//------------------------------// // Dust Bowl // Story: The Eventide Watch // by Sun Dial //------------------------------// Dash heaved, her body making a thud and indention in the training mats. She didn’t even try to roll away or brace for the inevitable follow up attack. She groaned in pain when the attack never came, taking pleasure in being able to just lie on the mat for a couple of seconds. “Get your rear end up before I come over and use it as a punching bag, recruit!” Spitfire barked. Dash moaned, rolled to her belly and pushed herself up with her wings. Her muscles complained, her body whined and she had more bruises than muscles. Despite all this, she kept her eyes on Spitfire. A lesson that Spit had drilled into of her the week before. She pulled up on her rear legs her wings keeping her steady, forelegs held in front. Spitfire took the same stance and the two opponents watched each other carefully. Dash was looking for Spitfire’s first move while Spitfire studied Dash’s form.  Dash was tired and worn after taking a beating for an hour and a half. The fact that Dash was still standing, and not only standing but able to keep herself going was a testament to the training she had received the past sixteen days. Still, Spitfire noted, her hind legs were too far apart, her wings beat too slowly and her magic flowed too freely from her wings. “Step one,” Spitfire started. “Grab ahold of your emotions. Pegasus magic is ruled by emotions,” Dash replied, eyes locked on Spitfire’s. Spitfire’s veins burned like fire, a bloodlust of magic, heat flaring around her wings.  “Step two,” Spitfire demanded, springing forward. Dash blocked with her forehoof, pushing the attack aside and came in her with her own hoof. The fight continued as hoof met hoof, wings blocked kicks and stubbornness was grounded to pieces against skill. “Magic is your will exerted on the universe. Know what you can and can not make the universe do.” Spitfire kicked into a block by Dash, pulling her other leg up, she pushed off the rainbow mare. Dash’s magic flared out, counter-pushing the force from Spitfire’s kick. Satisfied that she hadn’t moved at all, Dash rose into the air. “Step three,” Spitfire continued, wrapping her wings in a fireball and throwing the flame at Dash. A solid airblade from Dash’s wings forced the fire to disperse, Dash following right behind her magic to get the drop on Spitfire. Spitfire fought with fire enough that dispelling any kind of explosion meant a follow up attack and as Dash’s back hoof came down, she met it with a tick of annoyance. “I said, step three,” she growled, throwing Dash’s hooves upwards and grabbing her by the waist. Dash had fought Spitfire enough by this point to know how this was going to end.  Usually with her face in the mat and considering the speeds Spitfire moved, more bruises. This same thing had happened too many times already.  “Step Three! Buck Soarin until he agrees I bring him as much bliss as that Celestia damned meditation pad!” Dash spat, gambling. Mentally Dash did a quick woohoo, her shoulder angel and devil giving the other a high five as Spitfire balked for just a moment.  A moment was all Dash needed. The rainbow haired pegasus expanded her flight magic, forming an air bubble around her. The change in pressure pushed Spitfire up and with a quick angle of her wings, Dash pinned Spitfire’s wings and poured speed into her own, driving Spitfire into the far wall. A Spitfire shaped indent was imprinted in wall, slowly disappearing as its previous owner had Dash on the ground, holding Dash’s left hoof behind her while grinding Dash’s face into the ground.  “What kind of sorry ass move was that, recruit!  I’ve seen foals without their cutie marks not act as stupid as you! The Eventide Watch is going to be the sun damned laughing stock if that’s what it takes to get your stupid flank out of basic holds!  How the hell do you think you’re going to keep Twilight safe you donkey humping moron, if your best move, IS MOTHER BUCKING LEWD COMMENTS?!” Dash was in an uncomfortable position. Her ear ached from Spitfire’s yelling, the mats her face was being ground into smelled kind of funny. Soarin didn’t want to go out while they were training and she was supposed to be the captain of a entire guard with all the experience of managing the weather of small town. All that aside, she did just get the drop on Spitfire, so a rather large smile rested on her face. “Buckin idiot. Wipe that stupid sneer off your face.” Spitfire muttered, glaring at Dash as the blue pegasus got up. “I want two hundred laps before you see Fleetfoot. Now get out of my sight.” “Ma’am, yes, ma’am.” Dash shouted, smugness permeating the air around her.  ‘ Spitfire rolled her eyes, a little proud, a little annoyed and mostly shocked that Dash was able to surprise her yet again, even if how she did it left little to be desired. With Spitfire out of the room, Rainbow’s smirk grew into a large twisted smile. “Waahoo!” she brayed in pleasure, doing a couple of loops in excitement.  “Take that, Spitfire, only sixteen days and I got you once!  Everypony will wanna protect Twilight when they learn I’m running the show!” Dash’s every muscle was screaming out in pain of overuse. Her wings cramped so bad that she wasn’t sure if she’d ever fly again. Her chest heaved, still trying to catch her breath fifteen minutes after her endurance training with Fleetfoot. Spitfire had come to make sure she did every last one of those laps assigned to her, and she had to redo a lap unless she was beating Spitfire running the same laps. Add that on top of Fleetfoot’s cruel and unusual punishment she called a light workout, and Dash felt like she was going to pass out right into Soarin’s hooves that were working wonders on her sore muscles.  “Oooooooooo,” she murmured, as he pressed all the right spots on her back, slowly easing her pain. Her brain slowly coming to, Soarin heard the beautiful rainbow haired beauty groan beneath him. “Did I pass out again?” she grumbled. “Mhhmmm.” Soarin muttered, starting to preen her right wing. Soarin got slapped in the face as she jerked the wing away from his muzzle. “Ahh. Not there,” she murmured. “Damn, that hurts.” Soarin nodded, before berating himself for it when he realized she couldn’t see his head. “Spitfire really put you through the wringer,” he noted, returning to massaging the tension out of her back, reaching her flanks and cutie mark. Dash sighed contentedly, glad he was here to help with her muscles. It was nice when he did things like this, made her feel safe and warm. His gentle hooves could make any problem disappear as long as she just laid here and let her stallion work his magic. “I know you’re sore and just passed out in my hooves, but we really should probably do at least a little bit of review,” Soarin said, gently rubbing out a particularly hard knot in her upper hip. “Basic points of magic flow in pegasi?” “Mhhmm,” Dash muttered, sighing internally. Soarin always seemed to know how to disrupt any moment that could be even remotely romantic. “Raptorian or oceanic?” “Raptorian. You need to know your own body more than others,” Soarin said, having moved up to her wing joints, carefully working the knots as to not get another muzzle full of feathers. “Equus Pegasinian Raptor. Pegasi who lived more inland evolved slightly different traits from their oceanic counterparts.” Dash drawled, completely bored. “Biggest difference being in color variations and small magical thaumic changes to their internal ley lines. A raptor’s stomach can digest fish, but not in high quantities. Their thaumic ports at the base of their wings release magic at much higher rate, allowing for faster speeds, if less endurance than their oceanic counterparts. Thaumic ports around the eyes are also designed to provide more protection from dust and particles while flying, but are less keen. Other focal points include the frogs of the hind hooves and along the legs. Excess magic is often exhausted through the mane and tail.” “That’s a good summary,” Soarin said, riding on top of Dash as he gently pushed her neck down to get to those muscles. “Did you write that down?” “Nah. Twilight’s been putting note cards around her tower to help me get all this magic stuff down while I fly,” Dash admitted. “Has it helped?” “A little.” Dash sighed, her shoulders sagging. Soarin instantly noticed the the change. “Everything alright?” he asked. “Soar… I uh,” Dash took a deep breath. “I know you love being a Wonderbolt, but would you be willing to be apart of the Eventide?” Dash asked hopefully. She berated herself mentally as she felt Soarin rear back from her. How did she ever think this was a good idea? She didn’t move, the silence filling the air. “Look, you don’t have to. I just wanted somepony I could trust for awhile. You could come back after the Eventide had settled down. I could really use somebody I trust by my side while I’m setting the guard up, though.” “Are you sure? I’m… well… you know… an idiot… a moron. I’m not exactly guard material, much less the personal guard of a princess. I’d.. well… I’d just screw things up.” Dash got up and turned around to look at her coltfriend rubbing his hooves uncomfortably. She walked over and grabbed a quick kiss, pulling out of it and giving him a comforting look. Soarin widened his eyes in surprise, before pulling her back into it. “That’s why I’ll be your screwdriver,” Dash said. “You sure?” “Well, duh.” Soarin smiled, nuzzling her affectionately. “How can I say no then?” “Thanks.” Dash said. “It’ll be nice to have you around.” Soarin grinned goofily. “I never really had a choice, did I?” “Not really.” “Oh… okay. Well, we should get back to studying if you’re feeling better. We’ll start with weather spells,” he said, gathering moisture in the air to form a cloud. Dash rolled her eyes, then chuckled. Books before romance for that one, hardly a romantic bone in his body. Well… maybe there was one very particular bone. “Welcome mares and colts to the Manehatten Pegasi Derby Races!” the announcer said as the crowd roared. “We’ve gotten an impressive line up of a racers, all for your viewing and betting pleasure! Starting in lane 1 with 1 to 5 odds is Fast Feet from our very own Manehatten!” A large cheer went up, with a possible ‘I love you, Fast Feet!’ thrown in there. “In lane 2 with 1 to 2 odds is Storm Forged from Cloudsdale!” The crowd around the stadium cheered as Storm flew around before bucking a black cloud. Lightning struck the ground and the fans roared into applause as they stomped in the stands, causing a mini earthquake. “In Lane 3, the rookie who came out of nowhere this past year, leaving her opponents in her name sake! With odds of 2 to 1, it’s this derby’s favorite! It’s LIGHTNING DUST!” The announcer belted as the crowd exploded into hysterics as a whirlwind swirled onto the track, lightning arcing around a class two dust devil. A teal and orange blur shot out of the whirlwind and  the storm exploded in a shower of color. The crowd exploded in excitement and cheers. Dust brushed her mane back, cameras flashing for pictures to appear in tomorrow’s paper.  She settled down into her lane with a smug smile as she prepared herself for the race. The announcer continued to call out contestants, but Dust tuned it all out. The top three contenders had already been announced. She let herself focus and shifted into her racing mindset. Dust could feel her magic flow through her body, racing through thaumic veins. It fed into every appendage, a warmth that began to flow into her wings and down through her hooves.  She snapped on her goggles, then concentrated on her legs, her secret weapon. She had become a legend at sprinting in just a short time. She had trained herself to use her rare affinity with the earth to her advantage, using the earth itself to propel her at takeoff.   She had been scoffed at when the racers learned her magic affinity wasn’t with air, the only type that ever won in the derby races. She was born with an affinity to land, a weakness, an obstacle to derby sprinting that couldn’t be overcome. She was Lightning Dust and she bucked down whatever was in her way. Be the best no matter the cost, no matter the weakness, she proved to everyone that she could buck the officials and their little air affinities only club. When life bucked you down, you just bucked them right back. Magic flowed into the ground through her hooves, the earth gathering its energy, poised right beneath her, ready to lend her its power, its momentum and its speed. The starting lighting bolt crashed to the ground, the starting block raised, and the earth released its power. Lightning Dust rocketed forward ahead of the competition, her wings pounding at the air, pouring every ounce of energy and magic she had into moving forward. For Dust this was just another day at the derby, another day at proving that she wasn’t a useless tripe, another moment to prove that she wasn’t some two bit mare with no future. “And they’re off! And to no one’s surprise, Dust takes the lead and hangs on to it with plenty of room to spare! What’s this? Late entry Rainbow Dash is catching up to her! Hang on to your wallets, ponies! She’s pulling ahead!” Dust pounded her wings, tears welling in her eyes as she saw that stupid and all too familiar rainbow mane and blue fur passing by on her far left, a full pony length ahead of her as they crossed the finish line. “And Rainbow Dash is the winner! The princess sponsored pegasus wins! Never bet against royalty, folks. Less than a second. That’s all it took for everything she worked for to be ripped out from under her. Dust fumed as she bled off speed and finally came to a halt. Her eyes shot venom at Dash, her mouth contorted in a raging sneer. “Not enough for you to destroy my life once was it!” Dust yelled at her competitor. “YOU HAVE TO RUIN THIS ONE TOO, DAMNIT!” Dust yelled in her face. “I didn’t...” Dash started. “DIDN’T WHAT? DIDN’T MEAN TO RUIN MY LIFE!? TO MAKE EVERYTHING I DO SEEM SECOND RATE? LIKE I’M JUST A STUPID FILLY WHO DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING? TOO LATE YOU PRINCESS BUCKING DODO!” Dust screamed. She stood there for a second, all her hate and rage willing itself into Dash through her eyes. Dash opened her mouth to say something, but Dust turned around and took off before she could. After quickly collecting her second prize money, Dust disappeared as fast as she could. She wasn’t ready to face anypony right now, not her disappointed fans, not Dash, and especially not her sponsors. She spun around town, flying through the buildings, hitting the salt blocks and just being as reckless as she could. Bits dwindled quickly as she bought salt sticks for everyone in several different taverns. After feeling in relatively high spirits out of one of the taverns, where everypony had broken into a heart song about their troubles and woes, Dust headed home as the sun began to set. “I had it all, no really!” Dust slurred with her dehydrated mind. “My dream since I was a filly! Then in a Lightning Flash, I lost it all to a one horse Dash!” Dust stopped singing, her mind putting together the figures of what seemed to be ponies in her house. Her sponsors, no doubt. “If I wanted to deal with you fish faces, I would’ve called.” Dust said flippantly, stumbling towards the fridge. The events of the day weighing in on her, sorrow that her dehydrated mind could only live over and over. That blue hoof crossing the line in front of her. The roar of the crowd for that rainbow dodo while she was left the measly earnings of second place. “Not a wise time to get haughty, Dust. You just cost us a lot of money.  Bits that you’re gonna make sure we get back.” Dust took a swig from her water jug, snorting. “How is that? If you didn’t notice little Miss Perfect Dash ran off with everything.” “Not our problem.” Dust threw the jug against the wall, the water spewing everywhere. She grabbed her nearest sponsor. “You wanna know what’s not my problem? Some high and mighty, prissy little Cloudsdalian who gets born with perfect genes, perfect family and magically is one of the most powerful pegasi since General Firefly! That’s not my problem! SO WHAT IF I WORK MY CUTIE MARK OFF TRYING TO PROVE I CAN FLY!? SO WHAT IF I NEVER GIVE UP WHILE SHE SPENDS HALF HER TIME DICKING AROUND WITH HER FRIENDS!? FRIENDS I NEVER HAD!  IT’S NOT MY PROBLEM THAT BRAINLESS BIRD FLAPS HER WINGS ONCE AND THE WHOLE WORLD FALLS DOWN AT HER HOOVES WORSHIPING HER!” Dust shoved the pony aside before stumbling towards her room.  Dust yelped as she felt a bag was thrown over her body. “Get your stupid frogs off me!” she yelled kicking around in the bag, trying to get out, before a quick rapt against her head left her dazed. “Thing is Dust, boss doesn’t like having races he doesn’t win, and you’ve just proved you ain’t all that you said you were. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you aint’ ever gonna get beat again.” The unicorn lifted up the bag, turning to head out with the mare. “Hey… uhh. you’re the ones Dust borrowed money from, right?” Rainbow asked from the door frame, placing her winnings from the derby down onto the floor. “Uhh... heard she got in some trouble, this should be enough to pay it off. Didn’t mean to steal her winnings.” “Sorry girl, Dust is worth more as a guinea pig,” the unicorn said. “But I’m sure that the boss would be interested in one as yourself. Boss would be more than willing to help you become faster and stronger, Miss Dash. You’d be able to achieve your dream with ease.  The Wonderbolts will be begging for you to join them.” “Uhh… Huh?  Look, I’m just here for Dust. Not interested in any super juice or whatnot,” Dash said. “Pity. You’ll still be an excellent patient,” the unicorn said, his horn glowing. Dash struggled in the unicorn’s glow, as she was brought over to him. Her partner pulling out another bag. “Dispelling a unicorn’s telekinesis is a basic matter of Pansy’s 2nd law on thaumic expulsion,” Soarin droned on. “If you’re moving quickly, a unicorn must expunge a greater amount of thaumic energy equivalent to your momentum.  However, if you get caught, how will Pansy’s second law help you?” Dash looked at him blankly.  “Uhhh… energy spent equals emotional constant times degrees of reality that need to be changed?” She guessed hopefully. “That’s Star Swirl’s formula for magic.” “Ugh. I can’t do this Soarin. All this magic, all these formulas and numbers! It’s not helping. I can’t remember this kind of stuff.” “Oh… uhhh… well…” Soarin stared at her blankly, unsure of how to teach an unteachable student. “Don’t give me that crap, recruit.” Spitfire snapped. “Pansy’s second law. Magic dispels in the face of its antithesis. Telekinesis holding you up? Bend reality to get you on the ground. Holding you down? Fly up as fast and quick as you can. If someone’s reality is holding you, buck that gelding’s magic and do exactly the opposite of what they want!” “Oh, that’s it?” Dash asked. “Uhh…. That’s about right, I guess. If you grossly oversimplify it,” Soarin said clearly disappointed. Dash calmed herself, feeling her magic, her desire. She wanted to help Dust, she wouldn’t let something happen to Dust because she wanted to show off to Lightning before she asked her to join the guard. She wanted to be on the ground, so she could save her friend. Dash’s magic bent reality to her will, fighting the unicorns magic. The aura flickeedr around her. Dash landed with a swift positioning of her wings and lept into action, Spitfire’s training kicking in. The unicorn was startled, finding his front legs swept from under him. His mind still wasn’t working when the frog of Dash’s hoof collapsed on his head, using him as a platform to leap at the pegasus sponsor.  Dash angled her wings up, twisting to face away from the pegasus, and gave a powerful buck to the face. The pegasus stumbled back, tripping over a table, smacking against the floor, his vision blurry as he watched the rainbow maned pegasus grapple and throw his earth pony buddy. Dash looked at her hooves in awe. “Huh… That was awesome.” She walked over to the earth pony sponsor.  “Look, leave her alone, you got your money. Could you grab your unicorn buddy and go?” It took a little bit more threatening, but Dash finally got them out the door. Taking a breath, she got Dust out the bag and onto her bed. “Ugh. You’re completely dehydrated.  Did you have to hit every salt lick in town? I was chasing you all over town.” “Go away.” Dust rolled over so that she wasn’t facing Dash. Dust was kind of surprised when Dash actually walked out of the room, but just pulled the covers over her more. She didn’t need Dash. “Here,” Dash said, flying back in. “I found some water. You’re gonna want to drink.” Dust groaned, and after a little bit more pressuring from Dash, finally downed some water. “What are you doing here?” Dust finally asked. “I Wanted to offer you a job, but I couldn’t resist showing off when I learned you had made a name for yourself in the derby races.” Dust snorted. “Yeah, sure. Just needed to rub it in my face how much better you were?” “Yeah… sorry about that. Kind of got things in a worse situation than they were.” Dash’s hooves rubbed the back of her neck. “Buck off.” “Why? So you can continue to mope in self pity? I wouldn’t trust your sponsors to not come back.” “So what? I’m in your debt?” Dust spat. Even in her salt addled mind, Dash’s offer was infinitely better than waiting for her sponsors to do whatever lab experiments they wanted on her. “What’s this job and what’s the pay? I pay you back for your winnings, then I’m gone.” Dash's smile could rival Pinkie’s.