//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Bolt // Story: A Dash of Serenity // by Golden Bolt //------------------------------// What's it like to be a unicorn? What is it like to control the world around you with a single thought? Or an earth pony. How do you manage life without any help from wings or magic? Or gods forbid an Alicorn? Stuck being one of the most powerful ponies in Equestria... But don't abuse your power, or Celesta might banish you to the moon! On the warm grass lay a pegasus pony on his side his eyelids lightly closed as a gentle breeze blew over him. His dull golden pelt in the hot sun. His soft yellow and white striped mane and tail lay scattered in different directions on the grass. His long legs splayed out under him. His delicate wings tucked tightly against his side. His name is Bolt. The real question is; what is it like to be a pegasus, who doesn't enjoy flight? Bolt slowly started to open his eyes. In front of him was a cottage he called home. There was nothing special about it. It had five rooms in total, one of which was his bedroom. The cottage was made up of stone and mortar, with a thatch grass roof to match. The windows large and square had been opened to allow the soft wind in the cottage in an attempt to cool the inside of the home. To the left of the cottage was a small farm, that by the looks of it was garnering some success in the hot sun, as the green sprouts of the crop were now distinguishable from the dark dirt that surrounded it. To the right of the cottage was the small gravel path that meet with a dirt road that linked the cottage to the rest of the outside world. It was quiet here, no one to bother him. No one to mock him. No one to laugh at his misfortune. it was just him and the grass he lay on. "Bolt!" A shrill voice cut through the beauty of silence like a hot knife in butter. One more thing, just one more thing and I'm gone from here. Bolt took a deep breath, forcing as much air into his lungs as he could before slowly letting it all out again. He pulled his legs into his body before rolling over and coming to an uneasy stand. He looked towards where the shout came from. Hanging out from a window was Bolts mother. She looked angry but Bolt couldn't be certain from here. "Come here! Now!" Shes angry. Bolts mother then promptly disappeared back into the cottage. A sudden attack of pots falling and a string of cusses confirmed any doubt Bolt had about his mother being angry. Quickly he made his way towards the gravel path that lay in front of his home. With in a few seconds he was on the path trotting towards the front door. His mind racing through the possible scenarios of why his mother would be angry. Suddenly he felt his hoof slip on a loose stone. Clumsy he stopped him-self from falling, but not with out ending in an awkward position. one hoof in the air, while one wing outstretched to accustom for the sudden change in balance. "No one saw that." He said aloud focusing his attention on a small yellow flower alongside the path. "Not even you little flower." He winked at the flower, before laughing at him-self. Imagine what everypony would think if they saw him talking to flowers. He laughed at the thought of the flower talking back at him. and for some reason the sun just felt like it shone a bit brighter. Bolt walked up to the door, then knocked, not knowing what to expect. To his knowledge he hadn't done anything wrong. "Enter." Came a cold and unnerving voice from behind the door. Softly Bolt pushed the door open with his muzzle. "Sit." Bolt obeyed the command and sat on a chair opposite his mother. She picked up a piece of folded paper from the table. Opened it up and showed it to Bolt. "What is this?" Bolt wasn't sure if his mother was joking or not. "Its a map?" He asked a flatly as he could. Trying his best not to show any fear. "I know its a map, what I want to know is why you have it." This is why she is upset with me? Because I have a map? Ok, thats it. I'm leaving. Bolt thought as his mother folded the map up again. "Are you planing to run away from home?" "No, why would I do that?" Bolt asked. He recently graduated from flight school and was technically a stallion. But his mother still treated him like he was a new born colt, unable to look after its self. "I'm just making sure." Bolts mother looked him deep in the eyes. Trying to see if he was lieing or not. Bolt just stared back at her blankly. Then she slowly got up and went towards the kitchen. It wasn't a lie, he had no thoughts of running away. He had thoughts of moving out. "I'm moving out mom." Bolt placed his hoofs over his mouth. Why did he just say that? He didn't mean to say it. Especially not in front of his mother. Bolts mother was frozen to the spot. Trying to think if what she heard was actually what her son had said. Slowly she turned around to ask him if what she heard was true. To her surprise Bolt was gone. Inside Bolts room Bolt was searching for a few things he needed. He found his saddle bag in a corner of his room and a few spare bits, but was still looking for one more thing. A book. Something to keep him busy during the long travel ahead. "Where is it? Where is it!?" Bolt shouted softly while searching for his book. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. He went to his bed and lifted his pillow. Sure enough there it lay. "The hitch hikers guide to Equestria" A clever book. Written as a comedy, but it still contained some valuable information about Equestria. "Great." Bolt said to him-self with an air of triumph. Quickly, he put everything in his saddle bag and with a gentle grunt slid the saddle bag onto his back. Now for the hard part. Bolt thought as he went to his bedroom door. He took one last look of his room. before quickly opening the door and coming face to face with his mother. In her teeth she held a small purse. Its contents unknown to Bolt. On the floor lay his map. Bolt looked at the map on the floor, then the purse and last his mother. Forcing a smile on his face. "Um...Bye?" Bolts mother dropped the purse on the floor, turned and walked off towards the kitchen. Bolt stood there in shocked silence for a minuet. Inside the purse was bits and lots of them. Quickly he stuffed the purse and map into his saddle bag before moving towards the front door. In the kitchen Bolt could see his mother washing some dishes, but she was doing something that confused Bolt. Was she whistling? Bolt didn't think on it to long. It was best he leave before his mother changed her mood to something less friendly. Outside the wind had picked up, but only slightly. It was just enough to make the little yellow flower along side the gravel path start swaying in the wind. Nearby the road Bolt saw his father. A deep blue pegasus with a black mane and tail. His cutie mark was that of storm cloud. On his left side, his wing was missing. A small stump was all that remained of his wing. A long ugly scar fell down his body, from the stump to his ribcage. Letting all who saw him that his wing did not leave him easily. He was working on something with a hammer. Light taps could be heard from the cottage door. Bolt made a slow trot towards his dad, whose back was still towards Bolt. "Hey dad?" "Yes Bolt?" His voice was deep, but soothing. "I'm leaving." "Ok, but be back in time for dinner" "No dad. I'm leaving" Bolts father dropped his hammer and turned around. His eyes focused on the saddle bags on Bolts back. It took him a moment but soon Bolts father was able to form words again with his slackened jaw. "Well...Well I can't say I'm not surprised." "Ye, well you can thank mom for that." "Oh...She go at you again?" "Because I had a map." Bolts father started laughing. "Whats on the map?" His father asked between small giggles. "Its a map of Equestria, there's a small town not far from here that I want to go to." "Whats it called?" "Ponyville." "Never heard of it." "Well Hoofington, Canterlot and Manehatten are all too far away, too busy and too full of ponies who think they are the best thing to happen since Celestia. Ponyville is a small town and a good distance from anything else. Its a bit far, but hopefully the inhabitants aren't too wild." "Hmm...Well good luck Bolt. I take it your flying there?" With that last sentence everything about Bolts 'ok' day went out the window. Bolt despised flying with a passion, because of one major fault on his end. His wings. Bolts wings were at least twice as large as that of any other pegasus in Equestria. It was bad enough getting weird looks in public when he was younger. But in flight school it was the worst. He was constantly tormented and bullied because of them. It was hard for Bolt to make friends so he generally kept to him-self trying to stay out of sight. Learning how to tuck his wings into his body in such a way that they looked of normal size. But there were times when his own wings would betray him. Like when that beautiful filly walked down the hall after the third period. Her flanks gorgeous. Her tail, soft and long. Her face, like that of Luna. Her eyes the colour of midnight... Who could miss a wing boner the size of the entire hall way? Bolt hung his head and pawed at the ground under him. Memories of ponies laughing at him flashing across his eyes. Bolts father sighed. "Look Bolt, one day your going to have to just get over the fact the fillies and colts mocked you. Stand up tall. This is a new place with new people. No one is going to know your name. Its going to be filled with mature mares and stallions. Who will most probably be stunned by your wings. Your more likely to make friends because of them!" Somehow Bolts fathers words struck a cord in Bolts head. Maybe it would be a good idea to go make some friends or meet some new people or to just become comfortable with his new wings. Bolt picked up his head. A smile on his face. He looked his dad in the eyes. A pair of royal blue eyes stared back at him. "Dad, I love you." Bolts father started to smile. "I love you too Bolt. Write back and tell me all about...what did you call it? Pony-something?" "Ponyville. I'll let you know how it goes. I'll see you soon." "Good. Travel safe." "I will. Bye dad." Bolt reached up and put his forelegs around his fathers long neck. His father gently lay his head on Bolts back. They stood there for a moment sharing their last embrace before Bolt turned towards the road. Took his map out the saddle bag and opened it on the ground. Ponyville was at least a days walk from his home and half a days flight. Its tempting... Thought Bolt. Bolt turned his head around. His father sat on the grass next to the gravel path, watching his son. A smile on his face. Do it for dad. Bolt gave his dad a reassuring smile. Turned his head back and picked up the map folding it and putting it back into his saddle bag. He walked a bit until he was in the middle of the road. Do it for dad. Slowly Bolt let his majestic wings stretch from his body. Opening them to full mast. The tips of his wings drooped slightly, because of the extra weight from the extended length. Do it for dad. Bolt turned towards his father. Who was still sitting on the grass. He hadn't moved the entire time. "Dad, I can't..." Bolt began, but his father stopped him. Holding only a hoof to his lips. Then he pointed to the sky. Bolt looked up. The sun was directly over head. He looked back at his father. He too was looking at the sky. Then it hit Bolt. If not for dad, then do it for Grandpa. Bolts father was still transfixed on they sky. His eyes locked in position. Bolt gave a soft sigh and turned back to the road. He gave his wings a gentle half flap. Testing them out, to see if they haven't changed overnight. They didn't, to Bolt they still felt strong, light and sensitive. Bolt returned his wings to full mast. He took a sharp breath, closed his eyes and jumped into the air. With a great flap from his wings he was air born. Instantly images of ponies big and small laughing at him plagued his mind, but he pushed past the images. With each flap the laughing grew louder and louder in his ears eventually drowning everything out so that all Bolt could hear was hundreds of ponies laughing at him. He hated it. He hated every moment of it. "Bolt! You can do it! Just keep flying!" Bolts father's voice pierced the wall of sound like a shot-gun through glass. Suddenly Bolt heard nothing except for the wind in his ears. He looked back, even from where he was in the sky he could see his fathers broad smile. A hoof in the air as he waved good-bye. Bolt still hated flying, but he was flying for his father. He was making him happy and that's all that mattered to Bolt. With renewed energy Bolt pushed forward. Using the road below him as a guide to his next destination. After an hour of flight. Bolt looked back to where his home once was. He scanned the horizon looking for the farm, or cottage, finding nothing. Once Bolt was happy he could no longer see his home and his father could no longer see him. Bolt gently glided back down to Equestria. Landing on the dirt road with a loud "Thud". There is no need for me to do something I don't enjoy. I've already made him happy. Bolt thought. Shaking out his mane. Bolt took a deep breath, shook out his mane once again and started on a slow trot towards Ponyville. With the sun on his back and the light wind in his face, Bolt let him mind wander as he trotted along the dirt road. Hard dirt crunching under his hoofs as he trotted. He was already starting to miss his father and his soft bed. Oh, c'mon Bolt! You just left an hour ago. Bolt closed his eyes. He let the sound of dirt crunching slowly fade out into white noise. In his head he was thinking about all the times in his past when he would find the silver lining in any dark cloud. Bolt laughed, thinking about when his father first told him about the famous metaphor. "You know Bolt, there is a silver lining in any cloud." "What?" "Its a metaphor Bolt. What it means is that there is always some good to a bad situation." "How is having huge wings a good thing!?...Sorry dad, I didn't mean to shout at you. "Its ok Bolt, but you have to understand that there is always something good that can come from something bad." "Like what dad?" "Well take me for example. If I hadn't lost my wing, I would have never met your mother." "You think its a good thing you met her?" "Why you cheeky..." "No, no don't tickle me! no! ahh! Mom! Help! Dads tickling me!" A smile started working its way across Bolts face. The image of his dad pining him down with his one wing as he tickled him still fresh in his mind. Maybe there is a silver lining to this whole trip. Maybe, just maybe I might actually enjoy this trip...