The Rainbow Family were at CloudsDale.

The traditional junior race was happening today and Rainbow figured it was time to try out racing with her son, Pippin. Speaking of the light green colt, he was excitedly hopping around, looking around in amazement. This is his first time at the big pegasus city after all.

Applejack’s hat sat on the colt’s head, she gave it to him as a some sort of lucky charm. Rainbow Dash chuckled, she can just see her wife sitting in the crowd, being extremely worried but so excited to see their little boy finally use the talent he got from Rainbow.

Around them were many other little pegasuses, some sitting around nervously and some flying around with their parents watching them in amusement. The junior race is a big deal in the life of a pegasus. When a pegasus turns 6, they are officially ready for their first race, although some parents wait a little longer. Pippin begged his moms to let him join the moment he turned 5, so, they figured it will be a special surprise for his 6 birthday, it worked and the little colt screamed with excitement the moment Rainbow told him.

“So what do you say, Pip? You like it here?” The rainbow haired mare asked, laughing as the little colt took off into the air and started quickly flying around his mother.

“Yes!” Was all he screamed out.

Rainbow grinned, remembering how excited she too was in her younger years. “I’m going to go check on ‘ma, okay? Don’t cause any trouble!” And with that, she left, leaving the little colt alone and free to explore.

But most importantly, free to make friends!

Pippin looked around, before his eyes settled on a small pale blue colt with a black hoodie, his back was turned to him, so Pippin couldn’t see his face, but that didn’t matter, the small colt already decided they will be friends! He smiled, making his way over to him.

“Hi!”

The blue colt quickly turned around, alarmed expression on his face, before he locked eyes with Pippin and his expression turned to a one of confusion. “Hi?” He said back, actually more of a question than a statement.

The smaller of the two stick out a hoof for him to shake. “I’m Pippin!” When the blue colt just stared at his hoof, the small colt put it down, a friendly smile still on his face. “What’s your name?”

The taller colt stared at him, as if he was processing, before his eyes widened. “Oh! I’m…I’m Thunder Storm.” He stammered a little, a small smile finding a way onto his face. “You can call me Thunder, thought.” He added.

“Nice to meet you, Thunder!”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Pippin sat down, watching as Thunder did the same. He looked excited to be talking with someone. “So, this is your first race?” The blue colt asked, giggling a little at how fast the other nodded his head. “Yeah! I’m…” He trailed off, looking deep in thought, before his face broke into a grin once again. “6!” He said, proud of the fact he remembered so quickly.

Thunder nodded. “I’m 8.” He grinned, opening his, slightly larger than average, wings. “Mom and I race a lot, but it’s so cool to finally be in a real race!” Pippin quickly nodded again, flapping his wings. “I know! I always wanted to be a part of a real race.” He moved a little closer to his new friend. “Don’t tell anyone but I’m really hoping I will get my cutie mark today.” Thunder grinned, wrapping a wing around the smaller colt, whispering back. “I’m hoping for that too.”

The two giggled, before a mare’s voice cut in. “Thunder?” The two colts looked over to see a tall, aquamarine mare, grinning at them. “Who is your new friend? Introduce me.” Thunder stood up, Pippin following. “This is Pippin, he is 6 and he is already here! How cool is that?” He grinned back at his mother, his wing still around his friend. “Hello, miss!”

Thunder’s mom looked at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Hey, little one. Just call me Lightning, will ya?” She chuckled, when the small colt nodded and smiled brightly at her. She looked back to her son. “Now, say bye to your friend, we still need to talk about your strategy on the race.” She started walking away, but stopped in surprise when she heard Thunder speak up.

“It’s just a race, either I win or I don’t, but…. but I wanna talk with Pippin some more.”

Lightning Dust looked at her son in disbelief, a lot less patience now. “You can always talk to your friend later, right now you need to think about what’s actually important.” She didn’t mean for it to sound so harsh, but the two colts flinched anyway. She noticed this and stopped for a second, looking between her son and his friend, a little quilt in her eyes, before she sighed. She looked tired. “Let’s just go Thunder, we will find Pippin later.” The blue colt nodded, looking at the ground, he removed his wing from around the smaller colt and went to his mother.

The pegasus mare looked down at him, at loss of what to do. She was never good with feelings or emotions. She doesn’t know how to let her son know she didn’t mean it. So, instead of trying, she turned around and started walking. Thunder followed, before he stopped shortly and looked at his friend. “Bye.” He mouthed with a small smile, before finally looking up and holding his head high, as his mother would probably want him to.  

Pippin, even if they were far gone now, whispered a small “Bye”, before running off to find his mom.