//------------------------------// // Failures // Story: No Gift is Free // by libertydude //------------------------------// The hot bath managed to smooth Lightning’s pores far better than she remembered. The natural steam soaked deep into her skin, and her breath seemed to flow into her lungs as easily as a fish could suck in water. Maybe it was something in this Ponyville water that made it so comfortable. No, she knew deep down what the spring’s secret ingredient was, the intangible factor soothing her into near-sleep: revenge. It shouldn’t have felt good, like every teacher and foster parent told her back in school. It should’ve been shameful, a demonstration of Lightning’s ever-slipping morality and liability to play dirtier with each passing day. Even now, she could hear one of several Princesses cooing in her ear about forgiveness and not letting grudges destroy yourself. None of them saw the look on Rainbow Dash’s face in those moments, when little Scootaloo promised to fail the Wonderbolts and come to Lightning’s team. It was the kind of revenge that should’ve been so minor, so unremarkable, that Dust shouldn’t have even given it a second thought. Yet it was so delicious, so good to see the normal smugness in Dash’s face deflate into pure anger and hurt when she saw her little friend didn’t want to be like her anymore. That Scootaloo wanted to be like the mare who’d triumphed despite all of Dash’ machinations. Rainbow Dash had failed in the most important spot she’d claimed to have the utmost authority over: loyalty. A certain nibbling doubt began to fill her mind, some petty morality drilled into her by the same flight coaches and school teachers that told her to slow down. “This isn’t worth the trouble,” it said. “Dash is off in her miserable corner of the world, you are in your own. Keep it that way. Stay away from her and the little one. Let this little revenge be enough for your life.” Just then, Rolling Thunder and Short Fuse walked into the tent, their uniforms off and towels wrapped around their mid-sections. Thunder’s towel hung tight against her body, while Short’s hung lopsided off his right side. “Hiya, chief,” Thunder cracked. “Yeah!” Short Fuse replied with a wave. “Great job out there, boss! Haven’t seen a crowd that excited since the Manehattan gig!” “They were pretty into it,” Lightning Dust said with a smug expression, watching the other two remove their towels and descend into the steaming tub. “Aaaaah,” Thunder sighed. “That’s right nice on my banged up leg.” “Just make sure you don’t make that mistake ever again, Thunder,” Dust said. “Next time you may get more than just a scratch.” “Consider it locked in the vault, chief.” Thunder lifted her leg out of the water and wiggled it around. “Hard to forget a bang-up like that.” Lightning Dust nodded and closed her eyes, leaning her head on the tub’s rim. She began to drift off into a far-off darkness, the bubbles rolling up her skin. “Hey boss?” Short Fuse said. “Yeah?” Dust groaned, eyes still closed. “I just want to say thanks.” “For what?” Lightning asked. “For all...this.” The splashing water indicated to Lightning he was waving his arms around the tent. “For getting us together. Without you, we would’ve never gone anywhere.” Lightning Dust looked up and expected to see Short Fuse gritting his teeth in barely contained annoyance, or some other sign his thanks came as a reluctant attempt to suck up to his boss. However, all she saw was warm admiration in his eyes, the first time in a while she’d seen him this way. Thunder similarly took on an appreciative look, nodding her head to the rhythm of the popping spring bubbles. “Hey, don’t mention it,” Dust said. “We're all outcasts from the Wonderbolts. We need to stick together, you know?” “Sure, but most ponies would have started a lame fan club or some other stupid thing,” Thunder said. “You got us here in the Washouts, playing sold out crowds and drawing just as much attention as the Wonderbolts. That’s more than most failures would’ve gotten.” “WHO YOU CALLING A FAILURE?” Short Fuse blurted. Thunder recoiled somewhat, and Dust did her best to stifle a laugh. “Fuse is right,” Dust said. “OF COURSE I’M RIGHT! I’M- Really?” “Sure! We’re a lot of things: Dropouts. Hard headed. A bit too quick to fight. We’re even what the Wonderbolts called us: washouts. But the one thing we most certainly aren’t is failures!” She swung her hooves out to the tent’s opening. “You think failures could be turning out crowds like these? That failures would have lasted a fraction of the time we’ve been doing this?” “No!” the other two chimed in agreement. Lightning smiled. “Then we’re not failures, regardless of what anypony, Wonderbolt or otherwise, says!” They both nodded, wide smiles on their faces. “Speeches like this remind me of why we started following you, chief,” Thunder said with a smile. “And I thought it was because of my sunny personality,” Dust said with an equally wide smirk. “That too!” Short Fuse said. With that, the group all leaned their heads back and let the water flow over them. A few contented sighs came out every now and then, but nothing else disturbed the peaceful quiet rushing over them. See? Lightning told the little voice. I’m doing alright. I’m helping these two. I’m helping all those ponies out there, giving them a show they’ll never forget. I’m the good guy here, helping others while Rainbow Dash is trying to keep her sister to herself and make everything about her. If she comes back, I can play a few more games with her. She’ll survive a few more runs in the dryer. I know I did.