Valor walked into the house, wiping his hooves carefully on the cloud welcome mat.

“Mom, Zephyr, I’m home! And I have something really cool to show you!”

He trotted over to the noisy living room, where he saw his younger brother, Sky frantically buzzing his little wings, and beginning
to hover above the ground. Rainbow Dash and Zephyr Breeze were gently encouraging him, and didn’t glance behind them as
Valor cleared his throat.

“Mom, look what Miss Cheerilee gave me today!” he piped up, rummaging through his bag.

Rainbow absentmindedly replied, “That’s nice, bud.”

Valor pulled out a scroll and unrolled it. Gazing at it proudly, he read the words on it for the hundredth time, Grade A Student: Iambic Valor.
He smiled, and turned it towards his family, pride radiating from every inch of his body. Mom’s gonna be so proud of me! He thought happily.

“Mom, can you look at this?”

Rainbow Dash’s encouraging words to Sky were getting louder, and suddenly, Valor’s little brother rose significantly higher. Zephyr and Rainbow erupted into cheers and praise. Valor gazed at his baby brother, and felt happiness well up inside of him, Awesome! Sky can fly already! He’s so young!

“Mooooom, look!” he begged, holding out the scroll.

Zephyr glanced behind him, and noticed his step-son, “Oh, welcome home, dude!” he paused, and turned to him, his head cocking to the side as he saw what was in Valor’s hooves, "What’s that?” he asked, gesturing towards the scroll.

“It’s my certificate for being a grade A student in school!” Valor beamed.

Zephyr smiled and patted him on the head, “That’s nice, dude.” then turned back to Rainbow Dash and their son.

Valor grinned, then turned his eyes up to his mother, who was still in the air with Sky.

“Mom, can you please just look over here for a second?”

No answer. She didn’t seem to hear him. Valor scrunched up his face in irritation, and began whining, “Mom! Mom!
Mooooooom!”

Eventually, Rainbow Dash whipped her head around, her facial expression clearly showing her annoyance, “Whaaat?” she
snapped.

Valor shrank back from the intensity in her gaze, but shook it off, his excitement replacing his shock, “Mom, look! I'm a grade A
student!”

Rainbow Dash’s gaze softened, and she lowered herself onto the ground next to him, Sky in her hooves. She glanced at the
paper, and her eyes sparkled, “That’s awesome, bud! Now let's go to Sugarcube Corner to celebrate this accomplishment with some cake!”

Valor felt as if he were going to burst with happiness, “We're celebrating my good grades with cake?”

Rainbow Dash stopped and turned to him, her eyes wide, “Oh, uh, well it was going to be for celebrating Sky's accomplishment on learning how to fly, but, uh… yeah, we can make it a celebration for you too, if you want, bud.”

Valor’s spirits fell. Oh. He thought sadly, Of course… for Sky.