//------------------------------// // Chasing the Past // Story: Moonburst Chronicles // by Code Breaker //------------------------------// Everypony is in the hustle and bustle around town since the morning to afternoon seems to be the busiest time the day for everypony with fillies and colts off to learn, mares and stallions going to work and such. Including the weather ponies whose task is to make sure every cloud is clear or every place has the correct amount of rainfall during a storm. The clouds are created in a place known as Cloudsdale which is a city that had cloud like architecture and usually only Pegasi live on it. But this is not going to be focusing on Cloudsdale but on one pegasi in particular. She works for the weather patrol of Ponyville and well… she was late. The pony in question zipped through the skies and heading straight toward her destination Cloudsdale, and unfortunately the name of this pony was Lightning Dust. “Oh ponyfeathers, the boss is going to have my job for this if I’m not there in time; I knew I should have set my alarm clock.” She thought as she continued to fly fast as she could to get to her destination. Cloudsdale began to come into view for her and it was still a sight to see. In the back of Cloudsdale there were two big cloud like pipes that were puffing out clouds, and each cloud came out differently; some were dark gray, some were white and some were even darker than gray. There were also some cloud houses in it to that seemed to be pony made straight for pegasi. After arriving she quickly landed and ran the rest of the way to the offices of the cloud busting team. The other weather ponies were all crowded around the assignment board. It looked like Dust made it as she approached the board. It looked like she and Rainbow were in charge of getting rain over to Sweet Apple Acres for the day. “About time you showed up another minute and the boss would have called you late.” Dash said “Sorry my alarm clock didn’t go off in time. I swear that thing has a grudge against me or something.” Dust snorted. “Well come on let’s get moving we don’t want to be slow on the job.” Dash said as Dust nodded in agreement and took off toward the skies. They grabbed a few gray clouds and proceed to push them all the way toward Sweet Apple Acres. Once they arrived they began bouncing on top of the clouds while they were moving so that the rain would get on to the trees. After one cloud was done and turned white they had to go and get another one and since Sweet Apple Acres was so vast in land mass it took them about four full hours to complete the job. Chasing the Past After the job was complete it was already one o’clock in the afternoon but they didn’t mind since they were given a break before they had to go at it again for another watering session at another place. Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust were getting a bite to eat at Sweet Apple Acres with the offer Applejack gave them for working there flanks off. “Thank for the lunch AJ we needed that.” Dust said rubbing her now full stomach in gratitude. “Ah’m sure yah gals needed it with the amount of work yah all doin.” Applejack replied looking out the window onto the family orchard. “Speaking of which, we got a schedule to keep up with. You ready to go Dust?” Dash questioned. But before she could reply there was a loud bang coming from the front door of the house. “Now who in tarnation could that be?” Applejack questioned as she approached the door and opened it to reveal a pegasus pony. The pony was a mare pony a bit older than both of them she had a light grey coat and pale blonde with bright yellow eyes which one of her left eye goes in a different direction and her cutie mark are seven bubbles floating. She was also wearing a mail pony uniform meaning that she was on job delivering the mail which the mail bag was right on her back but the mare has a habit of running into things or messing things up from time to time. The pegasus mare is named Derpy Hooves or Ditzy Do for others and she rubbing her head after smacking right into it. “Well howdy there Derpy.” Applejack greets. “What brings yah here?” She asked as Derpy recollected herself and her thoughts. “Oh yeah is Lightning Dust here?” Derpy asked looking around for the mare in question. “Hold on and I’ll get her.” Applejack says and turned her head around. “LIGHTNING YAH GOT MAIL FOR YAH!” She called out. Dust immediately became puzzled heading towards Applejack and Derpy. “Who would send me mail? Maybe a realative or maybe it’s a Wonderbolts recommendation to see me face to face.” She thought as she approached Derpy and she hoofed Dust her mail along with a muffin as a mail gift. “Well I’ll see yah later.” Derpy said as she zoomed to the air back to Ponyville… until she slammed into one of AJ’s trees “I’m okay!” She called and zoomed off again. Dust and Applejack shook their heads at the mare at her antics as Dust ate the muffin and went back to join Dash in the kitchen. “Well do you know what it is or who it came from?” Dash questioned as Lightning placed the letter on the table. “Well only one way to find out.” Applejack said as Dust nodded and looked at that envelop in question. She turned it over to view the front where the address and return address would normally be, and it was there along with something else. In the upper right corner was the symbol of a gold shooting staring leaving a trail of blue streaks behind. Dash scowled her demeanor taking an instead change and she tore the envelop in half surprising Applejack and Dash. “Now why in the hay did yah do that!?” Applejack questioned but got no answer. “Dash we’re leaving.” Dust said her voice almost feral sounding. “Oh c’mon Dust we still got…” Before Dash got finished she was cut off. “NOW!” Dust shouted intimidating Dash causing her to make herself smaller and nod quickly. “Thanks for the food AJ but we got to go uh… bye.” She said quickly and zoomed out the door followed by Dust leaving a confused Applejack in the process. “Did ah miss something?” She asked nopony in particular. Rainbow and Lightning flew next to each other in perfect sync matching their wing flap beat for beat. Dash looked next to her seeing a very angry Lightning Dust with her eyes glaring dead ahead and her glare could probably put Fluttershy’s stare to shame. “Uh Dust… you okay there?” She questioned worrying for her friend “Can we just stay quiet for the rest of the flight please?” Dust said polity. Their flight continued for a while and then they descended toward the ground below them right in front of Sunset’s house. Dust began to walk off the head hanging low still in a grumpy mood. “What’s eating you Dust?” Dash questioned trying to pry information and following her. “Dash that envelop had a pony’s cutie mark on it.” Dust said trying to contain any anger she still had. “Do you know who’s was on it?” She asked and Dash shook her head. “Couldn’t get a look at it after you tore it up.” Dash countered. “It was the cutie mark of an old friend of mine back in flight school. You know the one you dropped out of, but still hung around.” Dust said bluntly as Dash just looked at her giving a blank stare. “Cloudchaser. She’s got some nerve writing me after the stunt she pulled at flight school.” Dust replied and flew up with a grunt and flew off to who knows where. “Oh horseapples she’s not too happy.” Dash said with a hint of worry. “Tell me about it.” A voice called out making Dash jump a little and look down to notice it was just Sunset. “Geez girl you know how to sneak up on a pony.” Dash replied trying to calm herself down after getting spooked by her “What’s up with Lightning Dust? I saw you two talking about something.” Sunset asked. Before Dash could say anything another voice spoke up. “Afternoon girls. Nice day huh?” they turned to see Trixie. “Oh hey Trix what’s up?” Dash asked. “Well I was going to reload on some paper and quill since a certain baby dragon accidently burned them last night.” She said and looked over at Sunset seeing some of her tail had grown back. “Well looks like about another week and your tail should be good as new.” Trixie replied “Thanks. That’s good to know but we have something else to take care of first.” Sunset spoke as Trixie raised an eyebrow. “What is it this time?” She asked “It’ll be best if we grab the others so that we can explain to you Trixie and possibly Coco.” Sunset suggested and Dash went to go get Cheerliee. “We’ll meet at the library okay!” Dash called out as she was already in the air. Sunset and Trixie went to wait at the library until Dash came back with Cheerliee and Coco. An few hours past then Dash, Cheerliee and Coco came in as Dash flew in holding something in her mouth and placed it on the table. “Sorry if it took so long the class was hard to handle today.” Cheerliee apologize sounding a bit exhausted. “And Rarity needed help with some last minute dress ideas.” Coco chimed in. “So is there something you girls want to tell us about?” Trixie said as both her and Coco looked at them. “Well I already told Cheerliee about it years ago, but it still makes sense to have the rest here in case I forget anything.” Dash explained. “Before I continue you all have to promise not to tell Lightning Dust.” She says seriously to which they all nod and Dash exhales. “Before I came here to Ponyville I dropped out of the Cloudsdale Flight School for…reasons, but I still hung around.” Dash starts seeing Trixie was about to ask something she continued. “The reason I didn’t leave immediately was because Dust was also going to that school.” Dash adds as Trixie calms down. “Besides myself Dust had one other friend. Her name is Cloudchaser.” She continued. -8 ½ Years Ago. Cloudsdale Flight School- A young Lightning Dust who hasn’t got her cutie mark yet and a young pegasi filly with a pale persian blue coat along with a wild like pale cerulean mane with white highlights that went in all directions and light rose eyes and has also yet to gain her cutie mark were playing nearby a cloud playground. “Bet you can’t catch me Chaser!” The little Dust taunted as she flew with her little wings. “Hey no fair Dusty!” a little Cloudchaser called back trying to keep up. They were playing pegasi tag along with the rest of the foals their but the two of them were almost inseparable; where one went the other would most surly follow. They played until the bell rang for classes to start back up again and sure they had different classes but would meet up again afterward. Cloudchaser went to her class and awaited the teacher to enter the room when she overheard three colts in the back of the class talking to one another but could only make out very little of what they were saying. The three colts were known as Hoops, Score, and Dumbbell all three pegasi colts. Hoops had a light gamboges coat, Dumbbell a dark grayish brown coat, and Score and Persian blue gray coat. Also they Hoops mane was a grayish tangelo that went over his sea green eyes, Dumbbell had a amerberish gray mane that slicked down half way over his azure eyes, and Score had a Reddish brown gray mane that didn’t cover his ruby red eyes. They all didn’t have cutie marks at all. “So… who…prank.” She heard from Dumbbell. “How… Lightning…” She heard Score and she froze. They were going to prank her friend not if she could stop them first. “When…” said Hoops “…” She couldn’t hear Score because the bell just rang for the class to begin and the three took off cutting off whatever they were going to say. As classes start those three couldn’t stop snickering at each knowing what plan they had in store for Lightning Dust, she had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be good, and she’d had to stop it before those three’s plan would take root. Classes ended and the three colts flew out of the classroom as fast as their wings could carry them, Cloudchaser tried to follow them but she hadn’t quite got the hold of flying just yet so she tailed them from below and she prayed that she could stop them in time. Meanwhile Lightning Dust got a note from ‘Cloudchaser’ telling her to meet her at the schools flight track that she came up with a new technique she wanted Dust to try out. “This is going to be so sweet” young Lightning giggled in anticipation. It didn’t take her long to get to the flight track and she immediately began looking around for Cloudchaser, which took about a good ten minutes to search the area but with no luck. But then she heard something coming from the sports store shed and went to check it out. Once there she’d open the doors to hear a pony screaming at something or some other pony. “You shouldn’t be pulling pranks all the time. You know this is not right.” A voice said echoing throughout the room. She found the source and it was her friend Cloudchaser and three colts she’d knew. Cloud turned to meet her friend eye to eye and sighs in relief. “Hey Dusty.” She called “Uh Chaser what’s going on?” She asked “Well these three were about to…” when she turned around the three colts already flown the coup as Dust walked over and saw a note which she went to pick up. “Look up.” Is what it read and she looked up and almost instantly a tarp released and covered Lightning Dust in something sticky and chicken feathers. Chaser gasps at the sight then let out a slight giggle. Her giggling stopped when Lightning Dust faced her again apparently mad now. “Chase is this supposed to be funny to you.” She growled. “Uh… but I.” Cloudchaser went to look at the note ‘Look up’ is what it read but also a small part of the paper was rolled she unrolled the last bit to reveal ‘Cloudchaser’ at the bottom of the paper. At least that is what Dust thought she saw. To anypony else the paper was blank. “I… can explain.” She tried “Oh I see, you and your buddies would think it would be funny to prank me and make a fool of me.” Dust argued “No that isn’t…” Chaser began but was cut off “Why would you do this Chaser, I thought… we were friends.” Dust began already forming tears. “But it was those threes…” Chaser began. “Idea.” Dust finished “Well if you think those buddies are your friends then you can forget about me!” Dust yelled as tears were now streaming down her cheek. “Cause we’re done Cloudchaser!” She yelled one last time and ran out the door and flew off not caring who saw her. Unbeknown to them that a rainbow maned filly with a cyan coat was sitting on a cloud nearby. “And well from then onward Dust practically got out of flight school and was home schooled until she went to Ponyville School and graduated.” Dash explained as everypony else was silent until Trixie spoke up. “So she’s been holding a grudge at Cloudchaser ever since that day.” Trixie stated. Dash nodded and went to the table the others following and seeing the torn letter on the table. “This was a letter she’d got today while we were doing weather work at Sweet Apple Acres and it’s from Cloudchaser.” Dash said. “Did she even read it?” Coco asked to which Dash shook her head. “She ripped it up as soon as she saw it.” Dash replied. Trixie took the half torn letter with her magic and brought out both halves of the letter and placed the ripped sections near each other. Trixie began to read from it “Dear Lightning Dust; I know you’re probably still mad at me what you think I did those years ago and I want to come and apologize and a chance to explain myself. I heard from some others that you were in Ponyville as the assistant head weather mare so I decided that I’m going to be stopping by. I know an apology is not going to be enough but I’m willing to try anyhow and state my piece and if you still hate me afterwards I promise on Celestia’s sun I’ll leave you alone from now on. Not to mention what tomorrow is. Sincerely; Your pal, Cloudchaser.” Trixie finished. “That’s all it says.” She stated. “So how do we know who to look for this Cloudchaser pony?” Coco asked. “Dash told us about her so she shouldn’t be too hard to miss.” Sunset said. “It said be coming here, so it’ll most likely be by train so she could be at the train station.” Cheerliee stated. “Well then why are we sitting here on our flanks and not there now!? Let get moving!” Dash cheered as herself and the rest of the girls excluding Lightning Dust sprinted off toward the train station. Meanwhile Lightning Dust was in her cloud house lying on her bed mumbling something to herself. “That feather brained Cloudchaser trying to write to me after what she’d done well forget it.” Dust mumbled then an idea struck her like a lightning bolt no pun intended. Dust smiled a wicked grin that would send Nightmare Moon packing. “This is going to be sweet.” She giggled madly bolting off her bed and flew out her window. “They don’t call me the Ponyville prankster for nothing.” She finished as she flew toward Ponyville below. The others were already in town which was hustling and bustling with all the ponies here and there. Many ponies were coming from the train station mostly. Trixie began looking around “She’s got to be here somewhere?” Trixie replied. “Well it’s not like we can yell out her name that would be too weird.” Sunset stated “Well this is getting us nowhere.” Trixie said in frustration. “Um excuse me?” A voice called out from behind the mares. Trixie look behind her to only to see a pegasi mare with a pale persian blue coat along with a wild like pale cerulean mane with white highlights that went in all directions and light rose eyes; the mares cutie mark was a gold shooting star leaving behind a blue trail. “I’m wondering if you’ve seen a pony named Lightning Dust?” the mare asked. Trixie blinked a few time before deciding the right pony had unexpectedly found them. “I’m guessing you must be this Cloudchaser pony we’ve been looking for.” Trixie stated. The mare was taken aback for a minute “You’ve been looking for me.” She replied “Girls I think we found our pony.” Trixie stated and the girls looked toward the mare. Rainbow Dash spoke up “Yep that’s her alright.” Rainbow said. The mare looked at Dash before recognizing who she was looking at and let out a small squeal. “Rainbow Dash.” She says flying up to her. “I haven’t seen you since flight school.” She said with a happy tone in her voice. “Hey Cloudchaser. How you been?” Dash asked her. “Oh fine. You know trying my best to keep the weather in order back home.” She replies glancing at the others. “Oh yeah. Cloudchaser these are my friends.” Dash starts. “This is the local librarian and egghead Trixie.” She pointed to Trixie. “Trixie is not an egghead.” Trixie exclaimed flustered and embarrassed. “The school’s assistant teacher, Cheerliee.” She introduced “Hello Cloudchaser.” Cheerliee answered. “Assistant to the fru fru factory; Coco Pommel.” Pointing to Coco. “It’s not a factory Dash it’s a boutique.” Coco countered. “And the magic tutor that overworks herself more than Trixie; Sunset Shimmer.” She finished. “You’re lucky I don’t pluck your feathers at that comment.” Sunset said. Cloudchaser laughed at how Dash and her friends acted. “Wow you certainly made some friends Dash.” She said cheerfully at first then her demeanor changed in an instant. “More than I’ll ever have.” She said sadly. “Well you said that you’d…” Trixie began but Dash interrupted her. “If you say what you’re going to say she’ll asked how we knew that so just play along okay.” Dash whispered in her ear. Trixie cleared her throat before beginning again. “So why are you looking for Lightning Dust anyway?” Trixie asked trying not to give herself away. “I just want to find her and talk to her and maybe.” She began taking a breath and letting it out slowly “Say my peace before I head back to Manehatten.” She finally let out. “Well then we’ll just have to find her and work things out between you two.” Dash exclaimed. “If we know her she’s probably out doing her pranks like normal.” Sunset added. “Then the best idea is to split up and find her. She shouldn’t be too hard to miss.” Cheerliee suggested. “Trixie and Sunset see if she’s around the park ask around if you need to.” Cheerliee said as Trixie and Sunset took off toward the park. “Coco and I will see if she’s loafing around town.” She added “Rainbow you take Cloudchaser and see if she’s anywhere in the skies.” She added “Got it! Let’s fly girl.” Dash added as they both took to the air to find there pegasi friend. Trixie and Sunset got to the park and began asking around to see if anypony seen Lightning Dust anywhere. So far they didn’t have any luck till after ten minutes of asking about a pony said they saw the pony of the description said she was flying toward town earlier today with a strange look like she was planning something. They both took off toward town. Cheerliee and Coco went scouting about the town trying to see if maybe she was walking about town. They didn’t have any luck in finding her at all. “This could take forever finding her, I mean how hard is it to find a two toned amber mane pegasus.” Cheerliee groaned. “Hopefully the others are having better luck than we are?” Coco admitted. “We can’t give up yet let’s keep searching.” Cheerliee added and began their search again. The two of them spotted Applejack working her apple stand as usual, and business seemed to be going slow as she was looking bored and tired. “Hey didn’t Dash say they were doing weather duty at the farm?” Coco asked “Yeah I think so.” Cheerliee added “Then maybe Miss Applejack could know where she went.” Coco said as they approached Applejack’s stand. “Howdy Coco, Cheerliee; what can ah get yah.” Applejack said. “Actually we were wondering if you’ve seen Lightning Dust around.” Cheerliee asked. “Not since earlier today. Ah wonder what was up with her, she was actin’ like ah snake bit her in the flank.” Applejack said “But ah’ll keep mah eye out for her just in case.” She added. “Thanks just if you see her let us know right away.” Coco said “Yah got it.” Applejack said and the girls continued looking for Lightning Dust. Rainbow and Cloudchaser decided to check the skies looking at every cloud that was up there and bucked a few to see if she was hiding under any. “Dash you sure she could be up here?” She questioned Dash “Hey if I know her she’s probably flying around right now.” Dash stated proudly trying to cheer her old classmate up. “I hope your right on that.” She retorted “Hey have I ever been wrong yet?” Dash said sarcastically. Before Cloudchaser could respond to her question “Don’t answer that.” Dash quickly added. The two searched high and low for Lightning Dust but with no luck. Unbeknown to them that a medium size black grey cloud was following them from behind at a slow but steady pace keeping up with them. Lightning Dusts tail stuck out from behind. “Oh karma is so sweet.” She muttered to herself as she followed planning out what to do next. In about over three hours and it was about four o’clock in the evening they searched about every inch of Ponyville and the skies. The five girls including Cloudchaser met back up at Trixie’s library to discuss any findings. “So anything?” Sunset began. Coco and Cheerliee shook their heads “Nothing, we’d practically walked our hooves off walking around town looking for her.” Cheerliee stated “But we did talk to Miss Applejack who said that if she saw her she would tell us.” Coco said. “Okay and what about you two? Dash, Cloudchaser anything?” Trixie looked toward them. “We check every cloud here and we couldn’t find her at all. Man she must really be avoiding her like the plague.” Dash said then realizes what she just said. “No offense.” Dash said toward Cloudchaser. “None taken.” She said back. Then there was a knock at Trixie’s door. She went to open it and saw the pink menace herself who was bouncing in place. “Uh hey Pinkie what’s up?” She asked and noticed Pinkie was carrying a basket with pink cards on her head “What are those for?” She questioned again. “Duh; these are for Lightning Dust’s birthday party and Cloudchaser’s welcome Ponyville party tomorrow!” Pinkie cheered as she lowered her head for her to take some “Oh and can’t forget Cloudchaser she’s invited to! Don’t forget to talk to Dusty at the party!” She cheered again as Trixie levitated six pink invites “What a minute how’d you know I need to talk to her?” Cloudchaser asked. “For the safety of your sanity you don’t question Pinkie what so ever.” Dash stated in a whisper as she was given her invite. “See you at the party!” Pinkie cheered as she spun her back hooves like a wheel and rolled away. “I’ll never understand that pony.” Trixie stated opening the invite and read it aloud. “You’re invited to Lightning Dusts seventeenth birthday party and Cloudchaser’s welcome to Ponyville party tomorrow at Sugarcube Corner at four o’clock sharp! See you there; Pinkie Pie!” Trixie finished. “Well if it’s one of Miss Pinkie’s parties it is sure to be fun.” Coco cheered. “I’m sure a party is what we need.” Cheerliee stated. “Well then I guess I’ll see you at the party girls.” Sunset said as she exited as Coco and Cheerliee followed. “Where could I stay?” Cloudchaser asked “Duh you can bunk with me.” Dash stated as they both left and waved bye to Trixie and they flew off toward Dash’s cloud house. “You’re going to love it sure it may not be the best but it’s still home.” Dash stated. As they flew by a dark cloud hovered above them just to stay out of sight. Lightning Dust popped her head out of the cloud and took a small container that was labeled ‘Itching Powder’. She undid the lid and took some of the powder and put in the cloud. It didn’t take long to fuse it with the rain in the cloud and once it was fused with it she let it the rain go and let it pour onto Cloudchaser which was hit full force of the rainfall. “What the hay?” She said as she became drenched in the rain. Her mane taped to her coat and wings soaked. “Dash I thought you were done with the weather!” Cloudchaser called out a bit annoyed. “I did. There shouldn’t be another cloud in the…” Dash began only to be interrupted by a loud laugh. Dash looked up to see Lightning Dust laughing her flank off. “Oh that was so priceless!” She laughed out as Dash scowled. “One second.” Dash says flying up to the laughing pegasi. “There you are Dust we’ve been wondering where you bolted off too.” Dash said. “We?” She said trying her best to play dumb. “Oh you know who else Dust.” Dash continued give Dust a glare then pointed down to the soaked Cloudchaser “Well, well, look who it is; not the pony I’ve wanted to see.” She said sarcastically. “So Cloudchaser, ruined any friendships lately?” She asked with a glare. Cloudchaser flew up to meet her face to face a bit nervous, but otherwise slightly glad to see her old friend. “Hey Dusty.” She said as Dust scowled and got close to her. “Don’t. Call. Me. Dusty.” Dust said bitterly. “Look Lightning can we just talk about what happened?” She said in calming tone. “No! Eight years ago you stabbed me and our friendship in the back, and you just expect me to forgive and forget?” Dust retorted. “But at least let me…” Chaser began but was cut off again. “NO! You ripped our friendship in half and threw it out a window! I don’t have to listen to you!” Dust shouted and flew off to who knows where. Cloudchaser looks down in disappointment. “Looks like she’s still mad at me.” She muttered but was still hearable “Hey I’m sure she’ll come around and listen if given the time.” Dash said “How can you be sure?” Chaser questioned “Let’s just say I’ve been around her long enough but enough of that let’s get you dried off at my house so you don’t get sick for tomorrow.” Dash said as they flew to her house. Her house was big alright. A two story cloud house with a rainbow waterfall installed. While the outside was clean and organized the inside was a bit more messy yet still retained some form of organization. “Sorry for the mess haven’t had time to clean and all.” Dash stated picking up some trash here and there. Chaser went to help but then felt a twitch behind her ears began scratching it with her front hoof. Then the twitches were coming from her wings. “Gah! Why am I itching all over?” She said trying to scratch her wing. “Huh?” Dash went over to her soaked friend as her friend continued scratching everywhere and get small red spots from all the itching “Oh ponyfeathers.” Dash said facehoofing “What did she do to me!?” Chaser shouted “Prank number twenty nine; commonly known as Itching Powder, but this is the first time I’ve seen her use a cloud for it.” Dash concluded “ITCHING POWDER!” She shouted again now trying to scratch her back by rubbing it on the cloud “Yep, luckily there’s a way to get rid of the itching.” Dash began. “Trust me Dust pulled that one on me once and it wasn’t funny.” Dash added. “A cold bath should stop the itching.” She continued “I really hope so.” Chaser said scratching her ears again. After about ten minutes of preparing the bath and hours of Cloudchaser being in the tub full of cold water, the itching finally subsided but she still had some red spots all over her coat. “Aw that fells so much better.” She said drying herself off and re-entered the living room where Dash has been clearing things for her guest. “Normally I wouldn’t do this but you are my guest so got to look a bit presentable.” Dash said then gave a long yawn seeing that the moon was slowly rising. “Well I’ll see yah in the morning, and if you need anything to eat the kitchen is over there so you don’t starve.” Dash smiled as she walked upstairs to her bed. Cloudchaser made her way toward the kitchen to find anything that was edible. She found a still wrapped salad and decided to have that then it was off to bed for her. After finishing the salad she made her way back toward the living and headed toward the couch which seemed to already be prepared for her, probably by Rainbow Dash no doubt, but it still worked for her. She sat on the cloud couch and leaned over fall her head on a make shift pillow for her head to rest on. She flipped the blanket over that was provided and slowly drifted off to sleep. The next morning Celestia’s sun pierced through the drapes that were covering her eyes and the sun shined on her eye. Her eyes popped open from the light her pupil shrunk to the size of a needle point. “Yeeow! My eyes! My eyes! It burns!” She shrieked. “Yeah that does tend to happen from time to time.” Dash called back sounded like she was in the kitchen. Cloudchaser was now wide awake and groggily got up from the couch and made her way to the kitchen where Dash was putting some bread in the toaster. “So what’s the plan for getting Lightning Dust to listen?” Dash questioned. “Still working on that but if I had to I’ll just tell her straight out and hopefully it’ll be enough.” Chaser pronounced. “That’s it, so you’re saying you’ve got nothing right.” Dash bluntly stated as Chaser hung her head and the bread popped from the toaster and Dash placed the toast on a plate. “Eat up your going to need your strength especially with what today is.” Dash said. “Dust’s birthday.” Chaser said plainly taking in a deep breath. “Oh c’mon the only thing that she could do to you is to literally kick you out of the party.” Dash said making Chaser even more uncomfortable. “Not helping Dash.” She stated. “Alright so she might not kick you out of her party but hey there’s still hope that she’ll understand you.” Dash countered. “But you can still try at least.” Dash said making Chaser smile a bit. “Thanks for that Dash.” She said taking a bite of the toast. “Well let’s go we still got time before the party so why not search for a gift for her at least.” Dash said now with a cheery tone. “Don’t you have work or something like that?” she questioned. “Nope I’m not scheduled in for today.” She pronounced proudly “Gives me time to work out some of my moves for the Wonderbolts, and help you out to of course.” She said doing a few loop de loops in the kitchen. After finishing breakfast the two pegasi flew out of Rainbow’s house and onward toward Ponyville, and since it was a weekend; all the fillies and colts were playing outside without a care in the world. “So where do you want to check out first since well you’ve never properly check this place out.” Dash said hovering in the air, same for Chaser. “Well there is that place.” She pointed toward the boutique and Rainbow’s eyes went wide for a moment then turned her head toward her friend nervously. “What? Is it something I said?” She asked with a look of confusion as Dash shakes her head. “It’s your funeral.” Dash said as they both headed down to the boutique. -Twenty minutes later- “Why did I choose that place first again?” Chaser said coming out of the boutique with her mane now straighten up instead of looking all wild. “I told you so.” Dash retorted as she watched Chaser try and fix her mane back into her own style. Meanwhile Lightning Dust was planning another prank for her former friend Cloudchaser. “Now just a finishing touch and… done!” Dust proclaimed placing the final touches on the device she made. “If this doesn’t make her the laughing stalk of the town I don’t know what will.” She giggled rubbing her hooves together. “Oh I love it when I’m nasty.” She said giggling then stopping and looking back and forth before facehooving. “Okay I’ve got to stop talking to myself. Otherwise I’m going to start sounding like a lunatic.” Dust said looking at what she made. It was slightly bigger party canon than Pinkie’s with instead of a string to fire it; it was a button on the back end of the canon it also held slots in the side to display what’s going to be fired going from confetti to cupcakes, but there was a special button at the side end of the canon that opened a special slot of green goo that will fire when the top button is pressed. “Well time to prep up, oh this is so going to fun.” Lightning Dust said hiding her machine under a tarp and disguises it as an old fashion camera only with a hole cut in it so it can fire whatever will come out. Lightning Dust left her machine whistling to a tune in her head. Back with Rainbow Dash and Cloudchaser who’ve check almost everything that Ponyville has to offer from stores to food. “So nice place huh.” Dash said with a smirk. Chaser nodded in agreement. “I’ll say Dash this place is amazing. Loads better than Manehatten for sure.” Chaser commented. “Yeah this place is cool but it could be twenty percent cooler if you know what I mean.” Dash stated. “Um… Dash does Ponyville have a gift shop or something like that?” She asked. “A gift shop, sorry but not. Although I know something much cooler than that.” Dash took to the skies as she said this and Chaser followed close behind. “Follow me.” She said motioning her to follow. They took off toward a music shop with a big music note with a record player by it. They entered the building and already the place was loud. Not because of the ponies because there aren’t any in it, it’s because of the music that is playing in background. The place was surrounded by black records and even sounds equipment. The mare in charge of the place was wearing a set of headphones on her head and a pair of purple shades to cover the mare’s true eye color. The mare was also a unicorn, with electric blue mane and tail with light blue highlights. The mare’s cutie mark was a duo music note. She turned to see if she had customers and she did and turned the music down in the room. “Hey what’s up Dash?” The mare waved over her voice sounding a little tomboyish. “Hey Vinyl. Okay if I bother you for a question?” She began as the mare known as Vinyl pulled her shades off and place them on her head showing her crimson red eyes to peek interest. “Yah got anything for my friend here?” She pointed to Cloudchaser who gave a small wave. “She’s trying to apologize to Lightning Dust for something that happened awhile back.” She adds. “Let me guess. Dust is holding a grudge of some kind right.” Vinyl says plainly. “Uh yeah how’d yah know that?” Chaser asked. “She flew by the shop earlier, and oh Celestia did she look angry.” Vinyl stated. “Well do you know anything that can cheer her up?” Chaser asked. “Dust’s always liked my kind of music, but she’s never had the bits. If anything I’d get her one. It would help her and my business a bit.” The white mare suggests. “That… might work.” Chaser said still worried about what could happen at the party later today. So after looking around the shop for a good hour going through record after record they’ve finally decided on one of Vinyl’s records bought for a good thirty five bits and left the shop after waving Vinyl good bye. The record was in a square case sleeve so that it could avoid breaking or cracking into a million pieces. The name of the record was ‘Thundering Forward’ and it fit just right for Lightning Dust to give to her for her party. They went back to Dash’s home and looked for the wrapping paper. It took three hours to find the wrapping paper which was in a box that Dash had stored away for the holidays or something of that nature, but they still managed to wrap the gift in time. “Dash how you can forget your own wrapping paper.” Chaser retorts. “Hey I’m not all organized like Trixie okay; can’t help it if I misplace stuff.” Dash countered. “We look around for three hour Rainbow. Three hours.” Chaser replied back. Dash sighs then looks at her clock and wide eyed it as the clock read: three fifty-eight. Two minutes before the party begins. “Oh horseapples we gotta blaze out there now!” Dash cried out as she flew out of the room full speed “But what about the extra wrapping paper!” Chaser shouted “LEAVE IT!” Dash shouted back and Chaser flew after her with the gift in her saddlebag and prayed that they weren’t going to be late. Lightning Dust was already at Sugarcube Corner since she was the birthday girl in a way of saying but she looked around as all the other ponies were piling into the store but she didn’t see Rainbow Dash or Cloudchaser yet. There was already Cheerliee, Coco, Sunset, and Trixie no doubt. But she’d look over at her covered device and she grinned like no tomorrow. “Okay everypony let’s get this party…” Pinkie began not until two certain pegasi came crashing to a halt right in front of the store. Pinkie looked outside at who it was. “Oh hey Dashie, Chasey glad you can make! We were about to start the party!” Pinkie cheered. Lightning Dust heard and she went to her device and set the time on it to shoot out the goo right at Cloudchaser but she’d needed to get her in the right in front of it. “Okay everpony let’s party down!” Pinkie cheered along with everypony else. As the party went on Chaser went to find Dust and possible talk to her about the prank she was blamed for. She finally found her sitting with Trixie, Cheerliee, Coco, Sunset, and Dash as she was eating a piece of gold frosted cake. “Hey Dusty.” Chaser sounded out. Dust heard her and looked toward her with a glare that would give Fluttershy’s stare a run for its bits. “What are you doing here?” She said darkly “I just came to wish your birthday a success and maybe have a small talk about well…that.” She said giving her a worried smile “Oh you mean the part where you stabbed our friendship in the back.” Lightning Dust retorted. Cloudchaser cringed at that and took a step back. “Dusty you… know it wasn’t me.” She countered. Dust was thinking for a minute as she looked at her former friend and the tarp covered canon and then back to her, and that made her smirk a little giving her an idea. “Since she humiliated me, I think only fair is fair.” Dust thought “You know what sure why don’t we talk.” Dust said. Chasers eyes beamed to life as if she was given a second chance to explain herself. “Oh thank you, thank you Dust!” She cheered as she bounced up and down. “Now hold your wings there, first how about a picture then we can talk.” She said escorting her toward the covered cannon unbeknownst to Cloudchaser. “Well that went over well don’t you think.” Cheerliee said taking a bite of her cake “A little too well if you ask me.” Sunset said looking over at the two ponies. “Maybe she’d finally got over her grudge.” Coco whispered, but Sunset still looked on at the two. “Stand right here and I’ll get the camera ready.” Dust said as Chaser nodded back. “I’ll give this to her later.” Chaser thought setting her saddlebag off to the side as Dust went under the tarp and lines up the party cannon with Cloudchaser who was waiting. “This is for all the pain of stabbing me in the back those years ago.” She thought. “Ready.” Dust shouted out. “Ready.” Chaser declared. “Say: Friendship.” Dust ordered a grin forming on her face as she pushed the button a second time to fire it. “Friend…” BANG! That was all Cloudchaser heard before she’d finish and the next thing she heard was a wide of gasps and mouth agape open. She opened her eyes and look at her hoof and that it was covered in green goo of some kind in fact her entire body was covered it in. The one thing they heard was a loud laugh coming from right in front of her. “You should see your face it’s totally priceless.” Lightning Dust said laughing her flank off rolling on the ground and laughing at Chaser. She looked at the laughing mare with a hint of anger in her eyes. “So all that sweet talk back there was so that you could prank me?” She asked angrily at the laughing pony. “What *hehe* did you *hehe* expect?” She said in between giggles. “So I guess you’ve really have changed.” She went toward her saddlebag and grabbed its contents. “This was going to be for an apology or something I forget but guess you can consider it a good bye present.” She said sliding it toward Lightning Dust. “Happy birthday Lightning Dust, and goodbye.” She said and left walking out the door as silence filled the room. “Therrrrrrrrrres nothing to see here everypony continue partying and I’ll sort this out.” Pinkie said as the party then continued as Pinkie went over to the girls. “Um… what in Ponyville just happened?” Pinkie said but before any of them could answer her Dash spoke up her and she was fuming mad. “I’ll tell you what happened! Lightning Dust just humiliated Cloudchaser in a public party and all she can do is laugh at it!” She yelled angrily then she proceeds to stomp over where Lightning Dust was still giggling a bit. Dash looked down on the mare. “Well I hope you’re happy with yourself Dust.” She said sternly as Lightning picked herself up from the ground. “Oh that felt so satisfying the look she had when she was covered in green goo.” Lightning Dust said smiling at her achievement. “You know you can a complete idiot sometimes.” Dash stated. “What are you saying she didn’t deserve what I did?” Dust retorts. Trixie and the others looked at each other nervously. “I think what Dash is trying to say is that your grudge against her is messing with your mind so you’re not thinking clearly about things.” Trixie stated calmly. “Oh come on girls not you to.” Dust complained. “Maybe there’s something else you need to know Dust about that day.” Dash intervened “But I didn’t tell you because I thought you were over it. Guess I was wrong on that.” She continued letting out a sigh. “As you know after a good bit of training or flying I am always one to like to take a nap.” Dash states as Dust nods not sure where this was going. “But that day I got woke by someponies…” She states. “Really who? I would like to know who could have woke you up. After all you were always such a hard sleeper.” Dust asked. “Surprisingly it was Cloudchaser. She was yelling at the bullies trying to convince them to stop what they were about to do.” Dash said with a sharp glare as Dust grew a bit wide eyed at this. “Then you got so caught up in her giving a small giggle that you found any way to pin it on her!” Dash yells in anger. “B-But the note! It had her named sighed on it!” Lightning tries to retort as Dash shakes her head. “You only imagined it Dust. I saw the not after you left and there was no signature. You just wanted somepony to blame for the embarrassment.” Dash said as Dust began hyper ventilating. “So it…wasn’t…her…fault…” Dust says between breaths as Dash nods. “S-She was…looking out…for me?” Dust adds as Dash nods again. “Answer me this Dust; would the Cloudchaser you know do something like that to you?” Dash asked. Dust began to think this over as she recalled her time at Flight School. Most of her times there were pretty harsh, and after the first week she was about ready to quit. That had been when she first met Cloudchaser who took a real shine to her and they had eventually become friends, and then later she met Dash who treated her and Cloudchaser like siblings. Dust snapped back to reality and looked towards the wrapped gift. She unwrapped it and saw the record as well as a note. She opened the note first: "Dear Dusty; I know that we haven’t seen each other in a long time, and that you still blame me for what happened. I know that I might not ever be able to change your mind. I know that I am not your friend, but you are still mine through the thick and thin. –Cloudchaser." “Oh ponyfeathers.” Dust says dropping the note and taking off as fast as she can out of the shop. Dust took to the skies to get a better view and luck may have it she’d spotted Chaser who was at a small stream nearby trying to get the goo out of almost everything. Quietly and nervously Dust landed behind Cloudchaser. “Um… Hey Chasy.” She called out. Chaser looked behind her and saw Lightning Dust. “What do you want Dust? Can’t you see I’m cleaning from the mess you made?” She said in a low intimidating tone. “Um… well to start I came to apologize for my behavior earlier.” Dust blurted out as Chaser stops her attempts to remove the goo. “What did you just say?” She questioned a bit surprised. “I said I’m sorry for what I did back there in the shop. It wasn’t right of me to do that.” Dust admitted. “And.” Chaser said. “For not listening to you.” Dust admits her head low. “And.” Chaser says again. “For being a complete and utter jerk to you for such a long time.” Dust says. “So what exactly made you change your mind?” Chaser asks as she goes back to trying to get the goo off herself. “Well after what happened Dash chewed me out, and gave me another perspective to what actually happened.” Dust starts as she goes into the stream to help Chaser. “And well she was right. I just wanted to blame somepony, and well…I just have held this grudge for too long.” She admits as she helps getting her wings. A few minutes pass as Dust finishes helping Chaser get cleaned up. “I know I’ve been a jerk and all, but I want to give our friendship another try.” Dust said giving a convincing smile. Unexpectedly Chaser pulled Dust into a hug which surprised her. “Why do you think I came here Dusty? I just wanted my friend back.” She says as Dust returns the hug. “You won’t regret this I promise.” She said gleefully as they both headed back to the party. Trixie took note of this and stepped toward the two. “I think a great lesson can be learned here.” She took out a paper and quill from her saddle “Care to write about it.” Trixie said giving Dust the quill who puts it in her mouth and nods. “Dear Princess Celestia; This is Lightning Dust writing to you about a really important lesson I learned. When I first heard of an old friend of mine coming to visit I was way less then pleased. In fact when she got her I was downright rude and unpleasant to her. It took the help of a friend telling me the full truth for me to see that my grudge was unhealthy and was destroying the friendship my friend still had with me even thought I no longer consider her my friend. That’s how friendship is sometimes I guess. You can say you’re not friends after something happens, but sometimes that pony will still consider you their friend. Sincerely; The Ponyville Prankster, Lightning Dust” She finished and hoofed the letter to Spike who let out his flames sending it. “Okay everypony let’s get this party started!” Pinkie cheered yet again and the party went on for hours. The next day Dust and her friends along with Cloudchaser were standing at a platform at the train station. “Sure you can’t stay Chaser?” Dust asks a bit disappointed as she shakes her head. “Sorry, but I can’t have the rest of my family worrying about me.” She says as Dust lowers her head. “Don’t worry about me Dusty. You just keep doing what you’re doing. I’ll send a letter soon.” She adds as Dust looks up. “Alright, but if I don’t get a letter soon you might get a surprise visit.” Dust said as Chaser rolls her eyes a smirk plastered on her face. Chaser got on the train and waved to the others. “Bye everypony! Hope to see you again soon!” She says before it closes. Rainbow trotted over to Dust and put a hoof on her shoulder. “You did good Dust, but…” she starts “But what Dash?” Dust asks looking up to her. “You realize we’re going to be late for work if we keep sitting here.” She adds as Dust yelps taking to the sky. “Yikes! I had forgotten we have the early shift!” Dust says. “Well come on Dash! Let’s go go go!” She exclaims as she takes off with a slightly laughing Rainbow Dash behind her.