//------------------------------// // 184. The Lightning Learning Experience - Part 1 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// As the sun radiated the skies above Ponyville, Fluttershy trotted back and forth in front of her friends with a wide smile on her face and a bounce in her trot. "Okay, everypony, as you know, the most adorable little creatures called the Breezies are due to come through Ponyville on their migration." Before she could say anymore, Pinkie Pie dropped down from a tree in front of her, dangling from her tail and waving her hooves about with joy. "Ooh I'm so excited! I can't wait for Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane to make a breeze for them so I can see how cute they are!" "Uh, about that..." Fluttershy and Pinkie turned to the line of ponies in front of her. Twilight, Midnight, Cheese Sandwich, Big Mac, Rarity, Blueblood and Applejack were all there. However where Rainbow and Thunderlane should have been standing, there was only Soarin and Mrs. Chilli Spice. Fluttershy gave a confused look about, but there was no sign of her rainbow and charcoal colored friends anywhere. "But, where are they? Rainbow told me the weather team elected them and Flitter for the breezy passage." Soarin and Chilli looked at each other for a moment before gently addressing Fluttershy, lest she take some offense. "Well, they were going to be here, really they were, except..." Soarin started before nervously glancing to Chilli Spice. "Ugh, they got word from Cloudsdale that there was a Wonderbolts show being held. They weren't gonna go, but..." the older mare continued with an annoyed look before she passed the reins back to the ex-Wonderbolt. "Well, Scootaloo and Rumble heard about the show and they practically begged for Dash and Thunder to take them, especially since neither of them have been to a Wonderbolts show before. So, well..." Both Soarin and Chilli went silent for a moment, while Fluttershy's big saddened eyes pleaded with them to continue. Finally they both sighed and Soarin continued, "Since I didn't have any of my studying scheduled for today, and Mrs. Spice won't be opening the restaurant until tonight, they asked if we could fill in for them to lead the breezy team." "They owe me big for this. It's been years since I’ve done any weather duties..." Chilli muttered with a slight frown. She'd been looking forward to a nice quiet morning of reading and breezy watching until Rainbow and Thunderlane had roped her into this. "Well... if you're sure you know what you're doing, then I guess it's okay. So the first thing we need to do is..." As Fluttershy began to list out instructions for the day, Soarin and Mrs Chili Spice glanced at each other. Rainbow and Thunderlane owed them big time. Well that’s what Chili Spice was thinking. For Soarin however, this was actually a rather welcome opportunity, and a good chance to get some new kind of weather experience. “Trust me, Flutters,” Soarin assured with a smug look, “Mrs. Spice an’ I’ve got this well in wing!” Meanwhile, two pegasi, with foals on their backs, had just arrived in Cloudsdale, each of them with wide grins on their faces. "I'm so glad that Soarin and Mrs. Spice agreed to fill in for us! Fluttershy is my friend, but there was no way I was missing a Wonderbolts show for those cutsie-wootsie breezy things!" Rainbow laughed as she helped a beaming Scootaloo down from her back. Thunderlane just shook his head with a grin as he helped his brother down, being careful he didn’t get his little hoof snagged on the saddlebags Thunderlane was wearing. "I have to admit, I wasn’t looking forward to breezy duty either. Having to float about all day just creating a tiny breeze and missing out on this show? Heh, not a chance." "I'm just glad we all get to spend the day together. It's been awhile since we got some sibling time together." Rumble smiled, giving his brother's leg a hug and gesturing to Rainbow and Scootaloo, who also hugged in response. “Thanks so much, Rainbow Dash! I’ve always wanted to visit Cloudsdale, but my mom didn’t wanna bring me until I could fly by myself… I’m just surprised you managed to convince her to let me come!” “No sweat, squirt!” Rainbow pulled Scootaloo into a noogie, the both of them laughing, as Scootaloo pushed Dash off with a good-natured stink eye. “Your mom knows that the totally awesome Rainbow Dash will watch you like a hawk!” “Uh-oh!” They looked to Thunderlane and followed his line of sight towards a tall clock set upon a pillar of Olympumice, and Rainbow Dash saw the cause for the ‘uh-oh’. “We’d better get over to Cloudsdale Stadium,” Thunderlane suggested. “We’re gonna see the WONDERBOLTS!!!” Scootaloo and Rumble cheered, their big sister-figure and big brother smiling at their little charges’ excitement. Today looked like a good day. As the group set off, they didn't notice a shadow watching from behind the pillar. The four ponies trotted happily through the bright cheery city of Cloudsdale. Pegasi flapped back and forth happily, with the odd griffon or lunar pegasus pony amongst them. The city looked beautiful, filled with fluffy white clouds, all floating about at different levels, some with bridges interconnecting them, and glittering rainbows brightening the whole place. Scootaloo and Rumble were completely enthralled by it, their pegasi roots reaching them on an instinctual level. Beside them Rainbow and Thunderlane smiled and pointed out different parts of the scenery, proud to show off their childhood home to their little siblings. Still, the biggest smiles all reached their faces when the Cloudsdale Stadium stood tall and proud before them, the two young pegasus foals looking up and up until they almost fell over onto their backs, Rainbow Dash and Thunderlane catching them, the four of them sharing a laugh. The cloud- and Olympumice-made coliseum stood massive and proud, a monument to the competitive nature of their pegasi ancestors.. However, Rainbow and Thunderlane grew confused when they saw just how empty the place looked, especially for a Wonderbolt's performance. As they drew nearer, they saw a few pegasi who had been near the entrance all turning away with disappointment. "This is weird, I wonder what's going on?" Thunderlane muttered, looking over the empty stadium in confusion. "Hey look, there's a sign." Rainbow spotted a sign hanging over the closed doors of the stadium entrance. As they approached though, they understood immediately. A large notice was posted over the doors, reading: ‘ATTENTION: An emergency situation has broken out in Baltimare that needed the immediate assistance of the Wonderbolts. We regret to announce that our performance has been postponed until further notice. We apologize to all our fans and we hope to see you all when a date is selected for our next performance.’ “OH COME ON!!” Rainbow Dash yelled, Scootaloo pulling her face into a disappointed pout whereas Rumble just looked disappointed. “We spent good bits on these tickets!” “Damn! I was really looking forward to this,” Thunderlane sighed with a grumble. “Well… Nothing to do but go home and deal with those breezies." However Rainbow beside him gave her chin a thoughtful rub with one of her primaries before addressing the annoyed Thunderlane and the disappointed filly and colt. "Well, we did ask Soarin and Mrs. Spice to cover for us today. It sucks the Wonderbolts had to cancel, but we can still use the day to have a good time. There's lots to do here in Cloudsdale besides the `Bolts." “Yeah! I’d love to see more of Cloudsdale!” Scootaloo agreed. “Plus we have the whole day! It’d be a shame to let it go to waste,” added Rumble. Seeing the hopeful smiles from his friend, little friend, and little brother, Thunderlane's frown turned into a grin. "Y’know what? You guys are right! Let’s take Cloudsdale by storm! Maybe go to the zoo or take a tour of the weather factory?" "Well if you need a tour guide for the factory, I'm your guy." The group jumped in surprise at the new voice, but when they turned, Rainbow gave a happy gasp and grabbed the newcomer in a hug. "Dad!" “Ha-ha-ha! Dashie!” the stallion said happily before giving his daughter a big sloppy kiss on the cheek. “So good to see you, baby girl!” “Dad! Not in public!” Rainbow protested, her dad always knew just how to ruffle her feathers but she couldn’t help but smile as she wiped off her dad’s spit. Scootaloo and Rumble both giggled as they looked at the pegasus stallion who was clearly Rainbow’s father. He was tall and well-muscled with a periwinkle coat, had the same rainbow mane as his daughter albeit shorter and styled spiky, and his eyes were brilliant amber. His cutie-mark was a blue horseshoe with a rainbow-colored streak. Although he gave off the feel of an older stallion, he’d clearly aged well. “Hello, Rainbolt,” Thunderlane chuckled at how easily his good friend and usual rival was flustered by her father. “It’s been a while.” “Well, well, Thunderlane!” Rainbolt stepped over and raised a wing, which Thunderlane gladly mirrored, the two of them exchanging high-wings. “Still giving my baby girl a flap for her money?” “We push each other hard, sir,” Thunderlane nodded with a humble smile but couldn’t help but smirk. “That’s the way! There’s nothing like a good rival to push you to do your best,” Rainbolt chuckled before noticing the foals. “Oh, and who’re these little speedsters?” “Oh yeah! Dad, this little squirt is my biggest fan,” Rainbow ruffled Scootaloo’s mane, spurring a sisterly laugh between them as Scootaloo introduced herself. “I’m Scootaloo! It’s so awesome to meet you, Mister Rainbow’s Dad!” “Heh-heh, you as well, squirt,” Rainbolt laughed before adding, “But none of that mister stuff, just call me Bolt, or Bolty. My friends do!” “And you might remember my little brother, Rumble,” Thunderlane said as he proudly introduced the little gray colt. “No way this big strapping flyer is little Rumble!” Rainbolt chuckled, Rumble smiling back at him sheepishly. “Last time I saw you, I could’ve held you in one hoof!” Rumble couldn’t help but laugh at Rainbolt, taking an instant liking to him as the stallion then said, “Well! Are we just gonna stand here all day or do you all want an exclusive tour of the weather factory, courtesy of yours truly?” “YEAH!” Rumble and Scootaloo both cheered, their older siblings sharing a good-natured smirk. Rainbolt’s tour was fun, educational, and interesting for the young pegasus colt and foal, though it was nothing new to Rainbow while Thunderlane knew enough about weather manufacturing that he was simply interested to see it all in person. Rainbolt allowed the foals to try their hooves at snowflake-making, which turned out to be a tad tedious for them given its necessarily quiet work due to it being a delicate operation. Although they were interested to learn the first snowflake was crafted by a blind pegasus filly named Snowdrop over a thousand years ago. He showed them all the rainbow vats, where rainbows were made although he kept them from touching the colorful concoctions as it was extremely difficult to wash out of one’s coat. The cloud-making department was where different kinds of clouds were made. Such as typical rainclouds, the thicker the cloud the denser and heavier the down pour. The storm clouds, which was a little dangerous as lightning bolts tended to strike without warning, so the workers had to wear protective gear as the lightning was raw and potentially more dangerous than a pegasus’ natural weather-resistance could handle. And all the while, Rainbolt told story after story about Rainbow’s fillyhood, most of it embarrassing, much to her chagrin, as there was a point where she covered her face with her wings and no matter how much she complained her dad stated it was a parent’s duty to be embarrassing. Finally, they made their way towards Rainbolt’s office, as he was wrapping up another story, “...and she was just the prettiest little filly at the aerial dance recital!” “DA-AAD! ENOUGH ALREADY!” Rainbow whined with a face almost redder than Big Macintosh, unable to believe her dad had just told the squirts about that particular time of her fillyhood. “Aw c’mon, Dash!” Thunderlane chuckled, enjoying every moment of Rainbow not feeling cool over something from her time as a filly. “I still recall how much you enjoyed aerial dancing when we were foals.” “I think it’s nice,” Scootaloo said encouragingly to her surrogate big sister before she looked to Rainbolt, “but I’ve been wondering something. All the stories you’ve told were just about you and Dash! What about her Mo- MMPH!” It was clear where Rainbow Dash had gotten her speed, given the uncanny reaction time Rainbolt had displayed in covering Scootaloo’s mouth with his wing. She’d never taken her eyes off the stallion and still she never saw it coming! “Oh Scoots, honey!” Rainbolt said with a forced smile, his eyes shifting between the filly and his daughter nervously. “You’re looking like you could use some grub. Howsabout it, kids? Whattya say I call an early day and we all go out for a bite? I know this great restaurant nearby!” “I’m actually getting hungry,” Rumble agreed. “Me too, what about you, Dash?” Thunderlane nodded to Rainbow but then noticed a change in her. Before, she’d been vibrantly steamed with her dad telling story after story about her when she was a “silly filly”. But now, her manner was melancholy, her eyes looking down and having lost their spark of spunkiness, and if Thunderlane hadn’t been certain it was probably just the lighting, he’d have sworn Rainbow’s colorful mane had dulled just a little. “...Dashie?” Thunderlane asked while Rainbolt led the foals into his office. Inside Rainbolt’s office, Scootaloo and Rumble looked up at the stallion questionably, as Scootaloo asked, “What was that all about? You were acting kinda edgy.” “Because, squirt…” Rainbolt sighed sadly. “You almost said ‘mom’.” “Is there something wrong about Rainbow’s mom?” Rumble asked. Rainbolt looked between the two young pegasi before taking a deep breath, “Scootaloo, Rumble… Rainbow’s mom, Firefly… she passed away after giving birth.” Scootaloo gasped while Rumble’s ears slayed back as they both understood as Rainbolt continued. “Firefly… There’ll never be another mare like her, except for perhaps her daughter. Honestly, Rainbow’s so much like her mom, I can’t help being proud.” “...What happened?” Rumble asked. “Well, kids, when Firefly was pregnant with Rainbow,” Rainbolt explained, “there was some kind of problem the doctors became aware of. They warned Firefly that childbirth might pose a risk to herself and the baby, but Firefly chose to face whatever happened and hope for the best… Firefly lived just long enough to see her daughter, to give her the name Rainbow Dash, and to give her as much love as she could before…” Rainbolt looked down sadly, when he felt the two foals come up and give him a hug, which he gratefully accepted. “Once she was old enough to understand, I told Rainbow about her mom, and… Well, Rainbow was never the same after that. She blamed herself, cried for a long time, and no matter how much I said to her that she wasn’t to blame, that her mother loved her so much she put her before herself, it just never sunk in.” “But Rainbow’s always so cool and confident!” Scootaloo brought up. “She’s gotta be the fastest flier in all of Equestria, and she’s gonna be a Wonderbolt!” “Oh yeah, I’m sure she will,” Rainbolt nodded with a smile both sad and proud. “But you see, Scoots, have you ever wondered why Rainbow is so driven to become a Wonderbolt to begin with?” “She always said the Wonderbolts are her heroes,” Rumble answered first, Scootaloo giving him a light stink eye. “That she wanted to fly with the best fliers in all of Equestria.” “That’s part of the reason, for sure,” Rainbolt acknowledged, “but the root of her dedication to that dream is her mother. Even after all these years, I don’t think Rainbow has ever truly let go of a guilt she doesn’t deserve to feel. So she wants to live her life to the fullest and make something of herself. When she first watched the Wonderbolts as a filly, she was so inspired that she swore to be the best Wonderbolt ever, to become worthy of her mother’s sacrifice. At least, that’s what she feels.” Scootaloo and Rumble shared a sad look, when Rainbolt said with raised brows, “So, in the future, I would strongly recommend avoiding the topic of Rainbow’s mother. I know Dashie’s always braggy, confident, can be a bit of a showoff, but underneath all that…” Scootaloo and Rumble felt sad to see Rainbolt shed a tear, and they gave him another hug. When they let go, Rainbolt said, “Now why don’t you kids go see Thunder and Dash? I gotta go take care of something, so I’ll meet you all at Olympus Park.” “Dash!” Thunderlane caught up with Rainbow after she’d wandered off when her dad had taken the foals into his office for a private word. “Hey Rainbow, are you okay?” He asked, and only got a grunt and shrug from his friend, as Rainbow looked down at her hooves. “Look, I know having your mom brought up isn’t always pleasant, but Scoots didn’t know.” The rainbow mare gave a sigh and sat down on her haunches. She turned to her friend who had a concerned expression on his face. “I know, Thunder... It just hurts to think about, is all. My mom had an amazing life, filled with happiness and love, and… Well, now she’s gone because of me.” Thunderlane frowned gently and placed a hoof on her shoulder as her ears wilted. “Rainbow, she’s not dead because of you. I mean, yes she passed on because of the strain of childbirth, but that doesn’t make it your fault! I mean with that logic do you blame your Dad for getting her pregnant?” Rainbow gave him a slight glare. “Of course not!” “Then why is it your fault?” Rainbow lowered her head, but her thoughts didn’t change. Maybe Thunderlane had a point, but it didn’t change anything. Her mother would still be dead, and she would be dead because of her birth. That would never stop being true. At that thought she got a bit angry. “Look, I get it Thunderlane, but this doesn’t change anything! I don’t want to just ignore what caused her death or pretend I didn’t have a role in it, intentional or otherwise! All I want is to make her sacrifice worth something!” Then with a huff she shoved Thunderlane’s hoof from her shoulder and started to try and walk away, only for another hoof on her tail to stop her. “Rainbow!” Thunderlane got firm but still spoke in a tone that showed he cared. “I haven’t experienced what you have experienced so I don’t know precisely how you’re feeling. But I do know that this idea that you’re responsible for Firefly’s death isn’t healthy. A true parent loves their child unconditionally. They would give anything for their child, even their own life! Trust me, this is not your fault. No matter what happened, Firefly loved you, more than anything and you don’t have to punish yourself or push your life just to ‘make her sacrifice worth it’. If you really want her death to mean something, to honor her memory, then just be happy and live a happy life! That’s all she would want. Trust me.” As wise as his words were however, Rainbow’s stubbornness and anger blinded her to them. She gave another huff and pulled her tail free from his grip. “Shut up Thunderlane! You don’t know anything. Just leave me alone!” With that she started to trot away from Thunderlane as he looked on sadly while Scootaloo and Rumble stepped up alongside him. “Is Rainbow okay?” Scootaloo asked with concern, her eyes watching her idol and big sister trot off in a huff. Thunderlane watched her for a moment more then just gave a sigh, and a sad expression crossed his face, “Not really, Scootaloo. But with some time and support from her friends, I think she might be eventually.” Remembering Rainbolt’s suggestion to go ahead since he’d catch up with them later, Thunderlane and the foals caught up with Rainbow, but she was still too annoyed to talk about her feelings or her discussion she'd had with her weather team co-captain. Instead the group decided to grab a bite to eat at a nice restaurant on the other side of the park. It was Rainbow and Thunderlane’s favorite when they were foals and the stallion figured it might be good to show their younger siblings why they loved it so much. After a bit of walking, with Thunderlane pointing out some of Cloudsdale's sights to Scootaloo and Rumble, the group reached Cloudsdale’s famous Olympus Park. While Cloudsdale was made from clouds, the park had large areas of specially crafted cloud-matter, aka Olympumice, that contained dirt and nutrients for several large trees as well as a large expanse of grass and a garden of flowers, providing shade and a pleasant atmosphere to the park visitors. There were also large areas of flat clouds with no obstacles, perfect for teaching young foals to fly, or to play aerial games. In fact, there were two pegasi playing an aerial game of frisbee that caught the group’s attention. The first was a young colt with a slick backed red mane over a blue coat, who wore a pair of sunglasses and had the cutie mark of a skateboard and a comb forming an X. Scootaloo and Rumble immediately identified him as a recent addition to their class back in Ponyville. The young bully Hotshot. However, unlike the normal ‘cool guy’ smirk or angry scowl he had on his muzzle, the young colt was smiling and laughing as he tossed his frisbee back and forth with the other pegasus with him. The pegasus with him however was one that Thunderlane and Rainbow knew quite well, and the sight of her brought a glare to Rainbow’s face. The pegasus was a mare of turquoise blue with slicked-back golden-orange mane and the cutie mark of a lightning bolt and sparks. This was the mare that had initially been awarded the lead badge at the Wonderbolt Academy. The mare that had mistreated all the other Wonderbolt cadets in her bid to be the best. The mare who had placed Thunderlane and Rainbow’s friends in danger by convincing them to help her construct a tornado that almost blew them out of the sky. She was the mare who had been kicked out of the academy in disgrace for her actions This mare was Lightning Dust.