//------------------------------// // Brace For Impact // Story: Crashing To Rock Bottom // by Pip232 //------------------------------// “Good, then you won’t mind how that rope’s about to coil around your hoof.” Rainbow Dash’s smug tone only added insult to the injury of Lightning Dust’s main event being ruined. She looked down at her hoof just as the rope pulled taut, and suddenly her back legs were pulled out from under her, the rocket that was supposed to be used in said event pulling her into the sky. “RIVALS FOR LIIIIIFE!!” Lightning Dust shouted at the top of her lungs at Rainbow Dash as she was yanked away from the event grounds at a blistering pace. She saw Rolling Thunder and Short Fuse flying after her, but they would be little help. The only pony she knew of fast enough to catch up to the rocket besides herself was Rainbow Dash, and she knew she wouldn’t be willing to help. Over the sound of wind rushing past her ears, Lightning Dust could hear Spitfire’s lecture right before she officially discharged her. The reason for safety regulations is so that you don’t wind up in a full body wing-and-hoof cast drinkin' through a straw, or worse put somepony else in one! Maybe someday you’ll understand that, but until then, dismissed! She scoffed, looking at the rocket as it continued to climb higher. You really need a new warning about safety, Spitfire! What fun is flying without an element of danger to it? Besides, this is nothing I can’t handle! Her attention turned to the rope around her back leg. If it was around one of her forelegs she could just undo it, but as it was it would take more effort than that to get free. She tried to reach her hoof, but the sheer wind resistance was keeping her from doing it. Despite the danger of the situation, Lightning Dust couldn’t help but smile. This was what being a Washout was all about: the sheer rush of adrenaline, the lack of safety nets, and the anticipation of the endorphin high that would follow a successful stunt were all making her thoroughly enjoy the otherwise dangerous situation. Lightning Dust looked at the rope and brought her free leg up, before lashing out and kicking at it as hard as she could. She hissed in pain as her hoof collided, but the rope was just a bit looser than before. The flames on the back of the rocket were beginning to shrink. Lightning Dust figured it was beginning to run out of fuel, and her mind flashed back to her days at flight camp as a filly. The first thing every young pegasus was taught is that there is one universal and absolute law that governs everything that flies: takeoff is optional, landing is not. The irony of her takeoff having been not optional wasn’t wasted on her, and it added a time crunch to her escape. Far from making her nervous, it only made her more excited. She kicked at the rope again, seeing it having grown looser, but still not enough to pry herself free. The rocket was considerably slowing down, but she was still facing the wrong way to just untie the rope. Suddenly the tension on the rope slackened, and she looked to see the flames had completely run out. Not wasting this opportunity, she used this momentary lull to throw herself forward and grab the knot with her hooves, trying to get it undone. She nearly lost her grip when the rocket started descending at an angle, rapidly gaining speed. Lightning Dust folded her wings up against her sides, pressing them tightly so they wouldn’t be pulling her back. Focusing on the knot she began feverishly working on it. Her peripheral vision was focused on the rapidly approaching ground below, and she knew she had a limited time. This is it, time to do or die! Lightning Dust quickly banished those thoughts from her head. No, just time to do so I don’t die! Simple as that! Working on undoing the knot was incredibly difficult. Keeping herself positioned so that her forehooves could reach the end of her hind leg under these conditions was taking a great deal of strength and making her back hurt. She wished she’d taken Rolling Thunder’s advice and stretched more often than she did. The ground was getting closer and closer, and she could make out the outlines of buildings below. Time was running out. She could swear she heard Spitfire’s voice in her head again. Tick tock, Lightning Dust! Ground’s coming up fast! Despite the potential deadliness of the situation, she still couldn’t stop smiling. The rushing adrenaline, the wind in her face, and her pounding heart all served to feed her excitement. Almost got it! Just a little more! She chanced a look at the ground, and what she saw momentarily terrified her. She was hurtling towards a rock farm, the worst-case scenario, but her fear didn’t last very long. Instead, she began slightly laughing. For an adrenaline junkie like her, this was the thrill of a lifetime, and while she would love to keep it up, she knew she needed to get free. The knot was coming loose, she was almost free! She could clearly see the blades on the windmill of the farm, and knew it was now or never. With a pull of her hoof her leg was free of the rocket. It continued forward, taking out the farm’s windmill before it plowed into the barn. Lightning Dust opened her wings, trying to take control of her situation, but instead yelped in pain from the strain they were put under. The angle and speed she was going combined with her distance to the ground made recovering impossible, and she braced herself. At the last moment she folded her wings up so they wouldn’t get broken as she slammed into the ground with a force that drove the air from her lungs. Momentum propelling her she rolled along the ground, tumbling forward before finally coming to a stop on her back. Her suit had suffered a large amount of wear and tear from her tumble, but Lightning Dust felt fine. Now that she wasn’t in mortal peril, she could fully enjoy the endorphins rushing through her. That was by far the most dangerous thing she’d ever done, and she couldn’t be happier about it. For the moment, Lightning Dust was content to lie on the ground and ride out the afterglow of euphoria while she got her wind back. Suck it, Spitfire! I won’t be drinking through any straws today, and I didn’t even need a helmet. She weakly chuckled, her afterglow lasting longer than she thought it would. She heard the crunching of pebbles getting closer, but she paid it little mind until a mare’s face came into view directly above her, glaring down at the pegasus. A look of barely restrained rage was present on her face. “Whoever you are, you’re under a mountain of trouble.”