//------------------------------// // Will You Follow? // Story: Forever Fell Short // by The Red Parade //------------------------------// The building looked nothing like Lightning expected it to.  Tucked in the middle of two faceless gray buildings, the address on the card led to a pastel, two-storied building: reminiscent of Cloudsdale architecture if Cloudsdale were built by earth ponies. Lightning glanced up and down the street, ruffling her wings impatiently. Everywhere from the sidewalk to the nearby cafes seemed to be jam-packed with ponies, milling about and enjoying the easy autumn evening.  She paced up and down the cobblestone road impatiently, eyes constantly flicking to the building. Every couple of seconds she would take a hesitant step towards it, but the inner turmoil in her mind pulled her away. Lightning spat in disgust. She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut and dropping her head in disappointment.  “Hiya!” She flinched as a bubbly voice called out from next to her. Lightning whirled around to find a gray pegasus in a cap and sweater was smiling at her. Her form was somewhat awkward and lanky, with a pale blonde mane falling from beneath her hat and onto her shoulder.  “Uh… hi,” Lightning stammered. “Did you need something? I noticed you were waiting outside,” the mare continued, leaning forwards on her lanky forelegs. “You can come inside, you know!” Lightning blinked, rubbing a foreleg absently. “I, uh… was just… considering things?” “Ooh, that’s always good!” The pegasus tilted her head to the right, and Lightning noticed one of her eyes drifting up to the sky. “Did you want to know more about the Rebounds program?” “Uh… sure?” “Great!” The mare extended her hoof, and Lightning shook it. “My name’s Ditzy, but you can call me Derpy. I’m the captain of this team! Why don’t you come inside and we can talk some more?” Lightning worked her jaw, scuffing a hoof against the sidewalk. “Well… yeah, fine, I guess.” Derpy nodded excitedly. “Follow me!” She turned and practically pranced up the stairs to the building, a bouncy mass of limbs and wings. Lightning coughed into the back of her hoof, glancing around at some of the onlookers who had stopped to stare before following her into the building. The receptionist (a pegasus in a wheelchair) waved at Derpy before the two engaged in a conversation, leaving Lightning to look around the room.  The first thing Lightning saw in the foyer was a massive flag, hanging behind what she assumed to be the reception desk. The flag depicted the profile of a pegasus, aimed at the sky with wings spread, against a neon green and black background: the same coloring on Derpy’s hoodie.  Against the right wall were some sofas and a coffee table, littered with magazines and brochures. Lightning went over and picked one up, flipping through it idly. The text went on about how the Rebounds was open to any and all pegasi, with a large emphasis being blacked on “second chances.” Lightning scoffed, flipping it over to its backside. What are you waiting for? it asked. Get reunited with your dream! She blinked, chewing on that thought until Derpy called her over. She led Lightning out of the lobby and through a small hallway, before entering a surprisingly simple office. Two large bookshelves were mounted behind the desk, adorned with novels, thick binders, and a plethora of photographs. A group of filing cabinets stood tall against the wall, strangely decorated with fridge magnets and post-it notes. It was strange, a place that was meant to be professional looking so… childish. “Oh my, terribly sorry but I never got your name,” Derpy said as she sat down behind the desk. She shed her hat, letting her mane bounce freely.  “Lightning. Lightning Dust.” “A pleasure to meet you. Please, have a seat,” Derpy replied, gesturing to the armchair opposite of her. Lightning did, observing some of the photographs decorating Derpy’s desk.  “So… what the heck do you guys even do?” she asked.  Derpy smiled warmly, leaning back and sipping from her styrofoam cup. “Well, the Rebounds program is designed to help pegasi find the joy in flying again! We’re made up of ponies from all different walks. Some were denied from competitive flight teams, others are trying to recover from severe injuries, and a few just never considered it an option!” “Denied from a flight team?” Lightning asked. “Yeah! I’m one of them myself. When I was a filly, the only thing I ever wanted to be was a Wonderbolt! But… well, I’m sure you’ve noticed this,” Derpy said, pointing to her drifting eye. “They couldn’t offer me a spot with my poor coordination. But they were nice about it. Other places… Well, not so much.” She sighed, picking up a framed photograph and examining it. “It was hard for a while, not being able to find a job just because my eyes can’t see straight. Even more so when trying to care for two daughters.” She passed the photograph over to Lightning, who examined it cautiously. In the photo, Derpy was hugging two young foals, both unicorns.  “Aww, you got kids?”  “Yeah! Gosh, Dinky and Sparkler mean the world to me. They’re the reason I founded the Rebounds, in fact.” Derpy sighed, turning in her chair to gaze at her bookshelf. “It was hard back when I didn’t have anything. I couldn’t get Dinky the toys she wanted, Sparkler the books she needed… I didn’t know what else to do. With nowhere to go, nobody to help… I just felt anger. And I channeled that anger and turned it into this. Because I realized I’m not the only pony to feel shunned like that. But every pony deserves love and a chance! So to answer your question, that’s what we do. We give them that chance.” Lightning sniffed, setting the photo back on the desk. “...Sounds a little sappy when you put it like that.” Derpy laughed. “Well, I suppose it is. I guess you’re not the sappy kind of pony?” “Nah, I’m too cool for that,” Lightning answered with a toss of her mane. “Your kids are adorable though.” “So foals is where you draw the line?” chuckled Derpy. “They’re great! I remember we had a group of kids who’d follow us everyday after work… always wanting flying advice.”  Derpy just smiled, tapping the edge of her desk. “Lightning Dust… aren’t you Rolling Thunder’s friend?” Lightning stiffened at that. “She told you about me?” Derpy nodded. “She didn’t say much. Just that she thought you’d need my help.” “Well I don’t,” Lightning responded reflexively, folding her forelegs. Derpy blinked and tilted her head to the side. “Oh? Then why did you come?” “I just… wanted to see what you guys did,” Lightning answered. “That’s all.” “Ah… okay! That’s perfectly fine,” Derpy continued without missing a beat. “I hope you found the program interesting at least!” “Sort of,” Lightning muttered. But Derpy wasn’t deterred by her somewhat snide response. “Oh! While you’re here…” She reached over to a small stack of flyers and passed one over. “Rainbow Dash is organizing the annual Cloudsdale Water Transfer! She’s looking for every pegasus she can get and asked us to assist, if you’re available I’m sure she’d love to have you.” Lightning stared at the poster, which depicted a hurricane with dozens of pegasi flying in circles around it. The dark gray clouds in the back sent a shudder down her spine as her eyes locked onto the image in fear. The current feels off tonight. She blinked and forced the memory out of her mind, folding the flyer up and tucking it behind her wing. “Um, thanks. I’ll see if I’m free.” “Yay! Oh goodness, look at the time, I have to go lead our practice session today,” Derpy said, rising from her seat and adjusting her hat. She smiled at Lightning, forcing both eyes to stare at her warmly. “It was a pleasure to see you, Lightning! I hope we’ll meet again some time.” “Yeah,” Lightning offered meekly. “Me too.” With that, she rose and left the room, half-filled thoughts swirling in her head. “So if you’re gonna jump Then you better stick the landing Or are you too afraid To be the last one standing?” Lightning bounced her head to the beat of her music, spinning around in a circle. Her mailbags would have flown off if they weren’t attached to her body. She whirled to a halt in front of a mailbox, yanking the door open and shoving a few letters inside before shutting it again. She paused to turn up the volume before continuing down the road, hooves pounding with the beat. “Get up, get up What the hell are you waiting for? Get up, get up I wanna see you out the door Get up, get up Let’s shoot a hole in the parachute Get up, get up Just get me the hell outta--” “LIGHTNING!” “Gah!” Lightning tripped over her hooves, crashing to the pavement as the brim of her hat slid over her eyes. She groaned, angrily pulling the cap off her head to glare at the offending party: a purple pegasus laden with mailbags.  “What the hay do you want, Snow?!” Lightning growled, pulling herself to her hooves. Snow Violet scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I’ve been trying to get your attention for, like, five minutes.” Lightning raised an eyebrow, digging into her shirt pocket to silence the music player. She pulled her headphones onto her neck before sighing. “What do you want?” “I… I need your advice,” Snow replied, fiddling with the strap on her messenger’s bag. “Advice on what?” Lightning asked, holding her head up in pride that of all the ponies in the office, she was the one everyone went to for help. Snow studied the pavement carefully. “Uh. So you know that roommate of yours? The one you said had those... connections?  Lightning blinked a few times. “Connections to… oh, you mean concert tickets? You want tickets to a classical concert?” Snow rubbed the back of her neck and bit her lip. “I’m… a big fan of the orchestra?” “No, no you’re not,” Lightning scoffed before realization hit her. “... but Sunny Delivery is.”  Snow blushed hard, trying and failing to hide her face in the back of her foreleg. Lightning slapped a hoof to her forehead. “Celestia’s sake. Yeah, whatever, I’ll set you up, but you need to just pony up and talk to her!” “I am,” whined Snow, blushing harder. “I just… I’m waiting for the right time!” Lightning scoffed. “Well if you wait forever, it’s never going to come. If you want her, just go get her!” Snow hung her head, grumbling to herself. “...Fine, I guess you’re right. Thanks for those tickets.” “Yeah, I’ll get ‘em to you,” Lightning replied with a wave of her hoof. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I still gotta finish my route.” Snow nodded, and flew away with a wave. As Lightning watched her coworker leave, she took a second to reflect on what she had just said. If you wait forever, it’s never going to come. She ruffled her wings, staring up at the cool autumn sky. The wind began to sing again, calling for her to join it. How long would she wait? Forever? Even longer? Lightning reached into her mail bag and pulled out a promotional poster: the same design as the one Derpy had given her. She put a hoof on the hurricane, frowning as she thought back to the accident. With a sigh, she shook the doubts from her head and continued down the road, suddenly not feeling her music anymore.