Motivation
Scattered Dust
Original concept written and edited by Shanenator
Chapter One: Motivation
“At last…the time has come…”
A pair of golden eyes narrowed as they stared out of the round, cloudy window.
“Yes…today is definitely the day…”
The pupils twitched as they tracked every movement of the pony outside.
“Finally…the chance of a lifetime…”
Powerful hindlegs bunched in anticipation.
“A chance…to live the dream…”
A pair of sky blue wings twitched restlessly.
“Three…”
The mailpony opened the mailbox with a forehoof, whistling carelessly, completely oblivious to the intense gaze directed at her.
“Two…”
Reaching into her bag, she withdrew a bundle of letters and stuffed them into the mailbox.
“One…”
Closing the door, the mailpony turned and began to trot down the cloudy drive, off to her next destination.
“GO!”
Everything happened at once. For the poor mailmare, it was as if a thunderstorm had exploded out of nowhere. The front door of the house banged open, and SOMETHING came rocketing out at unbelievably high speed. A trail of zig-zagging golden lightning then screamed past her face, charging the air around her and causing her fur to stand on end.
Then came the wind. And it was far too much for an average flyer like herself to handle. Sweeping the poor mare bodily off her hooves, the powerful gust sent the mailmare flying, tumbling head over hooves through the air. All she could do was scream. She thought she heard the door to the mailbox she’d just filled bang open and then closed, but before she could reflect on the matter, she slammed into a fruit stand across the street with a loud CRASH!
Squashed fruit and damp letters flew everywhere. Her uniform stained with juice, all the poor mare could do was sit amongst the wreckage, eyes rolling in their sockets, as she tried to regain her bearings and determine what exactly had just happened.
And then the watermelon landed on her head, and she was out cold with a SQUISH!
Lightning Dust rocketed through her front door and banged it shut with a rear hoof. Skidding to a halt on her cloudy carpet, she let loose a loud cheer. “Alright! Record time! Woohoo!” A sudden crashing noise from outside gave her pause. Confused, she headed to her window to see what the commotion was. She snickered slightly as she beheld the sight of a mare sitting amongst the wreckage of a fruit stand across the street. She then cracked up into laughter as a large watermelon dropped on her head.
“Ahahaha! That was awesome! Looks like somepony needs to learn how to fly straight!” Lightning Dust cackled as she stepped away from her window and into her living room, her eyes drawn inexorably to the stack of letters clenched in her hoof.
“C’mon, it has to be here…” she muttered as she flipped through her mail. “No…no…no…come on, I know it has to be here today! I was so sure today would be the day! I…I…” she trailed off as her gaze settled on a particular blue-and-gold patterned envelope with her address emblazoned on the front. She felt her heartbeat skyrocket. She allowed the rest of her mail to drop from her hooves as she slowly padded over to sit in a cloudy chair and stare at the object of her dreams.
This. This was the moment she had been waiting for. The moment of truth.
Slowly, reverently, she turned the envelope over and squeed slightly in delight as she beheld the Wonderbolts emblem on the back, sticking the envelope closed. Handling the letter as if it was the most delicate artifact in Equestria, Lightning Dust ever so carefully peeled the envelope open. It was the slowest thing she’d done in months.
Withdrawing the sky blue piece of paper within, Lightning Dust took a deep breath. She then flipped the letter open and began to read. Her eyes lit up as she withheld the large green checkmark ribbon at the bottom, but she forced herself to read every word regardless.
To Lightning Dust,
After weeks of careful consideration and deliberation, the Wonderbolts Recruitment Team has decided that your skills and accomplishments label you as a potential future candidate for admission. As such, the Wonderbolts team is proud to extend an invitation to join us and your fellow Cadets for a week of training at the Wonderbolts Academy Complex near Cloudsdale. Please bring any supplies you deem necessary to remain comfortable for the duration of that time.
At the end of the week, the Wonderbolts team will begin the arduous process of selecting the best of the best to join our ranks. We look forward to seeing your skills in action, and what you would have to offer the team as a Wonderbolt.
Regards,
Spitfire
Wonderbolts Captain
“Yes!!” Lightning Dust shouted at the top of her lungs, leaping off of her chair and pumping her hoof in excitement. “I did it! I’m the mare! Haha! Finally! Woohoo! Yes!” Lightning Dust continued to spout excitement as she cajoled about the room, leaping about and frolicking through the air, twisting and turning effortlessly.
“I did it! I knew I would! I knew I impressed Spitfire at the Gala!” Collapsing back into her comfy cloud chair, Lightning Dust released a sigh of contentment, a dreamy look coming to her eyes as she hugged the letter close to her chest. As visions of her future success danced through her mind’s eye, she also felt her thoughts drifting back to that fateful night…
“We could use a mare like you, Lightning Dust!”
Lightning Dust shuffled uncomfortably and picked at the garment adorning her slender frame, an orange-and-yellow dress tailored specifically to highlight her electric mane. “Ugh,” she groaned in frustration. “Moooom, why did I have to wear this dumb thing again?”
A burnt-orange pegasus mare with a sky-blue mane standing at Lightning Dust’s side released a long-suffering sigh. “I told you already Lightning, no daughter of mine will be a special guest at the Grand Galloping Gala and not look presentable.” The older mare was herself dressed in a shimmering golden gown, similar enough to Lightning Dust’s to mark the two as a pair but different enough to keep her adornment individual and unique.
Lightning Dust poked her head out of the long line of finely-dressed ponies to peer towards the front. She sighed in exasperation. There must’ve been a hundred ponies in front of them! “If we’re ‘special guests,’” Lightning Dust pantomimed, “then why are we still standing in line? Another one?”
The older mare smiled slightly at Lightning Dust’s lack of patience. She was like that once, not too many years ago. “That line was to see the Princess. You have to admit, it was rather nice of her to take the time to personally welcome us to the Gala, wouldn’t you say?”
Lightning Dust frowned. “Yeah, I suppose it was cool. But when do we get to feel like special guests? You got me all excited for nothing it seems!”
The orange mare chuckled softly. “Patience, dear Lightning. All will be revealed in time.”
Lightning Dust released an agonized moan in response. “Uuuggh, that’s what you ALWAYS say. Why can’t you just be straightforward for once?”
“Because that would be no fun,” her mother retorted, a glimmer of amusement in her eye. Lightning Dust simply pouted.
“Hey Goldie, is that you?!” a voice called from the crowd. Lightning Dust’s ears perked up. It seemed as though something was about to happen at long last!
“Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time…” ‘Goldie’ murmured quietly to herself.
Lightning Dust’s jaw nearly fell off when out of the crowd emerged none other than Captain Spitfire and her right-hoof stallion, Soarin, decked out in full Wonderbolts gear.
“Captain Golden Flare,” Soarin began respectfully, letting out a short whistle as he took in her lanky orange form. “A chance to finally meet the legend. I’m honored,” he said as he held out his hoof for a shake. One that Golden Flare was only too keen to firmly reciprocate, her short stature concealing a surprising amount of youthfulness and strength.
“Soarin, I presume?” she asked, a broad smile lighting up her features. The blue stallion nodded. “I thought so. Spitfire’s told me so much about you. I must say that I’m impressed, it’s not easy for a stallion of your size to keep up with us mares.”
“You can say that again,” Soarin replied, grinning.
“He does good for a rookie,” Spitfire added gruffly.
Golden Flare turned her attention to the Captain of the Wonderbolts. The golden mare stood stoically off to the side, her fiery gaze examining every detail of her orange frame. “It seems age has treated you well,” she began in the same tone of voice. After only a few moments of staring contest though, she dropped the façade and grinned widely. “It’s good to see you, Goldie,” she said warmly as the two shared a heartfelt embrace.
“And you as well, Spitfire. How has the Captainship been treating you?”
“Exactly as you might expect,” Spitfire replied, narrowing her eyes slightly as she flashed a lopsided grin.
Golden Flare’s eyes sparkled knowingly. “Oh, I can imagine only too well.” The two mares chuckled slightly as a shared joke that only they could understand passed between them. Soarin looked a bit lost.
Lightning Dust, meanwhile, was still just standing and gawking, attempting to process what exactly was going on. Spitfire?! And Soarin?! Here?! In front of her very own eyes?! Sure, she knew her mom was an ex-Wonderbolt. How could she not? She knew she was a fantastic flyer, and the best teacher Lightning could ever ask for. Hay, she even knew that her mom was once the Captain of the Wonderbolts, and a darned good one at that. Five minutes of her father expounding upon her feats was enough for her youthful ears to believe that it was truth. But to be personal friends with Spitfire? How could she not have known that? How could she have been left in the dark for all these years?!
It was then that, much to Lightning Dust’s undying amazement, Spitfire turned to her, yes HER, and spoke. “And this must be Lightning Dust, yeah?”
Golden Flare wrapped a foreleg around her daughter and squeezed her close, finally able to prompt some sort of reaction from the stricken mare. “Yup!” she announced proudly. “This is my little Dusty!”
“Moooom…” Lightning Dust groaned, her face flushing bright red. “Don’t call me that in front of the Wonderbolts!” she hissed, referring to her pet name that she would only ever let her mom get away with using.
“What, ‘my little Dusty’?” she repeated, much to Lightning Dust’s embarrassment. “Or were you referring to ‘Dusty-wusty’? Or perhaps my personal favorite, ‘Dustykins’?”
“Mom!” Lightning Dust shrieked as she recoiled bodily, her face reminiscent of a tomato. Glancing at the Wonderbolts, she was dismayed to see them both snickering behind their hooves. Her ears flattened to the top of her head as she stood there, suddenly wishing she could just melt into the floor.
“Hey,” Spitfire said reassuringly as she strode to Lightning Dust’s side. “We have moms too, y’know. Just be glad you’ll never be called ‘Spitty.’” Spitfire visibly shuddered at that.
Lightning Dust’s eyes went wide. “No way,” she giggled, her embarrassment slowly starting to fade away.
“Way,” Spitfire replied, her face deadly serious. “Just remember kid, no matter what, somepony else always has it worse than you. That’s doubly true as a Wonderbolt.”
Lightning Dust nodded her head emphatically. “O-of course! Makes perfect sense!”
“So tell me Lightning Dust,” Spitfire began before leaning in conspiratorially, a wolfish grin on her face. “Do ya like…stunt flying?”
Lightning Dust’s face lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree. “Do I ever! Going fast is, like, the best thing in the world! I’m always out there trying new tricks and pushing myself to the limits, just like you guys!”
Spitfire smirked and rubbed her chin. “Hmm, I suppose that is a rather good description of what we do on a daily basis, wouldn’t you say, Soar?”
“You know what they say, Spits, from the mouths of babes,” he replied, chortling. Spitfire looked amused. Lightning Dust screwed up her face in thought as she attempted to make sense of what Soarin meant.
Golden Flare’s voice brought her out of her thoughtful reverie. “Lightning Dust, isn’t there something else you might want to mention?”
She was met by a blank look for a moment or two before the younger pony smashed her forehoof into her face in frustration. “Oh! Duh! I totally forgot to mention that this year, I won the Best Young Flier’s Competition in Cloudsdale! It was totally awesome!” By Celestia, how did she forget to mention that? It was only, like, the biggest thing to ever happen in her flying career! Here she was, ACTUALLY talking with the Wonderbolts, and completely messing everything up! Confound these nerves!
The Wonderbolts looked surprised at that. “Did you now?” Spitfire questioned. “But I suppose that’s almost expected of Goldie’s kid,” she hummed in thought. “Can’t say I’m too surprised. Congratulations, by the way. That’s a pretty big deal. Hey, isn’t the Grand Prize-”
“A whole day with the Wonderbolts?” Lightning Dust interrupted excitedly. “Yeah it is! I got to hang out with Misty and Fleetfoot all day, and meet a few of the others. But I don’t remember getting a chance to talk to you…” Lightning Dust trailed off in thought, reflecting back on that whirlwind of a day.
Spitfire chuckled in amusement. “Sorry sport, I was occupied that day. Something came up in management, I remember now. But tell me your routine, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, it was fantastic!” Lightning Dust happily expounded. “First, I wowed ‘em with an over-under barrel roll! Then, quick as a flash, I transitioned into a triple corkscrewing loop-de-loop! And finally, I ended with a little signature move of mine I like to call the Thunderbolt,” Lightning finished in a hushed whisper, crouched low in her excitement of reliving the thrill of the moment.
“Sounds impressive,” Spitfire said with a chuckle. “I’ll bet mom and dad were proud,” she added, glancing at Golden Flare.
“Extremely,” Lightning’s mom answered proudly. “It was quite the performance. I see my younger self when I watch her fly. Blitz and I are both very proud of her accomplishments, and have high hopes for the future.” Lightning Dust beamed at that.
“Well I’m sure someday soon I’ll get to see some of those moves myself.”
Lightning Dust’s eyes went wide at the implications of that statement. “You really think so? I’d love to show you my stuff! Any time, any place!”
Spitfire and Soarin both smirked in bemusement. “Well, you probably can at the Wonderbolts Academy. We accept potential recruits every year. Would you like to get your name on the consideration list? I can arrange that, and I’d be happy to do so for Goldie’s kid.”
Lightning Dust’s mind whirled at that. The Wonderbolts? Putting her on a list? Wanting to see her stuff?
Thinking about her as a potential candidate to join them??
“Oh…wow, I…” Lightning Dust could barely speak due to shock and amazement. “Yes, please!” she finally managed. “That would be, like, a dream come true!”
The Wonderbolts grinned. “Oh, we’ve heard that one before,” Soarin remarked.
“All the time,” Spitfire added. “Unfortunately, this year’s list of candidates is already closed, we had a really high rate of application for some reason. But there’s certainly room on next year’s list for a pony like you. Remind me to get you the paperwork before the night is over.”
Lightning Dust could hardly believe it. Spitfire wanted her to apply for the Wonderbolts Academy? It was just too much! A dream come true! “Oh my goodness! Yes, yes I’ll totally apply! Thank you, Spitfire, thank you! I won’t let you down, I promise!” she exuberantly proclaimed.
Spitfire smirked. “That’s great, kid. Hey, how’s about we go introduce you to the rest of the team? Again? I doubt Misty and Fleetfoot knew exactly who they were dealing with the first time around.”
Was…that an invitation to go hang out with the Wonderbolts? Lightning Dust froze for a moment or two as all higher brain processes went on standby. Spitfire seemed not to notice and began to head towards the front of the line. Suddenly realizing there wasn’t a young pony by her side, she paused and turned back in confusion. “Er, Lightning Dust? You coming?”
“Oh! Yes, wait for me, Spitfire!” Lightning Dust called and began to trot after her excitedly. She paused, though, and turned back to her mother, silently asking for permission. Golden Flare smiled widely and waved her off.
“Go on, Lightning Dust, enjoy your special treatment as a special guest.” She winked as she spoke that last bit.
As that slowly sank in, Lightning Dust’s face lit up in understanding and she rushed forward to give her mom a big hug. “You’re the best mom ever! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“You’re welcome, honey. Now go on, have some fun!” Without wasting another moment, Lightning Dust turned and headed off to join an amused Spitfire. She squealed slightly to herself in glee as she headed towards the fiery pony.
Best night ever!!
Golden Flare watched as her daughter and her good friend headed towards the Wonderbolts’ exclusive VIP section. A small snippet of their conversation drifted over the general hubbub of the crowd. “So tell me more about the Wonderbolts Academy!”
“Well, okay. We put our Cadets through a series of rigorous tests…” Spitfire began to explain. Golden Flare shook her head and reminisced fondly on those days when she was just a spunky young mare with something to prove.
Just like her daughter, she thought proudly.
She turned to Soarin, who she noted had stayed behind, probably to get a chance to talk with her for a little bit.
“So…Soarin,” Golden Flare began as the stallion in question accepted a drink from a passing tray.
“Yes, ma’am?” he politely replied, focusing his emerald gaze on her.
Golden Flare leaned closer to the stallion, her gaze half-lidded as she began to speak. “Tell me about your recent conquests…” She winked saucily after finishing her sentence.
Poor Soarin looked bewildered. “E-excuse me?” Did she just ask what he thought she asked?
Golden Flare chuckled softly as she pressed up against his side, causing the large stallion to blush slightly. “Oh come now, dear. You simply must remember that I was a Wonderbolt too at one point, not too long ago. I also remember very fondly how we treated our rookies, especially the stallions. So tell me…how many of the lovely ladies have found their way into your bed?”
Soarin spit his drink, drenching some poor posh pony partying nearby.
Golden Flare’s laughter rang loud and clear throughout the ballroom.
Lightning Dust was having the time of her life. The Wonderbolts were an AWESOME crowd to hang out with, and when Spitfire mentioned that she was Golden Flare’s daughter, she could literally see the spark in their eyes as they looked her over with a renewed interest. It was an indescribable feeling.
A wondrous, insatiable feeling that she knew she’d miss once it was gone.
“Wow!” Lightning Dust breathed as she and Spitfire trotted on to the next group. “Misty and Fleetfoot sure were shocked! I think they view that whole day in a totally different light now! I can’t believe it!”
Spitfire chuckled. “I’ll bet they do.” Suddenly, she came to a halt, prompting Lightning Dust to do the same. She frowned, but said nothing. “You know, your mom has tried really hard to shelter you,” Spitfire continued, her tone serious.
“What do you mean?” Lightning Dust asked, cocking her head in confusion.
“You saw how the others reacted to finding out who you were, yeah?”
“Yeah, I did. What about it?” Lightning Dust questioned, not understanding where the older mare was going with this.
“You ever think about how they didn’t already know that?” Lightning Dust pondered the question for a moment, realizing that she hadn’t. “She knew that would happen,” Spitfire pressed on. “She…well she didn’t want you to be exposed to that until the time was right.”
Lightning Dust frowned some more. “I don’t get it. What would’ve happened if I had?”
Spitfire sighed. “You’re a pretty rare deal, Lightning Dust. I don’t think you fully realize that yet. You see, it’s pretty uncommon for a Wonderbolt to go on and have foals when they retire. Especially one as famous as Golden Flare. Usually all our relationships are in shambles by then. I’m sure you can imagine, given the number of ponies out there screaming our names, yeah?”
Lightning Dust felt comprehension beginning to dawn. “Of course. So what was so special about my mom?”
Spitfire sighed again. “She just got really lucky. Found the perfect guy. Everypony was really happy for the two of them, but they never actually knew about you. For all these years, she’s worked so hard to keep you a secret so you could be free of the pressure to perform; the expectancy that you would be great. She denied herself the joy of telling all her best friends about her daughter in order to give you the opportunity to choose your own future.”
Spitfire paused for a moment or two. “It’s great that you’re developing skills as a stunt flyer, but it’s even greater that you did that on your own, by your own volition. Not because society expected you to. And now that you have the skills, you’re ready to take on the world and show everypony what you can do.” Spitfire leveled a critical eye at Lightning Dust. “I hope you understand what that meant for your mom, and what you mean to her.”
Lightning Dust didn’t know what to say. It was a bit too much to take in at once. “I…think I understand what you’re saying.” She felt her heart warm a bit as she thought about all the sacrifices that had been made for her. “I’ll be sure to thank her later.”
“You do that,” Spitfire said, smirking. “Now come on, you haven’t talked with Rapidfire yet. He’ll be all over you!”
Grinning ear to ear once again, Lightning Dust hurried to follow the enthusiastic captain.
But in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but shake one lingering thought.
Thanks, Mom…
“…And then Spitfire introduced me to Rapidfire, he was really excited to learn who I was! I had no idea you meant so much to these ponies!”
Golden Flare chuckled slightly as the two mares walked away from the castle, heading for their carriage. “I know, dear. I’m glad you had a good time meeting them.”
Lightning Dust lowered her gaze and slowed her step as a certain fiery mare’s words reentered her mind. Her mother took notice of the sudden silence. “Dusty? Is something wrong?”
“I…” Lightning Dust looked up to her mom, who in turn was shocked to see tears in the corners of her daughter’s eyes. “Mom…Spitfire, she…she told me something…something I never would have expected…”
Golden Flare stepped closer to look her daughter in the eye. “And what was that, sweetie?” she asked softly.
“She…she said that you worked so hard to keep me away from them. To let me decide on my own that stunt flying was…was what I wanted to do. I just…I can’t even begin to understand what that must’ve been like…for you to not say anything to your best friends…for all that time…” She feebly petered off, her gaze dropping briefly before looking up once again. “Is it true?”
Golden Flare was silent for a moment, studying Lightning’s face intently. The younger mare briefly wondered if her mother was going to be mad at Spitfire for saying what she did, but then she broke out into a wide, loving smile.
“Yes Dusty, it’s true. I wanted you to discover on your own what your true calling is. The fact that it’s stunt flying warms my heart and rekindles my memories, but if it hadn’t been that wouldn’t have stopped us from loving you. You know that discovering your true talent and earning your Cutie Mark are things that must come with time and exploration, right? We didn’t want any outside influence on your decision. Ponies who lead lives they’re not really meant to live are never happy.”
Lightning Dust could no longer hold back the tears. She thought her heart was going to burst. “I…I can’t…I don’t…thank you, Mom…thank you…” She rushed forward and nearly tackled her mother with a hug.
Golden Flare warmly returned the hug, a few rare tears leaking from the corners of her eyes as well. “You’re welcome, dear,” she whispered softly. “You make us both so proud.”
“One day, I know you’re going to be one of the best…”
Seven months later…
Lightning Dust’s panting was the only audible sound as the exhausted mare slowly dragged herself to the showers. It was really nice of her mom to get her a personal airspace at the gymnasium to practice her moves.
Her mom…
Lightning Dust shut her eyes closed tightly as fresh tears threatened to surface. It was too soon, it was unfair…it was awful. Deciding to drown her sorrows in hot water, she turned on the faucet and sobbed quietly as she stood there, attempting to forget the events of the last week. That terrifying, turbulent, and altogether far too rapid chain of events that had led to her crushing sorrow…and the greatest sense of loss she’d ever felt in her life.
She didn’t know how long she stood there in the hot water. An hour, perhaps? Maybe even two? What did it matter in the long run. She, Lightning Dust, the one promised to be so great, was a broken mare.
Or was she? Was that really the case? If she was truly broken, why did she drag herself to the gym every morning to practice? If she was truly broken, why did she push herself so far every day, almost to the point of her limbs giving out from exhaustion?
If she was truly broken, why did she still believe? Hope? Dream?
It was because of her. She knew it was, and always would be.
Lightning Dust sighed sadly as she turned off the hot water, her tears finally running dry. She just didn’t have any more to shed. The week had been too hard on her. Half-heartedly drying her coat and mane, Lightning Dust trudged out the door and headed for the exit, intending to lazily drift home and collapse in her bed, where she would cry herself to sleep.
Again.
But as Lightning Dust prepared to head through the doorway to the outside world, a pony she could never have expected turned the corner and stopped her dead in her tracks. “Sp-Spitfire…?” Lightning Dust slowly sputtered, her shock evident in her widening eyes.
“Hey there, champ,” Spitfire replied calmly, her tone of voice clearly laced with sorrow. For the first time in her life, Lightning Dust found herself staring at her idol, the normally unshakable Spitfire, and noticing how battered and broken down she looked. It took a moment or two to register the tired, bloodshot eyes, the slightly unkempt mane, and the hints of sadness tugging at the corners of her mouth, currently twisted into a small, sad smile. “I came to check up on you. How have you been doing?”
Lightning Dust didn’t know what to say to that. She wasn’t doing well, that was for sure. But did she have the strength to say that to her idol’s face?
…No, she didn’t. Could she lie, and say that the opposite was true?
…No, she couldn’t do that either. With nothing to say, she simply stared down at the floor between her forehooves, trying desperately not to cry.
Spitfire let loose a soft sigh. “That bad, huh?” Lightning Dust’s only response was a soft whimper, as she slowly began to lose herself to grief once again. Spitfire knew a pony in need of comfort when she saw one, and she was not about to let down her own idol’s daughter. “C’mere,” she said softly, extending a foreleg.
Not at all to her surprise, Lightning Dust rushed over and nearly tackled Spitfire off her hooves throwing herself against her. Gripping Spitfire’s neck tightly, Lightning buried her face in a shoulder as the tears began anew. “There, there,” Spitfire crooned softly, a few tears coming to her own eyes as well. “I know it’s hard. I know it sucks. I know it’s not fair. But there’s nothing we can do.”
“It’s totally unfair!” Lightning Dust cried out. “Why did this have to happen! I…I…” She couldn’t continue, such was the strength of her keening sobs. Spitfire couldn’t even speak over the cacophony of sorrow, so she did the only thing she could. Provide comfort just by being there, by muttering reassuring statements, softly stroking Lightning’s wings as pegasus mothers were prone to do.
“You want to know the truth? Something very few ponies ever come to understand?” Spitfire asked softly once Lightning had calmed down a bit.
“What?” the distraught mare sniveled, trying to reign in her sorrow for a moment to hear her idol’s response.
“Being a Wonderbolt is hard. Really, REALLY hard,” Spitfire began, still stroking Lightning’s back and wings. “And it takes its toll on our bodies. Performing all those tricks, subjecting ourselves to those forces, pushing ourselves to the max…it’s not good for us. Most Wonderbolts have all sorts of health issues once they retire. We almost never live as long as normal pegasi do.
“And your mother? She knew this. She knew it right from the start. But that didn’t stop her. She had a goal, a dream to live, a passion to experience. She wouldn’t let something as petty as ‘health issues’ stop her from fulfilling her destiny. She was strong like that.” Her tone turned to one filled with admiration and wistfulness. “She was an inspiration to us all…some of us more than others,” she finished with a soft chuckle.
Pulling Lightning Dust out of the embrace, Spitfire squared her up with her forelegs on her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. “And now you know. Now you are faced with the same decision she made. The same one I made. And is it going to stop you? Are you going to give up on being a Wonderbolt?” Spitfire punctuated each question with a small shake of Lightning’s shoulders.
There was a moment of silence as the younger mare pondered the question. While Spitfire’s piercing gaze never wavered, Lightning’s slowly moved about as she thought. Her golden eyes flicked to the ground, to the wall, to the sky…
And then they hardened, matching Spitfire’s own fiery orbs in determination and passion. “No,” she said softly, but firmly. “No, I won’t. Watching my mom fly, watching you fly, flying myself…there’s nothing else like it. It makes me feel alive. I’m GOING to keep training,” she continued, stamping her forehoof repeatedly for emphasis. “I’m GOING to become the best, I’m GOING to become a Wonderbolt, and I’m GOING to make my mom proud, health issues be damned!”
Spitfire smirked, patting Lightning Dust on the shoulder. “Damn right you are. That’s the true Wonderbolt spirit! You’re doing great, kid. I watched your moves just now. You’ve got the stuff, you’ve got the spirit, you’ve got the drive. I look forward to seeing you in action.”
Lightning Dust smiled proudly, the intensity in her eyes remaining strong and true.
And then she began to break down again. “But…my mom…I didn’t know…I…I wasn’t there for her…”
Spitfire kept her forehoof on Lightning’s shoulder in sympathy. “She hid it. Sounds like she did a damned good job of it, too. That’s kind of a talent of hers, if you haven’t noticed.”
“But…why?” Lightning questioned feebly as the tears began to return. “Why wouldn’t she tell me? Didn’t she love me?”
Spitfire forcefully grabbed Lightning by the shoulders and gave her a firm shake. “Of course she loved you! How dare you even question that!” Lightning looked ashamed, and even more miserable than before. “She hid it because she was afraid. She was afraid to tell you the truth. She was afraid she might deter you from pursuing your goal. Your dream. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself otherwise. You want to know how I know? Because I talked with her! I was there for her! I was by her side at the very end, the sole recipient of her final wishes!”
Spitfire was shouting now, fresh streams of tears flowing down her cheeks as well as Lightning Dust quailed and cried some more, reflecting on her failure to be there for her mother during her final moments. How Spitfire very nearly replaced her…
Spitfire looked away for a moment, presumably to compose herself for a moment, before returning her attention to the distraught mare on the verge of a complete breakdown. “Hey, don’t feel bad,” she began softly. “She knows you cared. She knew you were busy, living your dream. She didn’t want you to see her like that. Trust me…it wasn’t pretty.” Lightning Dust released a short sob, charging Spitfire with another bone-crushing hug. This time, though, it was both mares comforting each other.
“She did it for you,” Spitfire whispered, not trusting her voice to hold up. “And hearing your determination, your willingness to continue, to not give up…I can think of nothing that would make her prouder. Nothing that honors her memory more.”
And there was nothing more to be said. Both mares simply stood there in silence for a while, gaining mutual comfort from the embrace, and hiding their tears from each other as they flowed freely into the cloudy surface below.
Minutes passed with not a word spoken. Not a limb moved. Nothing short of a gentle rocking motion disturbed them. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Lightning Dust broke the silence. “Thank you, Spitfire,” she mumbled softly. “I’ve been more lost than ever before these past few days…”
Spitfire smirked again, tightening her grip ever so slightly. “Don’t worry about it, kid. I had a feeling you’d need somepony to lean on.” The two mares were silent for a moment more, simply enjoying each other’s company and mutually mourning their loss.
But, eventually, Spitfire had to break free and head for the door. “Well, I’ve overstayed a bit. My team’s probably wondering where I am. As you know, it’s the busy part of the season, and I’ve hardly any free time these days.”
Lightning Dust smiled appreciatively. “And yet you found the time to come here. Thank you, again, I really mean it. I don’t know what I would’ve done without hearing what you had to say.”
Spitfire paused at the door and turned around one last time, her face once again bearing that knowing smirk. “I did my job, now it’s time to do yours. Keep coming here, Lightning. Keep up your training. Stay on top of your game. The next time I see you will be at the Wonderbolts Academy, and as soon as you step hoof on that island I won’t know you. You’ll be just like all the rest of the Cadets, with big dreams and something to prove. You’ll have to work for your spot, just like the rest of us did. I’m afraid I can’t pull any more strings for you, kid.”
Lightning Dust nodded confidently. “I understand.”
“Alright then!” Spitfire suddenly belted out, drill sergeant mode fully in force. “I expect you to be back here every day, training your heart out! I expect you to be at the Academy from day one! And I expect nothing less, I repeat, nothing less, than absolute success! AM I UNDERSTOOD?!”
“Yes, ma’am!” Lightning Dust shouted back, snapping a sharp salute.
Spitfire smiled then. Not her usual smirk, but a genuinely happy, and dare Lightning say it, proud smile. “Good. Never give up, Lightning. Remember, nothing stops a Wonderbolt.” And with that, Spitfire turned and took off, a sharp gust blowing Lightning’s mane askew as the fiery captain embarked.
Lightning Dust took a deep breath, closing her eyes as calm washed over her, flooding away the previous anguish and doubt. “I can do this,” she said softly to herself. “I’m unstoppable. I’m going to be the best, no doubts about it.”
And she believed it.
Fresh determination gripped her, invigorating her weary limbs and strengthening her wings. Giving them an experimental flap, Lightning Dust grinned. “Hmm, seems like I’ve got a little bit more in me. Back to training!”
As Lightning Dust soared back into her personal training space, she couldn’t help but feel as though she was being watched. It was as though some maternal presence was gracing her, silently appraising her every move. Lightning Dust imagined her mother there in the room with her, watching her daughter practice, her chest swelling out with pride. As her fantasy ran away with itself, her loops became tighter, her speed faster, her smile wider. The room spun faster and faster, but she didn’t pay it any mind.
Tears streamed from her face but this time, they weren’t tears of sorrow. They were tears of joy.
She knew her mom was proud, whether she was here or not.
Never give up, Lightning…
A single tear detached itself from a sky-blue cheek and fell, tumbling end over end before splashing into nothing but a small damp spot on the hard surface it came into contact with. A small picture frame, practical without being fancy. Simple and wooden.
A photo of two mares, one orange and one sky-blue.
Lightning Dust smiled sadly as she stared at the photo in her forehoof, a few more tears idly dribbling down her cheeks before detaching and falling into obscurity. Without a hint of hesitation, Lightning Dust tossed the photo into her loaded saddlebags and zipped them up.
Standing in front of her cloudy home, the wind catching her mane, Lightning Dust turned her gaze towards the sky, taking a moment to let her tears dry. She was content to just stand there, letting her thoughts work themselves out.
“It’s almost time, mom,” she whispered quietly, closing her eyes. “This is it. The moment we’ve all been waiting for. I’m going to do it, just you wait and see. You, Spitfire, the world…you all just better watch out.”
Her golden eyes snapped open, locking themselves into their typical determined slant. Leaping off of her cloud, she dropped like a stone, allowing herself to freefall for a moment or two. Then her powerful wings snapped open, and immediately she shot forward, flapping once or twice as she powered herself towards her destination, and her destiny.
“I’ll show you. I’ll show you all.”
“I’ll make you proud, mom.”