Lightning Dust trudged through the streets of Manehatten, it had been a long time since she'd had a bath and she'd been working herself thin, almost even sleeker than she'd been at the Wonderbolt tryouts.
A few days later: Sugarcube Corner.
“Rainbow Dash darling, you won't believe who we saw in Manehatten.”
“You saw, you mean” Interjected Applejack.
“Yes, Yes, I saw that turquoise pony who was at your Wonderbolt Academy. The one who lost her badge.”
It had become an unofficial ritual after a cutie-mark map mission to sit down at sugar cube corner with the girls to discuss what had happened. They had been talking about Twilight and Rainbow's mission to the academy now that Rainbow Dash and finally returned from her emergency.
Rainbow Dash's eye's narrowed. “You mean Lightning Dust?”
Twilight said “Isn't she the one who created that tornado?”
Rainbow Dash looked guilty “Well I admit, I helped her but it was her crazy idea.”
“No-one blames you Dashie, without you and the other fliers we'd all have been splat”
Pinky Pie added to the conversation, with a demonstration by flattening a cupcake with her hoof before gulping it down whole.
Rarity continued with her story “The point is that she really looked like she could do with a friend. I know we were already in the middle of remodeling the shop with Applejack's help. I know it's none of my business but I really think she needs someone to give her a hoof up, or at least help her find a bath, the poor dear.”
Fluttershy asked “Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean she didn't seem very nice.”
Twilight spoke up “Actually, I'm with Rarity on this one. I'm supposed to be the Princess of Friendship and we wouldn't be good ambassadors of friendship if we turned our back on a friend in need.”
“Fine!” Said Rainbow Dash as she crossed her arms. “I'll go and see if I can help her out. Spitfire did tell me that Lightning had bolted rather than wait in her office. Spitfire was going to give her a second chance but never got the chance to talk about it. So I guess as a Wonderbolt, it's kind of my duty to give her a second chance.”
“Wonderful” Rarity chimed, I'm heading back to do some final touches the morning, that is if you wouldn't mind helping to carry a few things too and from the station, I can at least make sure she gets a bath if she hasn't had one by then.”
Fluttershy asked “Do you want anyone else to come? I mean to lend a wing if you need it? I'm sure I can get someone to watch over Angel and the other animals for a couple of days?”
Rarity said “Thanks for the offer dear, but I think me and Rainbow can handle everything.”
“Yeah, sorry Fluttershy, but this is really my problem and with a little bit of help from Rarity, I think I've got this, but if you don't mind looking after Tank that would be awesome.”
At that moment spike jogged into the cafe, carrying a letter from Celestia with Starlight trotting in behind him.
Twilight facepalmed the table “Not another letter? What is this torment?”
Starlight chuckled “The problems of leadership, I'm just glad I'm just a student again, I don't have to plan things out, I just have to learn.”
Twilight raised her head again. “About that, did you-”
“All done.”
“And did you also-"
“Yep.”
“What about-”
“It's all done with the friendship lessons and no magic spells, well unless you count levitation of a cart that had it's wheel come off, I'm now free for the day right?”
There was a collective sigh of relief as everyone remembered recent events of Starlight doing friendship lessons unsupervised.
“What are these suggestion letters Y'all talkin about?” asked Applejack.
“Well ever since that 'spell' Starlight put you through, I've had an endless stream of suggestions and idea's the princess about how to teach students. I could almost fill a whole book with them.”
Starlight blushed with embarrassment.
Pinky Pie asked “You're a Princess too, you could just remind her that you have your own way of teaching that's your personal style.”
“Actually … I hadn't thought of that, thank you Pinky Pie, Spike. Take a letter please?”
“Err, Twilight, I don't have a pen or paper on me.”
“Don't worry, I've got this.” Said Starlight as she teleported some paper and a pen from the castle.
As a collective the group face hoofed.
“What?” Starlight asked. Then looking at the paper and pen she was levitating. “Oops, Sorry. I guess I should add one teleportation spell to my list of used spells today.”
“It's fine” Twilight confirmed, the mane five looked at her in mild surprise. “This is really going to help if I can just get a break from all these letters.”
The following day: Manehatten
Rarity said “Thank you for helping me carry all these bag's Rainbow, it was a great help.”
Responding “No problem Rarity, I'm just wondering what I can do about Lightning Dust?”
“I wouldn't worry about it too much, I'm sure you'll figure out what you need to do when you find her. Now let me go run a bath while you see if you can find her, in case she still needs it, if not I'd hate to waste a good bath time. Oh and maybe bring her in around the back, as much as I want to help, it won't do my reputation much good if a dirty pony walks in through the front door.”
“Ok, I got it. Bring her around the back. And thanks again Rarity.”
“You can thank me once we've got your friend all cleaned up.”
Over the next hour, Rainbow Dash flew across Manehatten, up and down every street and every back ally in a vain attempt to find Lightning Dust. Finally, she grew tired and stopped at a cake stand by a park. After buying a cake and wandering into the park to find a place to sit for a while, she noticed a familiar looking pony who looked like they'd been dragged through a hedge sitting on a bench.
Walking over, Rainbow Dash asked, “Mind if I sit here?”
“Sure, whatever.” Said the pony with her head down deep in thought with her mane over her face so she couldn't see who she was talking to.
After sitting down, as she bit into the cake Rainbow said: “It's a nice day, shame about the clouds though.”
The pony grunted in response.
“You know what would really lighten the place up though? A Tornado!”
Lightning Dust lifted her head letting her mane flow back. “Look I don't know who the hell you are, but just leave me alone.”
She turned to Rainbow Dash and dropped her jaw.
“You. What are you doing here Dash?”
“Well, I'm taking a break from searching for a Wonderbolt dropout and enjoying a cake while admiring the weather today.”
“A dropout? You mean another pony who quit the Wonderbolts? Good luck but they're not here.”
“I rather thought I found her actually a few minutes ago when I sat down on this bench.”
“Like I said, they're not here, there's no-one else here.” As Lightning gestured to the otherwise empty park.
“I'm looking for you, you dummy. A friend of mine said they saw you last week while they were fixing up their shop. So I thought I'd come and see for myself.
“Me? Your friend talking about me? I nearly killed them. Why should you or any of them care about me?”
“I care because I'm your friend and they care because they're my friends. So what happened to you anyway?”
“After I was disgraced in front of everyone, I bolted. I knew Spitfire was going to kick me out for good and I didn't want to wait around to hear it. And if word got back to Baltimare I knew I'd be kicked out of the cloud team. So I came here. Done a few odd jobs, but mostly just had nowhere else to go.”
“Actually Spitfire said she wanted to give you a second chance. So how about we get you cleaned up and go talk to Spitfire? I've got a friend who has a bath waiting, it's probably gone cold by now but it'll at least get you cleaned up. And Rarity knows some good places to get a decent meal. I'll pay. Just as long as you agree to hear Spitfire out ok?”
“Fine, it's not like I've got anything better to do.”