//------------------------------//
// Starting the Path of Redemption 
// Story: The Redemption of Lightning Dust 
// by Brian Sheil 
//------------------------------//

School is let out on Friday. The students head out for a week off. Everybody was happy about this. But, for one student, not so happy. Lightning Dust, a student who once made trouble for Sunset Shimmer, feels very upset.
“Hey, Lightning Dust!” Trixie Lulamoon called out. “Need company?”
“Bug off!” Lightning Dust growled. “I don’t need a chaperone!”
Trixie can tell that something is bothering Lightning. Later, Lightning was at her favorite burger place having something to eat. Trixie arrives to try to help her again.
“You again?!” Lightning snapped.
“What’s wrong with you?” Trixie wondered. “You sound more aggressive than usual on the soccer field.”
Seeing Trixie’s face, Lightning Dust decides to calm down a little.
“I’m sorry, Trixie.” Lightning said. “I’ve been having a hard time. Sit with me?”
Trixie accepted the invitation. “Sure.”
The girl of magic sat with Lightning to hear the story.
“Spitfire said that I’ve been getting too aggressive on the soccer field.” Lightning Dust confessed. “And, too reckless too.”
“I’ve seen that.” Trixie said. “A couple of the players looked like they were scared of you.”
“I can’t blame them. I’m afraid I’ll be kicked off the team.”
Lightning Dust quivered as tears start to come down her face. Trixie got concerned.
“Wow.” Trixie yelped. “Sounds terrible. I feel your pain.”
“Thanks.” Lightning Dust replied. “At least somebody does. Kind of reminds me of when I was giving Sunset Shimmer a hard time.”
Trixie’s eyes widened. “I heard of that. You were reminding  her of her dark past.”
Lightning hung her head down. “Yup.”
Trixie put her hand on Lightning’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. Outside, Lightning is prepared to head for home.
“Your going to be okay?” Trixie wondered.
“I’ll try to be okay.” Lightning replied. “Thanks for listening to me. See you later.”
As Lightning Dust heads for home, Trixie got on her smartphone, and made a call. “Hello, Rainbow Dash. It’s Trixie. Can you and your friends meet me at Sunset’s favorite coffee place tomorrow? We need to talk.”
The next day, Rainbow Dash arrived at the coffee place Sunset Shimmer hangs out at. She finds Sunset sipping on a coffee drink.
“Hey, Sunset.” Rainbow greeted.
“What’s up, Dashie?” Sunset wondered.
“Trixie called me last night. She said she wants to meet us here.”
Applejack and Rarity came in to join Sunset and Rainbow.
“Why would Miss Lulamoon want to meet us here?” Rarity wondered.
“I don’t know.” Applejack answered. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Surprise!” Pinkie Pie shouted, jumping from behind a chair.
Sunset turned to the party girl. “Pinkie, didn’t the barista tell you not to do that? You could give someone a heart attack!”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy entered the cafe and joined the group.
“Hey, guys.” Twilight greeted. “What’s new?”
“Rainbow Dash told us to come here.” Fluttershy figured.
“I don’t know why Trixie wanted to meet us here.” Rainbow Dash indicated. “But, she said it’s important.”
Just then, a cloud of smoke appeared. From the cloud, Trixie appeared.
“The great and powerful Trixie has arrived.” Trixie announced. 
“And, we’re all here.” Dash said. “So, what’s this meeting about?”
Trixie started to explain the situation. “Friends, it’s about Lightning Dust.”
“Lightning Dust?!” Sunset shouted. “Why are we talking about her?”
“She’s afraid that her attitude will get her kicked off the soccer team.”
Rainbow Dash got shocked. “Sounds serious. I may not approve on some of her methods. But, she and I do work together.”
“Sounds like she has a problem.” Twilight figured.
Trixie nodded. “That’s for sure. When she realized what’s going on, she got scared.”
Fluttershy closed her eyes for a moment. Then, opening her eyes again, she turns to her friends. “I can imagine what she’s going through.”
“Me too, darling.” Rarity said. “Believe it or not, I feel her pain.”
“I think we all feel her pain.” Sunset added. “Even me.”
“You mean, after everything she made you go through?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t hold any grudges, Twilight. Besides, she doesn’t bug me anymore.”
“Thanks to my sister.” Pinkie added. “Limestone came to Sunset’s aid. And, L.D. hasn’t bothered her since.”
Rainbow Dash turned to Trixie. “So, how can we help?”
“I know you guys don’t think of her as a victim,” Trixie suggested, “but maybe you can help her.”
“How?” Twilight asked.
“Since we have a week off from school, let Lightning Dust spend time with each of you each day. I’m sure time with you guys will help her change her attitude.”
The girls looked at each other. Then, they each give an answer.
“Lightning Dust DOES need help.” Twilight responded. “I’ll be glad to help.”
“Since I’m her teammate on the soccer team,” Rainbow Dash replied, “I’ll help too. Spitfire will appreciate that.”
“Me too!” Pinkie chirped.
“It will be my pleasure to help the poor dear.” Rarity said.
Applejack tipped her hat up. “Y’all can depend on me.”
“I think I can help too.” Fluttershy said.
Sunset Shimmer gave her response. “I might as well. Like I said, I don’t carry any grudges. You can count on me.”
“That’s great.” Trixie praised. “With your help, Lightning Dust will be on the straight and narrow.”
Trixie leaves the cafe. Everyone thinks it’s a good idea.
“Maybe I’ll introduce Lightning to yoga.” Sunset suggested. “That’s what Wallflower Blush did to help me.”
Rainbow Dash gave Sunset a smirk. “You might be right. Yoga helped you out greatly.”
Later that night, Lightning Dust put on her deep blue long sleeve nightgown, plugged in her phone, and climbed into bed. She turned out the light, and was ready to sleep. Then, she received a text on her phone. The message reads, “Meet me at the Canterlot Library tomorrow at 1pm. -Twilight Sparkle.”
Lightning Dust was surprised with the message. “The library, huh? I wonder what Twilight Sparkle wants to see me about.”
She places the phone down, and goes to sleep. Little does she know that this is the start of a road to recovery.

TO BE CONTINUED