//------------------------------//
// 4: Shelter 
// Story: An Imperfect Storm 
// by Bookish Delight 
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Lightning Dust and Rolling Thunder flew at half altitude, still looking for shelter. The Storm King's wrath was still something to worry about, but slightly less so for the time being.

Flying side by side, Lightning had seen that Rolling had been silent for quite some time now—and flying as close to each other as they were, she could also see the other mare lost in thought, distracted enough that she only barely remembered to keep formation.

Lightning wasn't sure if she should try to start up a conversation, or just leave things as they were. Fortunately, Rolling solved that problem for her by finally speaking up. 

"Sorry about my little slip earlier," Rolling said.

"Huh?" Lighting asked.

"Y'know, the whole 'Wonderbolts' thing." She rolled her eyes. "Not a thing I like bringing up. Though I guess I lucked out with you. Misery loves company, I suppose. Sorry that means they've both still got to indulge."

Lightning shrugged, just as another thunderclap happened. The two dodged three lightning bolts, one after the other, in an aerial slalom, and in perfect sync. They looked at each other and nodded. 

"It's okay, I don't mind talking about it. Besides, it just means they weren't for us," Lightning said with a grin. 

"Hah! Understatement," Rolling said. "So, even with my shiny record? Didn't make it past the first week. Spitfire kept saying stuff about me not taking this 'seriously enough'." She scoffed. "Still don't know what she meant by that. Thought the Wonderbolts were all about impressin' ponies!"

"Right?" Lightning laughed. "Turns out they are, but they've got a million rules before they let you do that. In a mock imitation of Spitfire's voice, she droned, 'Sorry Lightning, we know you're the best, but we can't have you endanger ponies around you while proving it!'" She scoffed as well. "That's what got me kicked out.

"But, meh, It's fine. I've had time to think about it, and you know what? She was right about one thing. Some ponies just aren't made to handle the hardcore life, and they don't deserve getting dragged into the dangers by ponies who are. But it also meant I could never go back. The Wonderbolts just aren't me." 

Lightning zoomed ahead, darting back and forth across the sky in front of Rolling, bucking any and every cloud she met, poofing some out of existence and causing others to rumble. Feeling a familiar tingle, she flew under the rumbling clouds, narrowly dodging several brand new lightning bolts on purpose. 

With a squeal, Lightning flew back to Rolling, relishing the eyebrow-raised, impressed look on the latter's face. "The rush is my life! Leaving lightning in the dust is what makes me me."

Rolling nodded with a chuckle. "I might know a little something about that, yeah."

"Figured you would. So, new plan: if I'm gonna endanger somepony, I'll just do it to myself twice over, and leave everypony else out of it."

"Heh. Likin' that philosophy. Still, not sure how much it helps, knowin' we just washed out of our biggest life dream. Some pegasi apparently have more than one. I envy 'em. But for me—and you too, it looks like? It was Wondies Or Bust, there's only one Wonderbolts, and they've already closed the door to us." Rolling glanced to her side, avoiding Lightning's eyes. "Now, here we are. Drifters."

Lightning was going to reply, but something caught her out of the corner of her eye. "Hey, look down there," she said, pointing to a cave. The two flew down, made sure it was deserted, then allowed themselves to sigh and relax on its floor. "Wow. Only now do I realize I've been flying for hours. I need a rest."

"I'll admit it 'cause it's you, but I could use a breather too. Good fly, though. We..." Rolling trailed off. "Ahhh, forget it."

"No way! We're stuck in a cave together for who knows how long this storm lasts! I'm 'forgetting' nothing." Lightning inched closer. "What's on your mind?"

Rolling put her hooves together. "I was just thinking... I mean, there can't be too many of us out there. Pegasi, deemed 'not good enough', but still passionate about what we do. Still killer flyers." She looked at Lightning, her cheeks tinting. "Still have a gift of gab." Her eyes twinkled. "Maybe we should stick together?"

Lightning looked back with a wide smile. "I think that idea's fantastic. Provided we can get out of here, you can be my wingpony anytime."

Rolling laughed. "I think you mean, you can be mine."

The two met eyes.

"We'll race for it," Lightning said.

The two nodded in unison.

"You got it, mate," Rolling agreed.

"Cool. Now that that's settled..." Lightning looked around. "Ugh. It'll be hard to get a fire going in this storm, or even something comfy to sleep on, but... here." Lightning reached into her saddlebag, took out two wrapped hay bars, and gave one to Rolling. "I noticed you didn't have any food with you."

Rolling took the hay bar, stared at it as if making a very important decision... then looked back into Lightning's eyes. Lightning smiled back, doing her best to be as reassuring as possible. 

Finally, Rolling looked back at the bar, unwrapped it, took a bite... then took several more, very quickly. "Okay, guess I was hungrier than I thought. You wouldn't, uh, have any more, would you?"

"Bout a dozen." Lightning gave Rolling a few more. 

"Awww, thank you, love." Rolling breathed, biting into another one. "Seriously, thank you so much."

Lightning giggled. "I mean, they're just hay bars. They're like two steps up from junk food."

Rolling looked at Lightning one more time—and this time, Lightning noticed, Rolling's eyes were different again. They contained life, now. 

In more ways than one. 

"Nah," Rolling said. "Trust me: they're perfect."