The Starmaker

Chapter 12- Get Mad, Fluttershy!

The ponies marched on toward the mountains all throughout the next day, hardly taking a break. Later on in the evening, they came across a clearing.

"Well, this looks like as good a place to camp out as any," Rarity stated.

Twilight Sparkle turned back. "You can't be serious. We still have a few hours of daylight left!"

Rarity huffed. "You said yourself we can't be sure of that."

"She's got a point, Twilight," Applejack agreed. "And the young 'uns are plum tuckered out." She gestured a hoof at the Crusaders, who were struggling to keep up.

"No!" Scootaloo said weakly. "We're fine!"

"Yeah," wheezed Applebloom. "We're not gonna hold you back!"

Then the Crusaders all collapsed in a pile, followed by Spike.

"Aw, poor things," Fluttershy cooed.

Twilight groaned. "Fine! We'll just have to push twice as hard tomorrow."

As Twilight began the process of setting up camp, Rainbow Dash turned to Applejack and whispered, "Geez, who put the stick up her-"

"Rainbow!" Applejack hissed. "She's got a point too. We are on a sort of time limit."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But does she have to be so…Twilight about it?"

Eventually, everypony was settling down. Fluttershy was seeing to the Crusaders when Rainbow Dash approached.

"Fluttershy! Scootaloo! Come with me!"

With confused glances, the pegasi followed Rainbow to the edge of the clearing.

"What do you want, Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked.

"Have you guys forgotten already?" Rainbow groaned as she was met with blank stares. "You're both members of 'Rainbow Dash's Super Amazing Crazy Awesome Flying Academy!' We're here to practice!"

It was Scootaloo's turn to groan. "But we're so tired!"

"Do you think I got this awesome by complaining?" Rainbow Dash demanded. "Do ya? Besides, this may be our only chance to practice with Commandant Sparkle leading the way."

Fluttershy looked at Scootaloo, then back to Rainbow Dash. "Tell you what Dashie, I'll practice with you, if you let Scootaloo go rest with the others."

"What?" Rainbow Dash glared at the yellow Pegasus. "Since when is this a democracy?"

Fluttershy glared back, using her famous "Stare." Rainbow Dash shivered, then caved. "Fine. Go rest, kid."

Scootaloo sighed, joining the others.

Rainbow turned back to Fluttershy. "Okay, today we're going to work on extreme flying, Speed, power, that kind of stuff, because, no offense Fluttershy, you kind of fly like a wimp."

"Oh, none taken."

"That's another thing. You're too nice! If you wanna fly like me, you're gonna have to get mad!"

"But you always seem so…laid-back."

"That's just a front. Trust me, when I'm flying, I'm a boiling pool of rage, pure energy!"

"Oh…oh my."

"Here, now try this." Rainbow Dash took off, zipping around the sky and skimming the treetops a few times before settling back down in front of Fluttershy again. "Now you try it."

Fluttershy gulped. She flapped her wings, lifting off, then flew around in a small circle and landed. "Was that okay?"

Rainbow face-hoofed.

It continued on like this for an hour or so, back and forth, until…

"Okay, this isn't working," Rainbow sighed. "You need to get mad!"

"I don't know, Rainbow…"

Suddenly, an idea flashed through the blue Pegasus's mind. "Abysma!"

"Hmm?"

Rainbow Dash got in Fluttershy's face. "Abysma! You can't tell me you're not mad at her! She burned your house down! She hurt your animals!"

"Oh…" Tears formed in the shy pony's eyes.

"NO!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Don't cry! Get angry! Use that energy and FLY!"

Fluttershy squeezed her eyes shut, gritted her teeth, and shot straight up into the air, knocking back her instructor. Rainbow Dash gazed up in amazement, then flew up after her.

"Fluttershy? Fluttershy!" she called out, as they rose higher and higher. "You're doing it!"

Fluttershy opened her eyes, and gasped at their height. "My goodness! You-you're right!"

Rainbow Dash giggled and took off. "Now follow meeeeeee!"

Fluttershy gulped and looked down at the forest far below them, the clearing a small dot. "Okay, get angry, get angry…" Her face turned resolute.

"Abysma, you meanie!" And she took off after Rainbow Dash. She actually managed to catch up with the rainbow blur, becoming a pinkish-yellow blur herself. The ponies on the ground watched the show from below.

"Amazing!" Twilight declared.

Applejack whistled. "Well I'll be…"

"She's doing it! She's doing it!" Pinkie cried, jumping up and down.

"Go Fluttershy!" Rarity cheered.

"Most impressive," Gogo nodded.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders stared up in wonder, wide-eyed, even Silver Spoon.

After a few passes, the pegasi settled down with the others.

"I think that's enough for today," Rainbow Dash announced. "But that was pretty good!"

"Pretty good?" said Twilight, "Fluttershy, that was awesome!"

The ponies gathered around Fluttershy, congratulating her. Rainbow, watching from the side, couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. She sighed, hanging her head. Through the others, Fluttershy saw this. The yellow Pegasus smiled lightly.

"Thanks you guys, but I really couldn't have done it without Rainbow Dash."

Everyone's attention turned to the blue Pegasus, who chuckled. "It was nothing, really-"

Twilight smiled. "You make a great teacher, Rainbow Dash."

"Well, I…" Rainbow stopped and thought about it for a moment. "You know what, I kinda do."

Scootaloo rushed over to Rainbow Dash. "Forget resting! I wanna learn how to fly like that!"

Rainbow chuckled again and rustled Scootaloo's mane with a hoof. "Sorry kid, it's getting dark out, and besides, Fluttershy was right. You guys need your rest. We got a big day of traveling tomorrow."

Scootaloo groaned, and rejoined the crusaders. In a few minutes, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, plus Spike, were all fast asleep.

"We should all do the same," Twilight said, "It's like Rainbow said, we have a big day of traveling tomorrow."

The ponies curled up and went to sleep, with one exception.

Gogo Gadget stayed up, keeping watch throughout the night.