Chapter 6: Alone
“Oh my gosh! I have to hurry and leave. I need to meet up with my friends.” Before either Lightning or Thunder knew it, Rainbow Dash had flown out the door and was already flying over the city towards Giovani Tower. The two stallions looked at each other and Lightning let out a laugh.
“Damn T. Rainbow Dash is hot!”
Thunder just looked at his older brother.
"What?"
Thunder said nothing; he just turned and went to the bathroom
Lightning returned to the couch and resumed watching TV.
Shortly thereafter, Thunder returned and approached his brother. "Hey lightning, I'm heading to work now. I'll pick up some more cereal on my way home."
"Ok T. Have fun."
Thunder left and Lightning returned to his shows. He was watching Mares of Our Lives and sipping on some cola, something he did often. This was the usual routine for Lightning. Thunder would leave for work and Lightning would stay at the apartment and watch TV. Thunder was the one bring in the money, he worked at a clothing boutique, similar to that of Rarity's in Ponyville; he also did occasional magic shows at various performance venues.
It wasn't like Lightning wanted to lounge around the apartment all day; he tried to find a job, but it was hard to find a job in Las Pegasus, especially for a crippled pegasus.
Lightning was bored. He hated just sitting around doing nothing. Of course it was more than just boredom. Despite his Cocky attitude and flirtatious way of talking to girls, he was hurting. Lightning suffered from deep depression, self loathing, and complete nihilism.
Lightning had felt it was his fault they lived like this. If he had just told Thunder, he would still have his wings and they'd still be performing. Funny thing was, Thunder felt like it was his fault, and Lightning knew it. No matter what he said, Thunder continued to believe it was his fault. Lightning knew Thunder was hurting as much as he was, and this made Lightning hurt more. He told Thunder he'd always be there for him, always help him.
Lightning and Thunder were running through the forest; the two colts were spending their day together before Lightning had to go back to Cloudsdale with his father. The brothers hadn't seen each other in a long time and were enjoying their short time together.
"C'mon Thunder! Try and keep up!"
Both ponies galloped through the forest until they reached a deep chasm. Lightning quickly jumped over the chasm and skillfully landed on the other side. Thunder however quickly stopped at the edge.
"C'mon T.! Jump!"
"I-I don't think i can Lightning...I-its too far!"
"Don't be a baby T. Jump!"
Slowly Thunder scooted backwards. He kept going until he reached what he felt was far enough. Then he began towards the chasm. Soon he was running towards the chasm at top speeds. He kept running until he reached the edge and then he jumped. Thunder Bolt flew across the chasm and almost reached the edge. Then, he began to fall.
"Thunder!!!" Lightning watched as his brother fell to his doom. There was no time to think; he had to do something before it was to late.
Lightning jumped into the chasm after his brother. He fell as fast as he could after Thunder. They were almost at the ground. Lightning grabbed Thunder and began flapping his wings. They almost hit the ground, but Lightning managed to pull out of the dive and rocket upwards.
"WAHOOO!!!" Lightning shouted in excitement. This was the first time he had ever flown.
"AAAAAHHH!!!!" Thunder didn't share his brother's enthusiasm. He preferred to keep his hooves on the ground over flying.
"Hey T., you ok?"
"Y-y-y-y-yeah...I-I-I think."
Lightning laughed at his brother's anxiety.
"Lightning...let's never do this again." choked out Thunder.
Lightning laughed again.The brother's began heading towards Lightning's home and in no time at all reached his house.
"Here we are T., home sweet home."
Lightning sat Thunder down and landed beside him. The colts' mother ran out the door towards the boys
"HI MOMMA!" the boys shouted together.
"Oh hello dears." their mother quickly grabbed the boys and hugged them. "Lightning, were you flying?"
"Yeah mom! Isn't it cool?" Lightning said enthusiastically.
"When did you learn to do that?"
"Just now, it was awesome mom. You should've seen it!"
"Yeah mom! It was cool! At first I was really scared, but then it turned fun! Boy, I sure thought i was a goner." Lightning quickly punched Thunder to get him to shut up.
"What do you mean Thunder?" Their mother asked with concern on her face.
"N-nothing mom! Nothing at all! Thunder was just being a dope."
"Quiet Lightning." Their mother then turned back to Thunder, "What do you mean, goner?"
"Um...um...It's just I...I kind of fell down a chasm...b-but it wasn't Lightnings fault!"
"WHAT?!?!" their mother made them explain right there, then made Lightning go sit in the corner for half an hour for almost killing his brother.
That night their mother made their favorite, Hay Caesar Salad. Then for desert she made them the Super Deluxe Ultra Mega Extreme Double Decker Banana Split with the works. The boys ate heartily, then their mother read them both a bed time story and tucked them in. This was Lightning's last night there before he had to return to Cloudsdale with his father, Shadow Bolt.
Lightning couldn't sleep. he didn't want to go home with his dad. He wanted to stay with his mom and his little brother Thunder. He slipped out of bed and crawled through the bedroom window onto the roof. He sat there staring at the moon for who knows how long, until Thunder slipped out onto the roof also.
"T. man, you should go back in, it's cold out here, you'll get sick."
"Lightning, I'm a big boy now, I can be out here with you."
"You sure T.? Being a big boy ain't all it's cracked up to be." Lightning joked with his little brother.
"Yeah I'm sure."
The two sat there in silence, both staring at the moon. Silence fell over the brothers. The only noise was the crickets chirping in the distance. It was so peaceful here, so far away from the bustle and loudness of Cloudsdale. Lightning loved it here, far away from his dad and that bitch of a stepmother. He wished it didn't have to end tomorrow, but like all good things, it had to.
"Hey Lightning?"
"Yeah T.?"
"Where does the moon come from?"
"Hell I don't know. Aren't you supposed to know that? You are the smart one after all."
"I'm not that smart Lightning, I have the lowest grades in school."
"Aw c'mon T. Don't doubt yourself bro! Aim for gold man, have faith in yourself. If you try your hardest, and believe in yourself, you can do anything!" Lightning took off when he said this and performed a figure eight. This made Thunder laugh and clap in amusement.
"Yeah, I guess you're right Lightning. So, where does the moon come from?"
Lightning let out a sigh. "You see T., there are two princesses who rule over Equestria; one, Celestia, goddess of the day and sun, makes the sun rise during the day to bring light and beauty to all Equestria, the other, Luna, goddess of the night and moon, raises the moon at night, bringing more beauty and allowing the ponies to sleep."
"Wooow..." Thunder said in amazement. "So one pony makes it night, and the other day. What'd you say the second princess' name was?"
"Luna?"
"Yeah Luna...That's a pretty name." Thunder continued to stare at the moon. "One day, I'll become Luna's personal student and learn some of here amazing magic!"
"That's the spirit T. Aim for the stars and one day, you'll get it!"
Silence returned to the brothers. They continued to sit there for what felt like hours. Lightning grabbed his little brother and pulled him close, he could feel Thunder begin to shake.
"Hey T., I think we should head inside now. It's getting a bit cold.
"Yeah....Hey Lightning?"
"Yeah T.?"
"Thanks for saving me."
"Don't mention it T. That's what I'm here for."
"Lightning, you're the best brother ever!" Thunder hugged his older brother.
"No doubt T.! Hey listen, I'll always be here for you, okay? I'll always be here to help you, protect you, alright T.?"
Thunder just nodded up at his brother. The two shared a brohoof and climbed back inside the window. Then they both fell asleep.
Lightning looked up from the can of soda he was drinking. Remembering that memory made him feel worse. He had promised Thunder he'd always be there for him; now look at him, a bum living off his younger brother's paycheck. It made him sick.
"That's it!" Lightning exclaimed, jumping up from his couch, "I'm not going to just sit here and waste away my life! I'm going to go out there and be somebody! Make something of myself! I'm no slave to the system! I'm Lightning Bolt baby, the fastest, most talented pegasus in history! I AM MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY!!!"
Lightning could hear the old lady who lived in the apartment underneath his own yelling, "HEY! QUIET DOWN UP THERE OR I'M CALLING THE POLICE!"
"SORRY MRS. FLORA!!" Lightning quickly got dressed and ran out the door of his apartment. This was his time, he would make things better for him and his brother. No more being alone.