The morning bell rang across the Royal Academy like crystal chimes, and Sam's stomach knotted into knots. Flying class. The one hour of every day that felt like pain.
"Remember what I taught you," Nana Rose had whispered that morning, fixing Sam's special cloak.
"Keep your wings hidden, little star. The world isn't ready." Now Sam stood at the edge of the academy's grand flying platform, watching friends spread their wings like colorful butterflies.
Blue wings for doctors, green for nature workers, purple for artists. Everyone knew exactly where they fit. Everyone except Sam.
"Alright, students!" Professor Windham called out, his own bronze wings gleaming in the sunshine.
"Today we practice advanced patterns. Partner up!" Sam's heart sank. Partnering meant flying close to someone, and flying close meant questions about why Sam's wings stayed hidden.
"Sam!" Riley Moon bounded over, her silver wings sparkling like stars.
"Want to be partners?" Before Sam could answer, a shadow fell over them. Alex Storm landed smoothly nearby, golden wings folded behind their back like a royal cape. Up close, Alex was even more frightening - tall, confident, with eyes that seemed to see everything.
"Actually," Alex said, their voice strangely gentle,
"I was hoping Sam would partner with me." Riley's silver wings faded slightly.
"Oh. Okay, sure." Sam looked at Alex in shock. The future ruler of Aetheria wanted to join with them?
"But I'm... I'm not very good at flying."
"That's exactly why," Alex answered, offering their hand.
"I could use the practice teaching." As they walked to the starting spot, Sam caught Riley watching them with a strange expression. Was she... jealous?
"Ready?" Alex asked, spreading their beautiful golden wings. Sam nodded, keeping their coat tight around their shoulders.
They spread their wings just enough to fly, but not enough for anyone to see the secret rainbow colors beneath the fabric.
They took off together, Sam staying low while Alex soared overhead. But something felt different today.
Every time Alex looked down at them, Sam's secret wings tingled with warmth.
"You know," Alex called down, "you don't have to stay so close to the ground. I won't let you fall."
"I'm fine here," Sam lied, but their voice cracked. Alex suddenly dove down, flying right beside Sam.
"What are you so afraid of?" The question hit Sam like lightning.
Afraid? They were scared. Terrified of being different, of being rejected, of their grandmother's words coming true.
"I'm not afraid," Sam said, but they flew even lower.
"Prove it," Alex challenged, their golden wings catching the sunshine.
"Fly up to the cloud level with me. Just once." Sam's heart hammered. The cloud level was where only the best flyers went. But something in Alex's eyes - not mockery, but real kindness - made Sam want to try.
"Okay," Sam whispered.
"But if I fall" "I'll catch you," Alex promised. They climbed higher, higher than Sam had ever flown before.
The school grounds shrank below them, and the air grew thin and cold. Sam's cloak fluttered in the wind, and for a frightening moment, they thought it might slip.
"This is amazing!" Alex laughed, spinning through the air with pure joy.
"Look at the kingdom from up here!"
Despite their fear, Sam found themselves smiling. Alex was right - Aetheria looked like a jewel from this height, crystal towers sparkling and floating islands linked by bridges of light.
"See?" Alex said, flying closer.
"You're a natural." For just a moment, Sam forgot to be afraid. They let themselves enjoy the feeling of flying through the clouds, the wind in their hair, the freedom of CRACK!
A sudden gust of wind tore at Sam's coat. The fabric ripped, and bright rainbow light burst through the tear. Alex's eyes went wide.
"What was that?" Panic shot through Sam like ice water.
They dove toward the ground, holding their torn cloak, but it was too late. Alex had seen the flash of rainbow colors.
"Sam, wait!" Alex called, but Sam was already landing hard on the school platform. Riley rushed over, her silver wings glowing with worry.
"What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
"Nothing," Sam gasped, rewrapping their coat. "Just... just got dizzy up there." But Alex landed right behind them, their golden wings still spread wide.
"That light," they said quietly.
"I've never seen anything like it." Sam's blood turned to ice.
"What light?"
"The light from your wings," Alex said, stepping closer.
"It was beautiful. Like a rainbow, but somehow more."
"You're imagining things," Sam said quickly, but their voice shook. Riley looked between them, her silver wings darkening with worry.
"Sam, are you okay? You're acting strange."
Before Sam could answer, Professor Windham's voice boomed across the stage.
"Emergency setup! All students to the Great Hall immediately!" The three friends exchanged looks. Emergency meetings never happened unless something was seriously wrong.
As they walked toward the Great Hall, Sam noticed other students whispering uncomfortably. Some pointed at the sky, where dark clouds had started gathering at the kingdom's edges.
"Those clouds weren't there this morning," Riley whispered, her silver wings flickering with magical energy. Alex's golden wings tensed.
"Something's coming." Inside the Great Hall, Queen Celestia stood at the podium, her platinum wings dim with fear.
The entire school had gathered - hundreds of students with wings of every color, all looking frightened.
"Students," the Queen began, her voice carrying across the vast hall, "we have received worrisome reports from our border scouts.
Dark magic has been discovered at the kingdom's edges." Gasps echoed through the hall. Dark magic hadn't been seen in Aetheria for ages.
"As a precaution," Queen Celestia continued, "all students will stay at the academy until further notice. No one is to fly beyond the safety obstacles." Sam's secret wings began to tingle beneath their cloak.
Something was wrong - not just with the country, but with them.
The rainbow light was getting harder to control, responding to their feelings in ways they didn't understand.
"What kind of dark magic?" a student called out. Queen Celestia's face grew grave.
"The kind that steals the color from wings."
The hall fell silent. In Aetheria, losing your wing color meant losing your power, your identity, your very self. As the assembly finished and students filed out in worried groups, Alex caught Sam's arm.
"We need to talk," they said quietly.
"About what I saw up there." Sam's heart beat.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"There is," Alex persisted.
"And I think it might be connected to what's happening to the kingdom." Riley emerged beside them, her silver wings glowing brighter than usual.
"Connected how?" Alex looked around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned closer.
"The old tales talk about wings that shine with rainbow light. They say the Rainbow Guardian appears when great darkness threatens the kingdom." Sam's blood ran cold.
"That's just a story." "Is it?" Alex asked, their golden eyes fierce.
"Because I've been reading about those legends, and they say the Rainbow Guardian hasn't been seen for"
"A thousand years," Riley ended, her voice barely a whisper.
The three friends stared at each other as the truth hung in the air between them. Around them, the Great Hall buzzed with nervous energy as students discussed the Queen's statement.
But all Sam could think about was the way their wings had reacted to Alex's presence, the way the rainbow light had burst free without their control, and the terrible possibility that their grandmother's warnings were about to come true.
"We should go," Sam said quickly.
"Before anyone notices us talking."
But as they left the Great Hall, none of them saw the dark figure watching from the shadows, its black wings spread wide, its eyes glowing with old hunger.
The Shadow King had found his target. And Sam's secret was about to become everyone's trouble.