Chapter 7
“A Reformed Recruit”
In the days since she learned about her brothers’ fate, Lightning Dust had a range of emotions going from being freed from the corrupted words that plagued her mind since foalhood to being torn on whether she should forgive them or not for all they had done to her. Still, she had an objective to finish her training. On the last day of training before moving on to the test that would move her to the Wonderbolt Reserves, Lightning Dust was called into Spitfire’s office once more on a personal matter of importance.
“You wanted to see me, ma’am?” asked Lightning Dust, shutting the door behind her. “You said it was important.”
“It is a matter of importance, Lightning Dust,” replied Spitfire, taking off her sunglasses. “We had just received a message this morning from Canterlot concerning your brother, Hurricane Eye. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have decided that Hurricane Eye should become a Wonderbolt in order to learn what it means to be a productive citizen of Equestria.”
Lightning Dust didn’t know at that moment whether to faint or scream with joy, knowing that the forgiving of her brothers was being offered a second chance at life. Still, she remained erect in the presence of her superior.
“I believe that if you deserve a second chance,” continued Spitfire, producing a small smile. “Then so does somepony like him. I want you and Rainbow Dash to take him under your wing and teach him everything that I have taught you.”
“I won’t let you down, ma’am,” said Lighting Dust, saluting her superior. “Where is he?”
“He is arriving in a few minutes under Royal Guard,” replied Spitfire, just as soon as the sounds of heavy wings fluttering came closer and closer to the academy.
Knowing it was her brother, Lightning Dust darted out of the office and came towards the sight of her brother, in a chariot being pulled by two of Celestia’s guards. At that moment, Rainbow Dash flew down towards Lightning Dust and the two pegasi watched as the chariot landed before them. At that moment, Hurricane Eye stepped out of the chariot and ran over to hug his little sister.
“I hope you can find it to forgive me for all Tornado Spin and I have done to you,” he cried, clutching his sister tightly.
“I have already forgiven you,” said Lightning Dust, warmly as they broke apart. “Maybe now you will learn what it means to be successful in life.”
Just then, Spitfire and her two guardsponies came forward and approached the three pegasi. Hurricane Eye gulped nervously as the captain of the Wonderbolts approached him, knowing how upset she was with him for what he and his brother had done.
“Well, lookie what we have here,” said Spitfire, glaring down at the blue Pegasus pony. “A spoiled colt who tried to harm my cadets. You wanted to be forgiven and while you may have received forgiveness from Lightning Dust, it will take time for you to earn forgiveness from me.”
“I’ll do anything you say, ma’am,” whimpered Hurricane Eye, but Spitfire was not going to tolerate any wimps in her academy and this was going to be no different.
“First of all,” said Spitfire, sharply and causing Hurricane Eye to jump at the sound of her command. “We don’t tolerate crybabies and wimps in the Wonderbolts and if you are going to be a wonderbolt, then you are going to train like one. Like your sister, you’ve been given a second and I expect you to make most of it.”
At that moment, Spitfire took her whistle and placed it towards her mouth, keeping her eagle eye on Hurricane Eye.
“Give me 500 laps,” she ordered. “Now!”
Hearing the sounds of his new superior’s whistle, Hurricane Eye took to the air as he began to circle around the academy at full speed while everypony else watched from below. It took a while for Hurricane Eye to get up to speed, but soon he got to the speed that a Pegasus pony training to be a wonderbolt would normally get to. After a while, Hurricane Eye had completed the 500th lap and came back down to the ground.
“Not bad,” said Spitfire, looking down at her stopwatch. “Like I said to Lightning Dust, I see potential in you and in the name of Celestia, we will teach you what it means to be a wonderbolt and what it means to be a true pony of Equestria. Tomorrow morning, before you go under the wing of Rainbow Dash and the wing of Lightning Dust, you will undergo the same training with the new recruits. Meet me at 0800 hours tomorrow, sharp.”
Hurricane Eye nervously nodded, but received a glare from Spitfire who then placed her hoof to her face.
“When you leave your officer,” said Spitfire, sternly. “You will salute, do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Hurricane Eye, nervously saluting his officer. “I will salute you.”
As she walked away from her newest recruit, Spitfire turned her attention to Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash.
“He’s got a lot to learn about being a Wonderbolt,” she said to them. “I want you to help him as much as you possibly can. If I am going to make a Wonderbolt out of him, I will need two cadets with experience in training to do just that.”
“Like I said,” replied Lightning Dust. “We won’t let you down, Spitfire.”
“Good,” remarked Spitfire, walking off as she knew now that Hurricane Eye was in good hands. But, it would be time before Hurricane Eye would truly earn the forgiveness from those he had tried to harm. Still, as time went on, Lightning Dust would not only help her brother, but also get to reconnect him on a proper scale while continuing to show the grace and humility that she learned in her second chance.
Lightning Dust had been given a second chance and she earned it, finally realizing her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt and at the same time, becoming a grace and humble pony.