Heads in the Clouds

With an overly dramatic, feigned sigh, the pale mare began to list the names of camps she had attended during her foalhood.  “Places such as Science Exploration Camp, Little Astronomers’ Summer Camp, Junior Novelist Society, History Nights…” Even as she said them, she knew how incredibly nerdy they must sound, but she couldn’t keep herself from grinning.  It was nice that someone had asked, nicer still that it was Aero showing an interest.

“The kind of camps that foals were really really excited about, or that foals absolutely dreaded because their parents made them go.  Naturally, I was one of the former,” she stated, unable to contain a laugh at her own expense.  None of this was likely to surprise Aero, but she still felt a little embarrassed to have been such an utter egghead in her younger years - something that hadn't changed much, in truth.

Science Exploration, Little Astronomers, Novelist Society. No wonder Bright was such a studious yet explorative academic. It explained where her interests had come from and her cutie mark to some extent. Bright seemed to find it funny, perhaps in an embarrassing way to discuss her younger years but Aero was enjoying hearing about it. He found it quite endearing really.

"That explains a lot," Aero stated cryptically, stroking his chin as if some great mystery had been solved. "They must have been great fun."

The topic of studies and space suddenly reminded him of something. His hoof searched in his saddle bag before pulling out a wrapped parcel, that did little to disguise the fact it was a book; The Great Anthology of Astronomers and Academics on the Night. Since taking the book from the Castle of the Two Sisters, Aero had learnt it was a very old, rare tome, which included personal journal entries and hoof written notes from scholars a thousand years past.

"I hope you don't mind, but I stumbled across this the other day and thought you might like it," explained Aero, a little sheepish at presenting the gift, but he quickly covered it with a joke, "Unless, of course, you've grown up to much since camp and think books are boring."

Aero earned a wider smile from the mare as he stroked his chin.  He then commented that it must have been fun, and she shrugged  “Fun in a terribly nerdy way, yes.  I imagine most fillies and colts would go made after a week.  But I enjoyed it.  It was also my first taste of travel, which clearly only grew as I did.”

She watched curiously as Aero Dynamic rummaged through the bag he carried before offering a gift for the pale blue unicorn, whose face registered her surprise as she took glanced over it.  Using her hooves to open the unexpected parcel, she peered down to see a treasure.  Her eyes widened with shock and delight.  She had seen books similar in title, but nothing like this — she delicately opened the cover to examine it.  Clearly, it was very old, and Bright was careful as she paged through it, enthralled by what was inside.  The delicate curve of written print was startlingly clear, the work of scholars and astronomers that had been dead for centuries.

For once, she felt genuinely speechless - first because it was such an amazing, irreplaceable find, and also because he had thought to bring it to her.  She couldn’t keep from smiling as she gingerly placed the book onto the table, her attention turning back to the gray stallion with a joy she didn’t know quite how to express.  “Thank you, Aero.  This means a lot to me. I love it.”

With the gift given, Aero watched intently as Bright's expression changed. First surprise, then intrigue, then anticipation and then returning to surprise. She seemed to stare at the book with such a dumbstruck expression that he momentarily worried he'd somehow broken the mare. Then her smile returned. Her eyes lit up in a way they hadn't before. Something of pure unadulterated joy.

Then she directed her bright sapphire eyes up at him. Aero couldn't help but feel touched by her gleefulness. It was endearing really. His own smile widened as she thanked him in a manner so sincere and heartfelt that a faint blush of embarrassment spread on his cheeks. The pegasus looked away for a moment to compose himself, giving a little chuckle.

"You're welcome," he replied simply. There wasn't much else to say. She had meant it, he had meant it.

Coughing to clear his throat of the lump that seemed to have mysteriously formed there, Aero took his final swig of lemonade. "So, fancy heading off? The tour isn't over yet."

It didn’t register in her mind to be bashful in her expressions and enthusiasm while somepony was watching as she reacted in a genuine manner — which was arguably the only way Bright Eyes could react.  She wasn’t adept at hiding what she was thinking or feeling on a normal day, but on this, a day spent in a place she had always dreamed of, at the side of a pony she was growing fonder of with each passing second.  He was full of happy surprises, and the rather bashful, sweet way he responded physically to her gratitude made the moment as close to perfect as  she could imagine.

For a lingering moment, the mare was silent as she gazed across the table to her pegasus friend, unable to suppress her own smile.  How could it be, she mused internally, that the two had known each other a relatively brief time, yet seemed to know the other so well?  It was definitely not something Bright Eyes encountered often — or ever, she pondered.  Aero Dynamic was different, somehow, in a way she couldn’t fully understand at present.

He coughed, drawing Bright back to the present and away from the distracting thoughts that were always nagging in the back of her mind.  With her horn glowing soft gold again, the book lifted from the table, hanging in the air in front of Bright Eyes as she turned to allow Aero to lead the way.  She had no desire to see the tour end any time soon.  She wasn’t ready to go home now, or say goodbye to the gray stallion.  “Lead the way!”

Aero managed to fully collect himself by the time Bright Eyes responded. "Great. Let's go."

He excused himself from the table, leaving bits to pay for their refreshing drinks. Deep down, he was relieved that she had appreciated the book. He didn't think she would dislike it but he half expected a shrug and an admittance of 'I've got this one already.' The gift couldn't have been better received, and it made Aero happy to see Bright so happy.

They turned a corner and found themselves in what was easily the busiest area of the city they had entered.

"Market district," Aero announced, gesturing to the collection of store fronts and stalls. "You won't find Canterlot high fashion, but we make do."

The vendors stored a wide selection of all sorts of items to be found. Ponies darted around, either walking or flying, with many idly chitchatting or bartering for prices. The pair seemed to be attracting some attention. Some were paying attention to the unicorn mare besides him. Others gave Aero a nod and greetings when they passed, as he recognised a couple of familiar faces.

As she rounded the corner with Aero beside her, Bright Eyes looked around curious to soak in everything that was happening - the hurry of ponies attending to their business, the relaxed others who were in no rush that day, and stores of every sort lining the road.  She was busy looking at all the buildings when she got an odd sensation — like someone was watching.

Her eyes dropped to the pegasi population to notice that yes, there were some ponies looking directly at her.  Some glanced away quickly when she made eye contact, while others looked shamelessly back at her.  A couple smiled.  Most didn’t, whether because they didn’t care about the random unicorn, or that they believed she didn’t really belong there.  Again, her mind raced with the possibilities, her smile faltering as she wondered.  Was she just being paranoid?  Bright wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Her focus returned to Aero, expression puzzled as she suddenly felt out of place once more.  But that wasn’t going to stop her or ruin her day.  She shrugged it off and didn’t shy away.  “The market district is bigger than I expected.  Easily twice as large as it is in Trottingham,” she commented, ignoring the rest of the world for the time being.  All the while, the book levitated before her, close to her chest. She hesitated before asking a question that would further confirm her status as a super nerd.  “How large is the library in the city?”

As Aero walked on, he realised that not all the faces looking their way were cheerful smiles. While some were just curious, others were nonplussed or even dismissive. It took him a moment to gather that they must be surprised by his unicorn companion. It wasn't too uncommon for non pegasi to be in Cloudsdale but the sight always cause a bit of a stir, but never anything beyond stares. After all, ponies were friendly folks.

Having thought that however, one stallion he passed gave them a look that seemed outright hostile. Careful to keep it out of sight of Bright Eyes as much as possible, Aero gave the pegasus an icy cold glare that channeled the chilling power of a Windigo. The stallion wilted before turning away. Instantly, Aero's expression returned to being passive, just in time to catch Bright's question.

"Quite large, I suppose," Aero answered, after a moment's thought. A knowing grin crept onto his face as he knew where this line of questioning would be heading. "It's not too far away actually. Would you like to see it?"

Though normally friendly, she was a bit intimidated by it all, and Bright Eyes decided not to engage with some of the ponies there.  Since she had nothing to spend, there was no reason to walk through the crowds and look at things she couldn’t buy.  Thankfully, the mare didn’t notice the unknown pegasus glaring in their direction — or her direction, if his hostility was intended solely for the unicorn.  She also failed to see the cold look that Aero gave to the stallion.

Her smile returned once she pushed the crowd of strangers from her mind, focus returning to find the grin on Aero’s features and a knowing look in his cool blue eyes.  “Of course!  I hope they don’t try to take my new book for the library's shelves.  I doubt another copy exists.  It's irreplaceable.  Where did you find it?”

Bright's response was not surprising; of course she would want to see the library. Aero hadn't visited in a long time although he had some good memories there too, so he was happy to go as well. Even if he wasn't, how could he deny Bright the chance of seeing another library? He didn't want to see her stop smiling for the rest of the day.

Taking up this bet with himself, Aero lead the way to the library as they chatted. "I'm sure they have plenty of nice old books for themselves," he jested, as he contemplated his answer to the question. Part of him wanted to be truthful, but another part of him warned him that not all ponies would like the fact he took the book from the old castle. He thought it over for a second, not letting his expression change before Aero spoke.

"I had in the Everfree forest to guide some pony to the Castle of the Two Sisters. The old library there is full of ancient books. I spotted that one and thought of you."

Speaking of libraries, the Cloudsdale library was just ahead. The entrance was rather imposing, with ornate pillars rising high above them to support the grand archway of the main door. The building itself was only a single story but made up for it with width.

Bright Eyes wasn’t sure what to respond to - the fact that the gift had come from the Castle of the Two Sisters (which, naturally, Bright had studied extensively in the pages of books), or the confirmation that he had thought of her in the time since the autumn race.  She felt her cheeks grow warm as she blushed unconsciously.

Then, her expression dropped, brows knitting for only a split second with concern - every pony knew the Everfree Forest was dangerous, filled with strange and ferocious creatures.  Bright had never been there, but felt a tinge of worry that Aero had, and had the propensity to return there if there was a job to do.  She reasoned with herself that it wasn’t any of her business where Aero roamed for employment.  She knew he was capable, anyway, as he was a strong, smart stallion.  “That was brave of you.  Or crazy,” she commented with a little laugh.  “Well, I’m glad you made it out of that dark forest unscathed."

As they came upon the library, Bright Eyes paused to admire the architecture.  The cloud-white columns seemed masterfully crafted, and a looming archway that welcomed visitors.  “Everything here is beautiful.  Pegasi probably grow accustomed to it, but for a newcomer, it really is stunning.”

She trotted eagerly to the entrance and inside the ivory building, where a long hallway lead to countless rows with shelves packed with books.  She stopped to breathe it all in.  The scent of old books was familiar and comforting, like going home.  She knew she could easily spend hours, if not days and weeks exploring, but even with all the thousands of books that tempted her, Bright turned back to Aero with a grin.  “I think I will just live here from now on.  Right here, and never grow bored.  Though I’m not sure what the residents of Cloudsdale would think of that,” she said, smirking as she recalled the pegasi that had looked at her with unwelcoming eyes.

Out of the corner of his eye, Aero's attention to detail noticed that Bright seemed a little flushed. He supposed it was rather warm today, with such a clear sky and being more closely exposed to Celestia's sun. It was a good thing they were heading to the shade of the library.

He didn't comment on her mentions of bravery or craziness. Less of the former, more of the later. The job for Ave had certainly been wild and not to be forgotten anytime soon. But the events of that day were not to be recalled now.

He caught Bright's observations on the library and nodded in agreement. The architecture of Cloudsdale was truly unique, what with the city being almost entirely excluded from non-pegasi influence for years. Most of the city's structures carried a similar style despite the years of difference in construction. The library was no exception to this and was one of the older buildings standing in the city. Bright seemed to waste no time in absorbing the history of the building for what it was.

"It certainly has it's own charm. I used to spend quite a bit of time here myself, reading history, he recalled, gesturing down an aisle. "In fact, if I remember correctly, it was down there that I read up on dragon lore before I earned my cutie mark."

Again, she tried to imagine her gray stallion companion as a little colt, tiny compared with the towering bookshelves and searching for history books.  The thought made her smile once more. Perhaps they had even studied the same books in their youth, though their foal years were so very different.  She found it nearly impossible to keep from smiling that day, but hadn’t realized it, as the time seemed to be racing by without notice.

“To be honest, I rather miss studying.  I’ve been thinking of returning to school, but that’s hard to do when you can’t stay put.  But sometimes I think academia is the only thing I truly excel at.  It’s a wonder my cutie mark isn’t a pile of dusty old books, or a pony who asleep with boredom.”

"Study seems like something you excel in. If you're good at it, and enjoy, I don't see why you can't give it a chance," Aero mused, causally inspecting a couple of nearby books tucked away on the shelves. "Although I always found school to be..."

Aero waved a hoof in the air, trying to search for the correct word. After a few seconds, he settled on one.

"Lacking. Sure, it taught me the basics but once that was done, I wanted to experience more. It was one of the reasons to took to working wherever I could find work. To be out in the new and experience something else."

Aero gave pause, wondering how he'd managed to go off in such a tangent. After a moment's reflection, he steered the conversation back. A teasing smile returned to his muzzle. "I don't think old books would suit you. Then your name might be Dusty Tome or something, and I don't think I could socialise with some pony with a name like that."

She wasn't surprised to hear that school wasn't exactly too exciting for a colt such as Aero Dynamic, and she gave an obviously feigned look of outrage.  "How dare you!"  But she couldn't maintain even a fake expression of anger with Aero there.  "I know what you mean.  I guess I didn't discover my love of travel until after the fact, and maybe because I had spent so long, years even, inside libraries and science laboratories."

"Dusty Tome-"  She repeated the name, unsuccessful at concealing a wave of wiggles that struck her at the suggestion.  Trying to cover her mouth with a hoof to keep her laughter quiet, she looked over toward the librarian, who was glaring in her direction.  The library was no place for conversation and laughing, and today, Bright Eyes wasn't too interested in reading, anyway.

She nudged Aero's shoulder with her own as she turned away from all the book and back toward the entrance, whispering as best she could between giggles, "Let's get out of here before the librarian forces us out.  Where to next?"

Caught off guard by Bright's laughter, Aero ended up stifling a laugh of his own, being infected as usual by the mare's cheerful mood. He found himself getting momentarily lost in that bright smile and this gleaming eyes of blue. He then caught her cue to leave and wisely followed suit as he steered them towards the door. Once he was outside, he'd managed to collect himself and was ready to head to their next location.

The next step of the 'tour' was a little unconventional. The residential area was quite beautiful but also very staggered with few paths connecting it all. This made it difficult for anyone who couldn't fly but Aero had a solution. He led Bright nearer the edge of a large cloud they stood on before taking off into the air. Aero quickly circled back and used the speed to break a section of cloud away from the rest. Holding it in hoof, he hovered down to Bright.

"Hop on. You're getting a ride."

It was easy to laugh openly with Aero, and the mare felt as light as the clouds beneath her hooves.  Thank Celestia for magic, or she would never have seen Cloudsdale for herself.  Her pace automatically slowed as the pair came nearer to an edge of the cloud - as anypony who wasn't a pegasi should.  She watched, eyes curious as Aero took to the sky.  He went a short distance before zipping back, and Bright Eyes uttered a surprise gasp as a piece of cloud was severed from the rest.  Most sane ponies might be terrified, floating on a cloud with the earth so very far below, but Bright inhaled a deep breath of air, not allowing the heights bother her as she leapt onto the pillow of soft clouds.

"It's a good thing I trust you," she stated, head held high, willing herself not to look down when Aero started to move and risk any fear.  She had never been afraid of heights before, but this... this was something entirely different.

He knew, or at least hoped, that Bright was mainly joking about trusting him. But considering the comment for a second, he realised that she must be at least slightly genuine. He couldn't place himself in the hooves of the unicorn but that was something of a leap of faith or her behalf. A joking quip was on the tip of his tongue but he reframed from saying it. Best not to tarnish the moment.

Aero ensured Bright was safely nestled onto the cloud before he gently pushed it away with him. He lead them over the main housing region of Cloudsdale. Personalised homes of cloud materials stood in rows. Many had their own unique designs to them, showing the creative freedom each designer had on the buildings. Some even sorted rainbow pools that flowed around the their gardens like multicoloured rivers.

The airspace above Cloudsdale was shockingly quiet compared to the market area they had been in moments ago. It was still warm enough to be comfortable but the separation from the bustling city below was a peaceful relief of it's own. Aero silently guided Bright along on her cloud, taking time to examine the city below.

She sat on the puffy cloud, which was as soft as she imagined it would be, peering all around.  Bright Eyes absorbed as much of the sights around her as she could, a beauty like she had never witnessed before.  Ponyville was easy to spot from above, and Canterlot looked magical in the east, perched high on a snow-capped mountain.  Far off toward the frozen north, she swore she could see the Crystal Empire sparkling like flitter in the distance, with majestic Mount Everhoof looming large behind it - by far the tallest mountain in all of Equestria, its peak and sharp slopes capped in brilliant white snow, shining like diamonds in the sunshine.  The snowy mountain range seemed endless, stretching from west to east, unexplored expanses of icy wilderness that beckoned only the most adventurous, crazy ponies.  Naturally, Bright Eyes had read all about the sights she was seeing in old books, but nothing compared to seeing it from up above.

The houses of Cloudsdale were amazing and unique, in Bright’s opinion, and she silently adored the rainbow pools that decorated the yards of some of the residents.  If she ever had a house of her own, she decided, she wanted something that looked just like that.  She was at a loss of words, uttering only a happy sigh as she was guided through the azure sky, eyes still wide with wonder.  Now, she could better understand why pegasi loved to be up above so much.

After a long, lingering quiet, she spoke up quietly, reluctant to break the utter silence of the air around them.  "Now I really wish I could live up here," she admitted sheepishly.  "I've never seen anything like this, Aero."

Aero's attention was split between the gorgeous view and the mare infant of him. He would never be unable to appreciate the sights from Cloudsdale despite how familiar they were to him. The mountain ranges, the faint blues of the distant seas and skies mixing together, and the stretching earth tones of the ground below.

The reaction of his unicorn companion seemed more interesting. Bright's eyes were locked towards earth below as she studied it intently, taking in and analysing all she could see. Content with the peaceful silence, he moved onwards with the gentle push. He softly guided the cloud in a loop, moving around the outer region on Cloudsdale. Bright's word broke the quiet but were not unwelcome.

Aero almost felt a sense of pity that Bright hadn't seen a view like this before but on reflection, perhaps he was the one losing out. She was experiencing this view for the first time in her life, while he had seen it regularly throughout most of his childhood. Was it better to experience something beautiful and great for just a moment, or to have it last a long time and become more dull to the eye. He couldn't help but think about that being one of the reason he travelled so frequently; to try and feel that buzz of the new and unexpected.

"I'm glad I could share it with you then," he replied, soft and honest. The moment didn't last long before he quipped, "Must make a change looking down at the view, rather than looking up."

The pale mare was beginning to understand: it was better to experience something beautiful and great with someone else.  Bright Eyes thought of her life on the road that was scarcely distinguishable far down below the clouds.  Even memorable days then seemed to melt together into one pointless cluster of vague thoughts when she was on her own.  But this - as with the other days she had spent with Aero - would stay with her for a long time, a simple joy she hadn't anticipated, something that seemed impossible to avoid when she was with her pegasus friend.

"I'm glad we came up here.  It's been a long while since I've found someone like you.  Even if it was a rather embarrassing moment when we first met," she conceded, rolling her eyes at her own clumsiness that day.  But smashing those glasses had meant meeting Aero, and she was grateful for that.  She didn't admit that, no, no one else made her laugh so much or revealed so much beauty to her.

"Everything else seems so far away and meaningless," she said quietly, musing aloud what she would normally keep internal.

Bright's words seemed to compliment Aero's exact thoughts. The pegasus didn't have many close friends for various reasons. Travelling, work, his less than always friendly demeanour, and his appreciation for time alone. He would often prefer to be left to his own thoughts to contemplate the events of his life and decisions he had to make. In his mind, it was essential.

But over the last year or so, he'd really started to develop an understanding of friends and companionship. To be able to share an experience with others and to enjoy making memories with them was a whole new aspect to life that Aero had neglected for a long time. Admittedly, he was still a rookie at friendship but he was learning, despite the recent difficulties and major setbacks he'd faced. He was extremely grateful that Bright had turned up in his life when she did. The sessions of doubt and anxiety seemed much less common now that he was spending time out with her. Being around her just made him happy.

'Everything else seems so far away and meaningless.' Quiet though her words were, they still reached Aero's ears. He was surprised to hear it from Bright Eyes. It seemed so pessimistic from the usually upbeat unicorn. Still, they held a morsel of truth to them.

"I suppose if you see it in the grand scheme of things, yes. Everything can seem small and insignificant," Aero pondered aloud, alone his thoughts breath to be voiced, "Equestria will be here for centuries to come. What difference can one pony make? All I know is we're here for a purpose, a destiny, so we have to make the most out of that."

If her words portrayed a sense of pessimism, the mare’s face didn’t show it.  Rather, her expression was thoughtful as she continued gazing at the world below.  For that brief second, she didn’t have to think of the meaning of it all down there: the countless others, the jobs she couldn’t find, a home she didn’t have.  She had only to think of the present, far removed from the usual, of herself and the friend she felt increasingly close to.  When the gray stallion spoke up, Bright Eyes made a soft, thoughtful sound.  Aero wasn’t the first pony to talk about destinies that week, and she recalled her encounter in Canterlot with Destiny Seeker.

Pegasi moved clouds and created weather.  The earth ponies fed Equestria, sustaining life.  The unicorns had a variety of tasks, and a world open to them because of the magic they could produce.  And Bright Eyes… well, she existed.  And maybe that was good enough for now.  Maybe, as Destiny had suggested, she had already found what it was she was looking for, and she was waiting instead for an epiphany that seemed just out of reach.

She looked down to the book she had been given, centuries old - more years back than Bright Eyes could begin to guess.  It was dusty, with corners worn with time, but still intact.  She touched it gently with a hoof.  The ponies that had contributed to the book, all the stories gathered there, were the memory of lives that would have otherwise been forgotten - great ponies worthy of remembrance.  Each pony, with a purpose, something well understood by the one who claimed it, made it a part of their identity, their work, and their legacy.

“I hope that I can do something worth remembering when generations have passed.  Our only hope for immortality is in what we leave behind, I believe.”  It didn’t really disturb her to think of an inevitable end, as she wasn’t a particularly morbid pony - just realistic.  Worse was the idea of living a pointless, lonely existence, which frightened her more than a far-away ending.

Aero reflected on Bright's statement. If there was thing he had learnt from his studying and understanding of history, it was that the one's who were truly remembered for generations were the ones who had accomplished great things. Whether good or evil, the achievements of those ponies lived on in the annals of history, from being engraved in the stones of ancient structures to formed in words on the delicate touch of paper. But they meant nothing if the ponies themselves hadn't experienced the world around them.

"I think immortality is overrated if you didn't truly live when you were alive," he replied, thinking further on the point.

Was it truly possible for everyone to make an impression on the world? On a group of ponies? On one? Would that make it all worth it? Personally, Aero didn't subscribe to that mentality. Some were meant for great things, and others not so much. But greatness was a matter of perspective. The accomplishments of one could be seen as trivial to another.

Aero surveyed the view again, taking in the breadth of Equestria from horizon to horizon. There were so many places he'd been to, and yet so many left to explore. Eventually, he'd find somewhere to be content.

"No. It's better to really matter to just a few, or even just one..."

Bright Eyes couldn’t recall having a conversation like this in a long while - the kind that, in truth, the mare lived for, making her consider truths and a deeper perspective.  She was quiet again as she thought before deciding that perhaps this was one of those times she should be candid, without over-analyzing every syllable that left her tongue.

“But even the definition of what constitutes life - a fulfilled life - means different things to different ponies.  Some are content with amassing wealth and spending their time on objects others have deemed beautiful, worthwhile.  Others seem to be content never leaving their home village and what is familiar.  But that wasn’t ever going to be enough.” She suspected he could relate.  For two so different, from vastly different upbringings, she felt some things were unspoken between them.

It was the last sentence the stallion had spoken that seemed to settle in Bright’s mind like a heavy, inescapable weight:  “No. It's better to really matter to just a few, or even just one…”

She considered all the hours spent in the company of old books, microscopes and telescopes.  Connections with others were important, part of the reason she had left home, but this… This was something different. She felt a lump in her throat that she tried to ignore.  “If you had told me two months ago that this is where I’d be today, I wouldn’t have believed it.  Who can guess what’s to come?”