two youngsters. As he enters close proximity Fluttershy cuddles up as close as she can to her best friend, fervently hoping that he isn't heading for them. To her dismay, the old pegasus comes to stand right over them.

"Rainbow Dash..."

"What?" The bold filly is instantly defensive, placing a defensive hoof around her friend.

"Members of the school and the nurse have informed me of your mishap earlier," he says, looking hard at her. "Physical violence of any sort, no matter the reason is not allowed on these grounds. I don't care if they started it. You are not allowed to continue such things. Considering the other troubles you have caused in and around the school to others and even to yourself, I'm afraid that it has come to this. You're not suited for this school, and I have no choice but to see that you are expelled. You may take three days to recover, but after that, you are to gather your materials and-"

"NO!!!" Fluttershy shrieks, in tears all over again ."No! No! Don't! Please don't kick her out, sir! Please! Don't take her away from me!" She holds Rainbow closer to her, sobbing as she looks up at the headmaster and nurse pleadingly. "Please...don't kick her out.... She can do better, she'll be fine... She won't do this again! Just please don't make her leave! I'll keep an eye on her! I'll keep her safe! But don't make her go! Please!"

The Headmaster looks at her with surprise on his old face for a brief moment. "Miss Fluttershy,  I I understand that you're upset about this. But please, this does not concern you."

"Yes it does! She's my best friend!" Fluttershy says tearfully.  "It was my fault! She did it to defend me! If I hadn't tried flying, none of this would've happened! I didn't want her to do this! But I couldn't stop her! If you're going to throw her out, throw me out, too! I don't care! Just don't take her away from me! Please, sir... She's my best friend and I can't do this alone without her! I love Rainbow Dash, she's my family now! And families don't give up on each other!"

The stern pegasus stares blankly at two fillies in front of him. On one hoof, he was able to throw the troublesome pony out, informing her parents and then never needing to deal with her again. But it was also clear that the pair were already close friends and he was unwilling to break them up after waiting half a year to get the shy filly a roommate.

Deciding on the best course of action, he spoke up once more. "Okay. If you can keep your friend in check and I don't see you like this again, you may stay."

For the first time in the past while, Fluttershy smiles. "Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!" She rushes to the older pegasus and gives him a thankful hug.

The headmaster smiles lightly at her, hopeful that he has just done the right thing.

Wiping the smile from his face, the aging pegasus turns once again to the subject of his annoyance. "I do hope that you will listen to her and stop picking fights like this. Because there is no room for such behavior in this school. Do I make myself clear Rainbow Dash?"

"Yes..." Exasperation rings through in the filly's voice. She wants the headmaster to leave her alone now that the trouble has passed her by.

Turning to leave, the old stallion just has to get in the last words. "Remember this young Rainbow Dash. I have chosen not to tell your parents this time round. But I rather think they would be most unhappy to hear of what you are doing here. So be careful or they will find out and you will no longer have a place in my school." With nothing further to say, he trudges off, heading back to his office.

The cheeky filly pokes out her tongue at the departing flank of the headmaster, muttering to herself. "See... no pony can touch this super cool filly."

The nurse heads over to her desk, leaving the two fillies alone. Fluttershy happily takes this opportunity to cuddle back up with her friend, minding her injuries still, and just feels so happy! It's such a relief to know that Rainbow has been given another chance, and she's all too happy to make sure she follows up on it.

"Hey... Leave off 'Shy!"

"No..." Fluttershy smiles feeling a sense of elation wash over herself. She peppers her friend's face with light, happy kisses.

Small cyan hooves half heartedly fend off the zealous kisser as the smaller pegasus giggles. "Look... either get up here with me and stop kissing me, or stay on the floor and do whatever you like." The bold little spectrum pushes her friend away slowly.

Almost immediately, Fluttershy takes the first option by climbing up onto the bed, snuggling up beside her companion. Unable to resist one little kiss to her forehead, of course! But she lies against her, placing her little wing over her friend's body.

With a cheeky grin, the injured speedster lifts her larger companion up and flips her on top, using the gangly filly as a self heating blanket. She then wriggles about, quickly finding the best way to keep her sore spots away from the weight.

All too happily, Fluttershy giggles and makes herself comfortable, as well as making sure she wasn't affecting any of her companion's injuries. "Awww....if you wanted me to lie with you like this, all you had to do was ask, Rainbow."

"You make a good filly blanket Flutters. Just... stay there..." The smaller filly grins up at her friend, confident that she will oblige her wish. Already she can feel the warmth of her friend entering her system, calming her down and easing her pains further.

"I will...but you know you can ask me..." Fluttershy nuzzles her sweetly. "I'm always happy to do this for you."

The egotistical youngster glances around, making sure that nopony else is looking before nuzzling noses. "Good filly."

"Rainbow... Please. Promise me you won't get into fights or cause trouble. I'm serious this time." Fluttershy says softly, but seriously. "If I lose you...if you're gone...I don't know what I'm going to do."

"I'll be fine Fluttershy. Don't worry about me." Rainbow deflected, continuing to gently minister to her companion.

"Please? Please promise me..." Fluttershy pleads, sniffling a bit. "I...I'm going to be selfish...because I don't want you to go... I want to be here with you... I want to take you home with me to meet my parents! Just please don't' do anything stupid..."

"I won't... Okay...?" The cyan filly is getting tired of her best friend's pleading.

Relieved at her answer, Fluttershy snuggles her little friend. "Yay! Thank you!"

"It's no problem..." Dash closes her eyes, relaxing under the warmth of her companion.

The two fillies sleep the night there, none of the staff have the heart to remove the shy yellow filly who happily remains by her best friend's side.

---

Several weeks later, Rainbow Dash, top flyer in the class, stands ready to show off. Things had been going much better of late and everypony who cares for her, is happy that she is finally seeming to be on the right path. This has also helped her following, which had continued to increase as more and more of her schoolmates got on board with the cool speedster, knowing she is less likely to pick fights with everypony in sight. Of course there is also one last factor for her new, expanded following... knowlege that her dad works at the Rainbow Factory had well and truly spread around the school by now and so  gives added social status to the already big headed youngster.

With her hooves on the soft little fillies playground, the bold little athlete stands ready to show her classmates what she can do.

"Alright Rainbow... Show us all what you just learned." Mrs Breeze smiles lightly, enjoying the high level of fun energy the speedster is giving off.

Without needing to be told twice, the cyan filly takes off as fast as she can, leaping into the air. She glides along, appearing to give no thought to her actions, effortlessly slicing through the sky. The youngster alights upon the soft cloud on the opposite end, grinning triumphantly at the rest of the class. "And that... is how you glide." She boasts.

Cheers erupt from the other students, amazed at the display. Fluttershy remains where she is, some ways off from the crowd of her peers, but looking on to her best friend. She smiles, her small wings fluttering gently with excitement and pride, glad to see that Rainbow Dash is utilizing her talent at flying. Rather than feeling jealous or envious, all she can feel is pure joy for her friend.

"Yay..." She mumbles softly, but with sincerity.

"Now, I would like all of you to do the same." The teacher happily instructs, motioning towards the cocky filly at the end of the short track.

The rest of the class eagerly bounce about for a chance to prove themselves, several flapping madly in their attempts at a glide. Most fail, either succeeding to glide only a short distance or hardly taking off at all. Derpy manages to collide with the smiling teacher who, as was the norm by now, pushes the crazy-eyed filly back on track. Several class members run the rest of the way to meet up with the grinning speedster, surrounding her in a circle of adoring fans. There is no denying it, being the best in her year at flying certainly gives status to the young pegasus.

Fluttershy, however, is terrified. She can't even glide, let alone even lift off the ground. Of the entire class, she not only can't fly well, but she can't fly at all. At least when there are other ponies around. Taking a few breaths, the lanky filly hopes that maybe, just maybe, nopony will notice her and won't call on her. It was a tactic she long attributed to her studies. If possible, try for an easy answer she could do. But overall, avoid it all cost.

From where she cowers, she flaps her wings. Nothing. They can barely even move. Within moments of unfurling them, the feathery appendages snap back against her side. Fluttershy tries again, but nothing. She looks around her, realizing that even if she did succeed, everypony would see it. All eyes would be on her. That was the last thing she wanted.

Squeaking, she lays down on the cloud ground and sighs. 'I can't do it... not with everypony looking...'

"Fluttershy... Come on dear... you too..." The kind voice of Mrs. Breeze breaks through the filly's trail of thought. Said mare gently prods the cowering student, hoping to provoke a good response out of her. "I've seen you and Rainbow practicing... you do quite well with her. Why can't you just try it now...?"

"But...I can't fly!" Fluttershy whimpers, cowering away. "It's a waste of time..."

"You're a pegasus... every one of us can fly. Just follow your best friend like you do at lunch. I'm sure she won't mind."

Fluttershy shakes her head. "No, I can't fly at all!" She flaps her wings, weakly, and jumps a little, but doesn't even levitate for a second. "See?"

The quickly tiring teacher finds her energy draining away. "Rainbow Dash!"

"What!?!" Said filly fails to bother herself with a polite reply.

"Please... get over here and help your friend."

This makes Fluttershy squeak and turn away, shaking. Now her best friend had to be dragged into her immense failures? She covers her eyes with her wings and hooves, whimpering.

"Fine." Springing out from the throng of young pegasi, Dash runs over to her best friend. "Hey Fluttershy. Lets go. Come on! Just like our little practices." The confident filly grins at her companion, ignoring the crowd that is gathering, eager to see what the shy filly has supposedly learned in her one-on-one classes.

Peeking at her through a crack in her feathers, Fluttershy sniffles. "...Okay...."

"You lot can go with them. You all need all the practice you can get if you're going to become great fliers."

"Yes miss...." The class drones, slowly making their way to the start line once more.

Rainbow walks her friend along full of confidence. "Come on Fluttershy. I know you can do it."

"I can't...I tried...but I couldn't..." Fluttershy whimpers in shame. "I'm not fit or worthy to be a pegasus, Rainbow... I never was..."

"Oh come on. I know you're awesome enough to do it. I just know it!" The bold filly nudges her friend into place alongside her. "Just do what you do when its just us and you'll be totally cool."

"That's the thing, I did." Fluttershy sighs, shaking her head. "But my wings wouldn't do what I want them too...I got scared..."

"Alright class. Go!" The teacher breaks the two fillies moment.

Most of the class break off from the light entertainment, bounding out to try another glide. Rainbow stays by her friend's side for the moment for support. "Come on Fluttershy. While they aren't looking!" She urges, slowly entering into a canter, preparing for flight.

"But what if I can't?" The creamy yellow filly complains, trying to keep up with her best friend.

"DO Don't think!" The bold filly calls out, taking off.

Trembling with fear of failure, Fluttershy strains her wings trying her hardest to take off. Closing her eyes, she surprises herself when she doesn't immediately impact upon cloud. "I'm doing it!" Her shrill excited voice rings out.

The rainbow mane whips around in the breeze to confirm the call, Rainbow's heart goes into a made flutter. Her best friend was gliding! Sort of...

"Wheee!" Fluttershy cries in excitement, giggling with glee at being able to freely soar in the sky. "I can fly! I can fly!"

Not noticing where she was going, Rainbow impacts on soft cloud. Fluttershy follows her, unable to control her new-found gliding skills. The two-filly pile rolls around on the soft clouds, giggling like two mad youngsters without a care in the world. They come to a rest, muzzles mere inches apart.

"Hey look! Klutzershy and Rainbow Crash... lying on a cloud... K. I. S. S. I. N. G!" The rude cry of Hoops, one of the resident bullies rings out, shattering the sweet moment of partial success into a million shards of pain.

Terrified, Fluttershy whimpers and clings to her companion for comfort, trembling. 'Oh no...this can't be happening! They saw us again! Poor Rainbow...she's going to be so upset...'

The cyan filly leaps to her hooves, growling angrily. "Who said that!"

"Me!" The grinning antagonist steps forward, more than happy to claim responsibility for his actions.  "What's wrong, Rainbow Crash? Weren't you having fun with your little silly klutz of a pegasus?"

"That's it! No being mean to Fluttershy!" The cyan speedster is rapidly getting hotter and hotter with rage.

"Rainbow-! Nooooo!!!" Fluttershy cries as her best friend charges toward the grinning colt.