//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: The End of the Line 
// Story: Flightless Dreams 
// by Edensola 
//------------------------------//



FINAL CHAPTER: THE END OF THE LINE


Back in Fillydelphia, the rain was still pouring heavily over the beautiful city. Approaching the station was the same detective who'd sent Lightning Dust there in the first place. He was soaking wet, had a grumpy demeanor, and just wanted to hurry up and get inside. As he busted his way through the doors, he levitated his top hat off his head in annoyance, wringing out the water then slapping it against his hoof some. "Rain? Of all days, by Celestia, what are those darn pegasi doing?" He rolled his eyes as he saw the two guards he'd sent along with his suspect, he approached them with a tired expression.

He was curious at first, he peered around noticing Lightning Dust was nowhere in sight "Where's my suspect?"

One of the guards blinked a bit, then laughed nervously looking to the lower left. The other began to twirl his hoof against the floor as he laughed nervously as well, looking up slightly "Well you see, about that..."

The other chimed in "It's a long story..."

The detective looked at them curiously, raising a brow "Humor me."

A brief moment later.

"YOU LOST HER?!"

He groaned in discomfort, stomping his hooves as he flared his nostrils in frustration. He threw his top hat to the floor in an angry rage "Can't anything go right these days?! AAAH! You two go do whatever, you're both lucky I got a lead to follow up on. Turns out that lead lives right here in Filly. Now get out of my sight!"

The guards were somewhat relieved to hear he'd be leaving, that means they wouldn't be scolded for the next few hours. He sighed heavily before placing a hoof over his face, shaking his head. The guards gladly followed his orders and made their way out of the station, the detective scowled at them as they left. He then looked up as if begging a higher power for some sense of relief, then making his way out as well.

Already following up on that lead he'd come across.





As Lightning Dust's mother yawned, she continued to trot throughout her home. It was a very cozy place, there was nice furniture, three bedrooms, one of them being a guest room. Then there was obviously their master bedroom, as well as the children who'd surprisingly wanted to share a room with each other. It was the example of a perfect family home.

As she trotted down the hall, she smiled as she came across the kid's room.

They were busy playing with the new Mare-do-well toy set.

"You two having fun?" she questioned in a gentle and curious tone.

The two little ponies looked back at their mother with wide eyes, then chuckled "Yep!" one said in delight as the other inclined "Mhm, we're okay mom! You don't have to keep checking up on us you know." 

She shook her head, still having that affectionate smile "No no, I love doing this, you two are my bundles of joy, plus it keeps my mind off other things." She chuckled as they looked at her puzzled "Like what?"

Her eyes widened somewhat, she didn't expect them to follow up on it, she winced, she knew what, but she couldn't say it, not in front of them at least. For a moment she looked saddened, lost, she suddenly wiped that look from her face and just smiled at the two of them "Just, things, you two don't need to worry about it." 

They stared at her briefly before shrugging, then continued to play with their toys happily.

She just proceeded to smile and watch them, her eyes widened as she felt somepony tap her with their hoof. She blinked before chuckling, she knew who it was, she just continued to watch her little ones. Her husband smiled standing beside her "Haha, they're just so innocent aren't they?" 

She nodded "Mhm..." 

He could hear the slight discomfort in her voice. He sighed before running his hoof through her mane affectionately "Listen hun, how about we just go and visit, I'm sure you're overthinking things, she'd probably love to see you." 

She shook her head and looked down "No, I'd only make her feel worse If I did that."

She then took a few trots back and made her way down the hall sluggishly. Thinking about Lightning was obviously taking it's toll on her, by the look on her husband's face, it usually did. 

He sighed heavily before trailing behind her, calling out to her somewhat "You can't keep blaming yourself for missing her graduation. Things come up, it happens to everypony, you just gotta-" 

She cut him off, scowling at him angrily, as if he set off a ticking time bomb within her "I left her! Don't you understand that? I abandoned my daughter for my own selfish reasons! I betrayed her trust in me, betrayed her, left her alone in that dump! While I ran away like some storybook mare, chasing the dream. I am a failure of a mother!" Tears were in her eyes as she spoke on impulse, her expression sank as she realized she'd overreacted. As she peered down the hall, she noticed her little ones were watching, they looked more worried than confused, to them, it sounded like she was just rambling about random things that never happened. At least in their lifetime. She looked at her husband who also seemed speechless. 

He sighed heavily before looking back at his kids with a smile "Go back and play you two, mom's fine, she's just a little under the weather, you know, rainy days." 

They looked at each other, nodding then looking back at their father "A-Alright" one said as the other continued "We'll go and play." They both looked to their mother "F-Feel better mom" the other smiled "Yea, try not to get under the weather." With that they made their way back to their room hesitantly.

She looked down, she felt horrible, even worse than before. Her husband approached her, embracing her tightly then patting her head "It's alright hun, I'm here, you can talk to me." 

She began to sob quietly as she hugged him back, sniffling, she'd been holding in such thoughts for awhile, it was refreshing to finally be able to mention them. As they shared this tranquil moment, suddenly there were knocks at the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

They looked at each other curiously as if wondering if they'd both heard the same thing. 

The knocks came again.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Her husband smiled as he led her to the living room "No worries hun, I'll get it." 

She nodded as she went to sit on the couch, she wiped the tears from her eyes as she then stared at the floor with a deep expression of melancholy. Her husband answered the door, he raised a brow curiously at the stranger standing in the rain. "Uhm, hello there sir may I help you?"

As the detective stood outside the door he still had that grumpy demeanor "Yes you may, is your wife home?"

Lightning Dust's mother peered over at the door as she'd heard she was mentioned. She stared at the detective curiously as he'd looked over at her.

He looked to her husband "May I come in?" 

Her husband gave a slight nod of approval as the detective made his way inside, he approached Lightning Dust's mother "Excuse me ma'am, I have something that may be of interest to you, it concerns your ex-husband and well erhm; daughter."

To this her eyes shot wide, she felt her body shudder. A detective wanted to talk to her about Lightning and her ex-husband? What for? Were they okay? Did somepony get hurt? So many questions ran through her head as she nodded to the detective, gulping afterwords "Y-Yes, of course."

Her husband came to join her on the couch as the detective situated himself comfortably before speaking.

"Alright, well, let me start from the beginning."

As he told the couple of what he'd found in Cloudsdale, and how Lightning Dust was believed to be the suspect and how she'd ran away, Lightning Dust's mother never took her eyes off the detective, her body was trembling and she looked utterly shocked by every word. She looked as if she were in a daze, lost, overwhelmed with confusion, she couldn't believe what he was saying. Her Lightning? Her sweet little mare, a murderer? That was impossible, and she knew it!

As he finished he sighed "And that's everything in a nutshe-" 

Lightning Dust's mother got off the couch, snapping at the detective in anger "MY LITTLE LIGHTNING DIDN'T MURDER ANYPONY! ESPECIALLY HER FATHER FOR THAT MATTER!" She snarled at him somewhat "HOW COULD YOU EVEN CONSIDER SUCH A THING?!"

The detective was a little taken back by her sudden anger, but understood completely "Listen ma'am, I ain't making any accusations, I'm just saying based on what we found she's the most likely suspect, but I won't know for certain until we find and question her. I mean she does seem to fit the profile, a drunk father, lack of a motherly figure." 

Those last words made her cringe, she winced at him somewhat as he noticed. 

He sighed then just continued. "Perhaps she was abused, maybe things got out of hand, she overpowered him, and-" 

She interrupted him again "Are you insane?! My ex-husband was a depressed drunk, but he'd never lay a hoof on her! And she would never hurt him! Y-You said there were no stab wounds of the sort, what makes you rule out the possibility of suicide?"

This made the detective's eyes widen as he then rubbed his chin, pondering "Hmmm, now that you mention it-" 

Lightning Dust's mother groaned angrily as she stomped a hoof, heading straight for the door. "I don't have time for this!" 

Her husband called out to her "Wait hun, I'll go with you!" 

She looked back at him with saddened eyes, she shook her head "No darling, not this time, I can get there faster on my own. Please, stay here and watch over our little ones."

He looked at her defiantly at first, but soon that attitude melted away as he'd given in to her words. "F-Fine, I'll stay here. But you be careful."

She smirked at him "You know I will."

As she opened the door, stepping outside and spreading her wings, she had a determined look on her face. She looked fierce, a fiery passion burning in her eyes as if she knew exactly where to go. She prepared herself for flight as the detective suddenly rushed over to her. 

"Wait ma'am! Where are you going, are you saying you know where she is?" he beckoned.

She glanced back at him with a simple nod "Yes, it's my daughter, I know where she'd go during a time like this." She looked down with a guilty expression, "I only wish I was there since the beginning, to comfort her, but, I won't make that mistake again." 

She looked up towards the sky "Wait for me Lightning, mom will be there soon."

She bolted off into the sky, as she did so her husband ran out the house and yelled up at her "Make sure you bring her home hun! We'll be waiting!" 

She glanced back at him, as she teared up a little, she smiled as she continued to fly, yelling back "I will!"

With that she was gone, disappearing into the clouds as they remained in the front yard, just staring in awe. Even though she was a mother of three, she was quite fast, well it was Lightning Dust's mother of course. 





As Lightning Dust remained on top of her small cloud, she continued to peer off into the distance. She wasn't sure what this feeling was, but it wasn't bad in particular, more like reflective, she closed her eyes for a second, relishing in the feeling of the wind against her face, the gentle breeze running along her coat and mane, it felt spectacular. 

She took in a deep breath, then smiled softly to herself I'm ready.

She'd looked determined, she turned atop her cloud, facing the opposite direction. She closed her eyes halfway as she was pacing somewhat, as if preparing herself mentally for what was about to come, she outstretched her right wing first, she closed her eyes tight, gritting her teeth as she reached back grabbing it with her hoof.

SNAP!

She yelped in pain, trembling horribly as she fell to her side, barely able to keep herself up after that moment. She was sweating, breathing heavily, the pain obviously taking it's toll on her. How the buck did dad pull this off? This hurts like hay! She glanced back at her right wing, she could no longer flap it, making it useless for flight. She smiled, just like she'd wanted. She took in another deep breath, her hoof trembled as she reached back for her other wing, her eyes shut tight as she bit her bottom lip, she took firm grasp of it then let off a small whine, preparing for the pain.

SNAP!

She cried out in pain, it felt unbearable, but at least, it was finished, for now. She was breathing heavily, she was surprised she hadn't fainted, that'd have been extremely fortunate in this situation she thought. As she attempted to flap her wings to no avail, she chuckled softly, bags appearing under her eyes due to the pure exhaustion she was having just from lasting through all that.

So this is what being an earth pony feels like, huh, weird.

She looked ahead with a weak smile, you were one tough stallion dad, I'll give you that.

She took a few trots back, feeling the drop at the edge of the cloud slightly, it sent a shiver up her spine. It was definitely a long drop. Lightning Dust stood up on her hind legs, spreading the other two out as if begging for the wind's cold embrace. "Hah! Now this is what I call style!" Although she looked like she was in agonizing pain, at this moment, she was also smiling, actually it was more than that, she was laughing. Laughing as if she were having the time of her life, as she looked off into the distant skies, she couldn't help but feel a little joyous about the situation she'd put herself in, she felt alive. No turning back now! She gave a fierce grin, it was always meant to end this way. 

This was destiny, she'd always felt at home, here in the sky. She may not have become a wonderbolt, but still, like most pegasi, she belonged here, here in the clouds, with the winds against her back, and the clouds by her side. She looked up, humored that it'd come to this, most would call her a coward, tell her that she was running away from the world and it's problems, that she needs to grow up and get over it all. But she was no coward, she smirked, this was her decision, this was by her own volition, she wasn't choosing to run away, not in her eyes, she was just choosing to leave this world because there was nothing left for her here. She was moving on, she was ready to finally rest. She was ready for everything to just come to an end.

Here I go....

She took a step back, off the cloud, she immediately felt the sudden pull of gravity. Her hooves still spread out, as if embracing her fate, she fell back, although in reality that sudden fall would only have been a second, to her it felt like an eternity. She closed her eyes somewhat, her sudden tears trailing off into the sky. They say right before you die, your life flashes before your eyes, not for Lightning Dust, all she saw was the beautiful sky. However, the memories suddenly all came back to her, memories from key moments throughout her life. She smiled, how refreshing that was, one last look at everything she'd accomplished, and one last look at everything she'd failed to achieve. The words from such times rang in her mind.

"Well, dreams are kind of a complicated thing."

"You're the best of the best, and I know it." 

"You got a bright future ahead of you!"

"I'll be close by sweetie."

"You've had enough time, Lightning Dust." 

As the memories flashed through her head, she winced somewhat. Ha... another one, one she didn't expect, it was back when she was still in the academy. Back when she'd costed herself her friendship with Rainbow Dash, how funny, they were her own words.

"Hey, you snooze, you lose! Besides, Wonderbolts are supposed to be able to recover from a spinout. You saw them on the Dizzitron. They could use the practice. I mean, it's not our fault we're so much better than those other guys. Not every pony is destined to become a Wonderbolt. Only the best of the best, right?"

Lightning Dust smiled, not even she was sure why she recalled such a thing, but somehow it felt fitting, she wasn't complaining, perhaps it meant something, perhaps it didn't, either way, none of that mattered now. 

Time caught up with her, the moment became fleeting once more, still at the moment right before she would begin plummeting towards the ground, right when she'd just stepped off the cloud. She was ready, this was it, from here on out it would be nothing but the drop, and waiting for the sudden crash below. 

This was the beginning of the end.

"LIGHTNING!"

Her eyes snapped wide.

Mom?!.....

And so it began. Plummeting down towards the ground, her quickening descent had begun. 

Lightning Dust's mother breathed heavily as she looked horribly tired, she looked at her daughter continue to fall, pondering what she was doing, why didn't she just recover from the rapid descent and fly? Suddenly her eyes widened, she recalled what the detective had told her about the supposed murder.

His wings were snapped out of place.

They were indeed twisted, limp, out of place. She was doing exactly what her dad did!

Her expression sunk, dread creeping over her features as she gasped, yelling desperately in the form of a cry "NO!"

Tears filled her eyes as she then bolted after her falling daughter. She had to catch her before she hit the ground, she just had to! Her wings flapped voraciously as the tears were flying from her eyes, she shot her way downward as she was in pursuit of the rapidly descending Lightning. 

Lightning looked at her mother attempting to catch up to her with wide eyes, it was her, it was really her, after all these years, she was finally here. It was mom. 

She was fast, just like her, Lightning just continued to gaze up as she was falling, mom was getting closer and closer. She looked just as frightened as she was determined. Lightning looked grief struck, at a loss for words as she stared at her, just flying down towards her, attempting to save her. 

She even called out "LIGHTNING, HOLD ON I'M COMING SWEETIE!" 

Lightning felt the tears swell up in her eyes dramatically, she began to sob, why, why now? But wait, this wasn't the time to complain, time was short, and mom likely wasn't going to make it. Just as she was getting closer, so was the ground, Lightning Dust had to think of something to tell her, but what? Her expression changed, she looked at her mother with a tragic smile, the tears flying from her eyes as she fell, her eyes wincing at her mother affectionately, lovingly, cravingly, she yelled up at her "I LOVE YOU MOM!" 

Lightning Dust's mom just gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with dread, she was so close now! Only a few feet! But they were rapidly nearing the ground, only a brief window in order to finish it! She shook her head, she wasn't going to make it, no, she had to make it, she had to! She bolted down, flapping her wings as hard as she could, putting all her strength into that last burst, to save her precious daughter. She stretched out her hooves, Lightning Dust just continued to smile looking into her mother's eyes. She stretched her hooves up at her, as if preparing to embrace her for a tight hug, she smiled at her mother, she was so close now.

I love you mom....

Darkness.





Lightning Dust's eyes snapped wide, she leaned upward, the world around her was white, and filled with light.

Where was she?

As she struggled to get to her hooves, she found she could flap her wings again. She felt light, transparent, was she dead? She looked over herself, fluttering a bit as she raised a brow. "I, I feel alive...but,...this isn't Equestria, where is this?"

She covered her eyes, suddenly a bright sphere of light approached her, emerging from the obscure landscape. As it did, it also spoke in a beautiful, wise, and powerful voice, it sounded kind "Welcome, my little pony." 

Lightning Dust blinked a bit, looking at it curiously, soon her expression sunk humorously "You better not tell me you're the god of ponies or something."

The sphere of light remained silent for a moment before speaking "That, is for you to decide. Whether you want to believe this is the afterlife, whether I'm a god, or whether this is all just a dream is up to you."

Lightning Dust looked at the sphere of light curiously "Alright, but what am I even doing here? I'm dead right?"

The sphere of light questioned her curiously "I don't know, are you?"

Lightning Dust moaned in discomfort, annoyed by the riddles. "I was hoping you could tell me!"

It spoke "I am not here to provide answers, I am only here to listen, and learn."

Lightning Dust looked absolutely puzzled, she snapped "Learn and listen to what? I have nothing to say!"

"Why do you believe you are here?" the sphere of light questioned. 

Lightning Dust's eyes widened somewhat, she looked down towards the strange infinitely white landscape "It's probably because I ended up dying, now I'm in the afterlife, well if this is the place, it sure looks boring."

"Why are you so persistent on believing you're dead?"

Lightning Dust felt irked by this, she winced at the sphere of light "B-Because I fell duh!"

"Didn't your mother catch you?"

Lightning Dust's expression sunk once more as she lowered her head and ears, she muttered "I, I don't know...I, I guess it's possible, but, if that happened I wouldn't have arrived here."

"Perhaps it was your own choice little one. In the end it's all up to you."

Lightning Dust gazed up at it "What is that even supposed to mean? All up to me?"

The sphere of light remained silent for another brief moment before questioning "Do you want to live?"

Lightning Dust's eyes widened, she remained silent, did she want to live? Did she want to go back to that world, where she supposedly had nothing left? Did she want to risk losing everything again? Did she want to continue fighting? So many things, suddenly an image popped up in her head. An image of her mother. Mom was there, and she somehow managed to find her, she was trying her hardest to save her, she cared for her. Lightning Dust felt tears stream down her cheeks. She loved her. Lightning Dust looked back up at the sphere of light with a simple nod, gulping somewhat.

"Y-Yes, I want to live..."

The sphere of light was silent once again, as it laughed softly "Very well..."

As it said these words, Lightning Dust's body began to fade. She looked up at the sphere of light, the world around her glowing vibrantly as she began to disappear, she had saddened eyes, her heart ached, she wasn't sure why, tears slowly ran down her cheeks as she smiled softly at the sphere of light. "Thank you...."

The world around her began to fade.

The sphere of light replied, in a soft, all too familiar tone "Anytime....kiddo..."

Lightning Dust's eyes widened with recognition, but before she had time to say anything, she was gone once again.





Lightning Dust felt pain flow all throughout her body. 

She leaned up slowly, she was covered in bandages all over. She was also on a respirator of sorts and was wearing a patient's robe, she was obviously in a hospital room. She looked around, there was another bed near the door. She glanced to her left, looking out the window, she could feel the warmth of the sun on her face. It was a beautiful looking day outside, the sky was a gorgeous blue and the clouds were thick and white, she could hear the birds singing outside her window. Lightning Dust looked tired, she looked at her hoof, as if inspecting it. She was deep in thought.

A dream?

She remained in bed, pondering, was that all really just a dream? Was it just some form of comfort to get her to wake up from her slumber? Was that really- no it couldn't have been. So many questions she thought, as usual. But, perhaps, it was better off that way, perhaps it was better not knowing all the answers, maybe, everything was as it should be. A smile crept onto her face.

Suddenly the door to her room opened. 

As Lightning Dust turned to see who it was, her eyes widened, she felt the tears swell up in her eyes.

"Oh is this big sister?" said a little filly. 

"She looks all beat up, what happened to her?" said a curious colt.

"Haha, she had a bit of an accident you two, but she's tough!" said a reassuring stallion. 

Then came that all too familiar voice.

"You sure put me through a lot of trouble sweetie."

The tears streamed down Lightning Dust's cheeks, she was speechless.

There standing in the doorway were two little ponies, a rugged stallion and last but not least, mom, all with smiles on their faces. 

The two little ponies looked up at mother curiously "Uhm mom, she's crying?" 

The little filly looked at Lightning Dust with saddened eyes "Yea, don't cry big sister, it's okay." The little filly began to tear up as well "You're making me want to cry now!" 

The little colt nudged her lightly "Haha you crybaby!" 

The stallion bopped the colt on the head softly "Hey now, no picking on your little sister!" 

Lightning Dust's mother approached her nervously, as Lightning just continued to look at her as she did so. "The uhm, detective apologized for the misunderstanding. We'll, we'll have to arrange for dad's funeral but, it should all go smoothly. L-Listen sweetie..." Lightning Dust just continued to stare at her "If..if you don't want me to be here, that's fine, I'll understand, I know I haven't been there for you often, and-" 

Lightning Dust just leaped from the bed, wrapping her hooves tightly around her mother in a loving embrace "MOM!" she wept as she held her close. 

Her mother's eyes widened, as her lower lip began to quiver, her body trembled, she returned the hug, and she to wept, nuzzling into her daughter's mane gently, lovingly, finally. "Sweetie..."

The two ponies wept as they held each other close. Suddenly the crying filly ran over to Lightning Dust "H-Hey! I want a hug to!" She clung onto the aquamarine mare happily, smiling up at her "It's nice to meet you big sister!" The colt made his way over giving her a hug as well as the stallion remained back, just smiling at them with a slight smirk. 

Lightning Dust's eyes widened as she looked at the two little ponies calling her big sister. Lightning Dust winced in pain a little since she was still hurt, but chuckled softly as she lowered herself to hug the two little ponies, "And it's nice to meet the two of you as well." 

The stallion rolled his eyes "Ah what the heck." He went over to the four of them and gave Lightning Dust a hug himself "Glad to see you're alright." 

Lightning Dust gave him a smile of approval, returning the hug. They were all so kind, so nice, they were, like family. As she stared at all of them, they just smiled back at her, she blushed softly, chuckling a little as she gave them all a cheesy affectionate smile, and all five of them, hugged as one, one big happy family.

Things finally seemed to be getting better, the future was still uncertain, but Lightning Dust wasn't worrying about that at the moment. For now, this single moment in time was perfect, she was with family, she wasn't alone, she'd chosen to live, and keep living, she was happy.

Perhaps life wasn't just one big bucking coincidence, perhaps everything was meant to play out this way.

Either way, I guess we may never know.





It's funny isn't it, how things can just unexpectedly turn around. How your life can just go from good to bad, to horrible, then joyous once more. I guess that's just life, it works in mysterious ways. I may not have become a wonderbolt, but what I've gained, is beyond words, too beautiful to describe. I won't lie and say I didn't lose hope, that I didn't feel like giving up, but, perhaps that to is a lesson, that even during the darkest day of your life, there will always be a light that can possibly shine through. I won't go all philosophical on you, hah, I'm not like that, but I guess, this was something I just had to describe.

Something that exists outside the boundaries of our simple lives. Hey, I'm trying alright.

Ah forget it, you get the point!

But anyways guys, thanks for sticking with me up to this point, & for all its worth.

"Goodbye." 

Lightning Dust chuckled, giving a wink & soft smile.






And I guess, that was The End of the Line. 


~


THE END