"It's just camp, Lightning Dust. You're sixteen years old, act like it." Lightning Dust's mother snorted, taking another quick sip of her drink. She was just breaking the news to her daughter, that she'd be sent away to Camp Dynamics for the rest of the summer, and was speaking in a very calm and patient manner.
Lightning Dust, on the other hand, was furious. "What?! You can't do that! How do you expect me to spend the rest of my summer at Camp Dynamite, or whatever the stupid name is. It's not fair!" She protested, desperately.
Her mother let out an exasperated sigh. She closed her eyes, for several minutes. "My decision is final, Lightning Dust. You leave in two days exactly, so you better pack your bags. Chop, chop, hmm?" She answered, finally opening her eyes.
The mare huffed. "Fine, whatever. Just letting you know that Dad won't approve." She answered, letting her ears flop down to her head. Getting up, Lightning Dust trotted to her room, leaving her mother alone in the kitchen. How could they do this to me? She thought, slowly taking out her suitcase from under her bed. Does Mom even care about what I want, for a change? Lightning Dust pondered further. She reached for a few crucial items, first: A picture of her and her three best friends: Sunset Shimmer, Vinyl Scratch and Rose Luck.
Everything would be so much better if they could come with me Lightning Dust thought, sourly. Glancing down at the picture in a frame one last time, she set it inside her suitcase. Item after item, Lightning Dust became wrapped up in her own negative thoughts about camp, and before she knew it, everything was in the suitcase.
Trotting out of her room, Lightning Dust slowed down at the sound of small voices. She stood by the wall that divided the kitchen from the rooms, and strained her ears, to try and see if she could pick up what all the hush was about.
"High Winds, you know this is the best thing for her. She needs to learn to try new things. Meet new ponies." Lightning Dust heard her mother's voice first. With a small roll of her eyes, she continued to listen.
"I understand that... But ripping a mare from her friends and family, right when she has summertime to spend with them, seems a bit harsh, doesn't it?" Her father's voice answered, in a worried tone. To this, Lightning Dust grinned, triumphantly. Her father almost always bailed her out, from things she did not want to do. He would surely talk her mother out of sending her away, as well.
But that was not the case, this time. "Oh, I understand that. But, it'll be a fun experience! I guess you could say it's kind of an... Adventure"
Oh no. Why did her mother have to bring up the 'A word'? Lightning Dust's father was utterly obsessed with exploring, and adventuring, even though all he did was go into the Everfree forest, and claim he was exploring unknown lands.All of Lightning Dust's hope flew away, like a bird descending from its nest. She knew it was official:
She was going to camp.
~~~
"No! Lightning, they can't!" Rose Luck cried out, her face twisting into an anguished frown.
"Well, they did! And they didn't even warn me." Lightning Dust replied, in a small voice. She wasn't usually like this, but the fact that she would be removed from her loved ones in less than a week horrified her.
Sunset Shimmer sighed. "I guess we won't be seeing you in a month, huh?" She asked, her aqua gaze shifting from Lightning Dust, to the ground.
"Not helping" Vinyl Scratch added, from the corner. The white unicorn was rummaging through a cardboard box, full of pictures that the four mares had taken, throughout the years.
"No, it's okay. I have to learn to accept it, I guess." Lightning Dust piped up, from where she was sitting.
Rose Luck nodded. "Yeah, come on. We can't have sad and unhappy Lightning Dust moping around the place. Where's the energetic and daring pegasus we know?" She asked, in an attempt to comfort her friend.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's right. We should totally have like, the best day ever today.. Before Lightning Dust leaves." Vinyl suggested, from the corner. Finally, she pulled out a picture, and made her way to the other three mares.
"Sugarcube Corner is calling my name." Sunset Shimmer snorted, rising to her hooves.
Lightning Dust's eyes lit up. "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt." She answered, quickly.
"What are we waiting for? An invitation?" Sunset Shimmer called, from the door. She was quite an impatient pony, and usually waited for no one.
Lightning Dust and the rest trotted over to Sunset, where they stepped out the door of Rose Luck's house, and headed to Sugarcube Corner.
As soon as they got there, they ordered a cupcake for each, and sat down at a table for four.
"Don't worry, guys. I'll pay for it." Vinyl said, coolly. She lifted her purple DJ glasses from her eyes, and set them to perch on her head.
"Thanks." Rose Luck, Sunset Shimmer and Lightning Dust said, at the same time.
"So, have you packed for tomorrow yet?" Rose Luck asked, after a small while of silence.
Lightning Dust sighed. "Yeah, I did. I even packed that dress that Sunset ordered from Rarity's boutique, or whatever it's called."
"But you said you don't do dresses!" Rose Luck yell-whispered, leaning up on the table.
The pegasus shrugged. "I guess I do now. Y'know, only for the trip though." She replied, brushing a shock of pastel yellow, from her eyes.
"Got your hair gel in that suitcase?" Vinyl teased, flicking her magenta eyes to meet Lightning Dust's.
In answer, Lightning Dust scoffed. "I don't do hair gel. My mane is naturally slicked back."
"That's what you want to believe!" Sunset Shimmer replied, with a smug smile.
Lightning Dust simply returned the smug smile. "Fine, whatever. If it makes you guys happy."
"I need to borrow that hair gel someday, though. I wonder what I would look like, with my mane slicked back." Rose Luck suggested.
"It's not hair g-" She was cut off, by a tray being set in the middle of the table. Vinyl layed a few bits on the tray, once she took her cupcake.
Once everyone had their pastry, the mare who had delivered the cupcakes retreated behind the counter, and they resumed chatting.
"Hm, I dunno Rose Luck. Your hair looks pretty nice, the way it is" Vinyl piped up, through a mouthful of cupcake.
Lightning Dust agreed, silently. Not saying anything, she took a quick bite of the cupcake, and glanced around thoughtfully. She couldn't imagine a life with her friends. However, she was about to experience it, and in the worst way too. She let her friends chat, without her words for a few minutes, before speaking up.
"Maybe camp will be fun?" Lightning Dust wondered out loud. "I heard there's games there. Competitive games."
The other three paused for a moment, as if digesting Lightning Dust's words.
"Oh, yes. There's tons of them." Sunset Shimmer said, finally.
"You know I always love competition." Lightning Dust added, trying to convince herself that where she was going was not all that bad.
Rose Luck let out a small laugh. "Yeah. You'll kick the other ponies' tails." She answered, shooting Lightning Dust a small smile.
Lightning Dust returned the smile, much more confident than she felt. "Ha, I sure will. Then again, I'll miss you guys..."
"Don't think about us, idiot. Think about the competition." Sunset Shimmer snorted, gruffly.
"Right. The competition. Y'know, I think there might be flying races there. I'd sure like to win one of those." Lightning Dust said, puffing out her chest.
"There is. There's always flying races, for pegasi at those types of summer camps. You'll be fine." Vinyl added, from where she was sitting. The cupcake that had once been in front of her, was now replaced with crumbs, and a napkin.
Rose Luck nodded in agreement. "Always." She echoed.
Lightning Dust paused, to think again. It'll be fun She thought, desperately trying to convince herself to accept it. Plus, it'll be a getaway from your crazy parents.
"Ugh. I have to go. My parents are making me go to some stupid dinner. Bye guys. I'll miss you, Lightning Dust." Rose Luck announced, getting up.
Lightning Dust shot her a sad smile, and waved, as Rose Luck returned the smile and exited.
"At least they're not making her go to a camp." Lightning Dust muttered, under her breath.
"Let's go somewhere else. Everfree forest, anyone?" Sunset Shimmer suggested, daringly.
The pegasus' eyes lit up, and she grinned widely. "Yes! The Everfree forest! Race you losers there!" Lightning Dust laughed, spreading her wings, and zooming out of Sugarcube corner. She headed north, and closed her eyes. The cool wind felt great on her face, as she glided rapidly. The sky was streaked with indigo and swirls of dark pink, with the sun setting slowly.
Finally, Lightning Dust arrived at their destination, and skidded to a halt. Coming to a stop was one of her flying flaws, that she intended to fix. After a few seconds, she heard a bubbling noise, and turned to see Sunset Shimmer in a teleportation sphere. The unicorn quickly popped the sphere, and stepped out.
"I would have beaten you, if it weren't for this laggy sphere" Sunset Shimmer announced. Vinyl arrived another few seconds after her.
"I still won though." Lightning Dust answered, smugly. She looked around, and began trotting around aimlessly. "Get the map."
Vinyl cast a quick spell, and after a few moments a map appeared in front of her, covered by her magic's magenta aura. "We're close enough to Ponyville. Let's play truth or dare!" She suggested, brightly.
"Fine. Truth or dare, Vinyl?" Sunset Shimmer asked, turning to look at the white unicorn.
"Truth." Vinyl snorted, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Lightning Dust plopped down casually, and awaited Sunset Shimmer's question to Vinyl.
"You asked for it. So, what's the deal? Who do you like? Neon Lights or Octavia? Seriously, everything is so confusing." Sunset Shimmer replied, with a curt roll of her aqua blue eyes.
Lightning Dust let out an audible 'Ooooooh'. She watched intently, as Vinyl Scratch's cheeks turned into a dark shade of red, and she looked down.
"Uh.. None, really. I-I don't like..." Vinyl trailed off, and flattened her ears. She suddenly became very interested in the tree next to her. "Oh, look at this tree. It's a nice tree. It's very... Tree-y." She mumbled, almost as if her words were tripping over each other.
"Don't try to change the subject! Who is it?" Lightning Dust piped up, perking her ears. The pegasus was quite eager to hear Vinyl's response.
"Really guys. No one." Vinyl said, finally. She cleared her throat, and met Sunset Shimmer's gaze, squarely.
"Alright, fine." Sunset Shimmer answered, looking away. "It's getting late anyways." She muttered, getting up.
Lightning Dust was afraid that Sunset Shimmer thought that Vinyl couldn't even tell her closest friends who she was attracted to. Plus, she was pretty upset that the game had ended, almost as soon as it started. She hadn't even gotten a turn!
"Yeah. Bye, Sunset. Lightning Dust, kick everyone else's tails at camp." Vinyl Scratch said, with a small smile.
Lightning Dust nodded. "Will do. I'll miss you guys." She said, with a small sigh. The four of them had never really been the type of friends to hug, and squeal, and do everything together. Physical contact was something a bit strange to them.
"Alright. Bye!" Vinyl said. Quickly, she cast a spell and vanished with a quick spark. Sunset Shimmer did the same, leaving Lightning Dust on her own.
Spreading her wings once more, she shot up into the sky, and headed back to her house.
Tomorrow she'd have to go to camp.
Whether she liked it or not.