“So how was the test? Was it super hard? Did anypony die? Did you guys have to fight a dragon or go through a hurricane?” asked Rainbow Dash at the edge of her seat. Lighting Dust found it amusing to see this from her, but she was glad this side of the rainbow maned pegasus hasn’t changed. It was one of the things she liked about Dash while they were friends at the Academy.
“Well, nopony died, I can tell you that. The rest... I don’t know,” confessed Lightning Dust with a shrug. She did her best to keep her smirk down as she took a sip of her coffee while Dash just stared at her, flabbergasted.
“What?! How the hay can you not know the final training?! The way you described everything leading up to it sounded worse than my training to make it into the Wonderbolts! And Spitfire is a demon drill sergeant from Tartarus!” shouted Rainbow Dash which earned her a few “shhhs” from nearby patrons.
“The final test was suppose to be a secret. Apparently, Princess Luna wanted to make it that way so she had our minds wiped of the event. They do the same thing for the Lunar Guards as well,” said Lighting Dust, not really caring about it. “However, we learned we all passed and were now officially Shadowbolts. There was no ceremony for the whole thing. We were given our uniforms, our equipment, and were told we had a week off to celebrate with our families.”
“What about you and Shade?” asked Rainbow Dash with a smirk. “You both sound like me and Soarin when I became an official member of the team. Only you didn’t get drunk.”
That made Lighting Dust laugh as she tried to imagine such a scene before answering. “Me and Shade talked a lot and we wanted to continue being an couple. I loved him, what can I say?” Lighting warmly looked into her coffee and smiled. “Going home, we had a party for me becoming a member of the Shadowbolts. Dad made it just for us and all the maids in the house...”
***
Lighting couldn’t remember the last time she had partaken in such a wild party. The biggest ones she ever had were at her family's place for Hearth's Warming Eve and her sister’s birthday. Not that she didn’t get any birthday’s too, but they were never as big as Vorpal Gust. But this time, all of these presents, decorations, and food were for her. All set up by her family. Her real family.
They were all proud of her. Redstreak. Butter Blue. Everyone else too. The moment she stepped into the house they all shouted “Surprise! Congratulations!” From then on the party had officially began. A lot of the maids had dragged her around, asking her to play games or tell them what it was like in training. Of course, most of it she couldn’t tell, but she did tell them about Shade which earned her endless teasing from her friends.
Redstreak had watched her with a proud look in his eyes, sometimes chatting and making sure everything was okay. Lightning, who had never felt pride directed at her before, vowed to always make those prideful eyes shine. It was Redstreak who had saved and changed her life, giving her a chance to become her own pony. No longer did it feel like was she in the shadow of Vorpal Gust, or worried about the approval of two parents who couldn’t accept their reality.
No, this was the world she wanted. It was a world that she would go through all her struggles again just to have.
The party eventually began to slow down as one by one the servants found themselves partied out or too drunk to stand. Soon, it was down to just Redstreak and Lightning, who were both sitting by the fire, watching it burn while finishing the last of the scotch.
“Princess Luna told me she offered you a position as Squad Leader, but you turned it down,” said Redstreak, pouring the last drops into his glass.
Lightning winced. “Does that displease you?”
“No, but I am curious as to why?”
Lighting sighed. “I’m not meant to lead. I screwed that up when I was in the Wonderbolts. I may be a good flyer, but I don’t think I have what it takes to be leader. I’m fine being the scout and first striker of the group. It’s what I’m good at.”
The conversation died there for a bit and they focused on just the fire and scotch. Lighting was about to finish her drink when Redstreak said something that made her stop. “I have news of your parents.”
Lighting Dust paused in raising her drink and turned toward her father figure and glared. “What about them? Why are you even bothering looking them up still? I hate them.”
“I know, but I figured you might want to know they’re gone. They moved a few months ago to Las Pegasus,” replied Redstreak with sigh. “Apparently, they had been telling ponies that you died in an accident.”
“Great, so they decided to make me ‘dead to them’ for real. I hope my funeral was at least decent,” grumbled Lighting Dust, who wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t done much interaction in her old neighborhood and barely interacted with ponies outside of her new one. As far as anyone was concerned her being dead might not have been a surprise. “Although, knowing my parents they didn’t have one.”
“Actually, it turns out ponies learned that you were kicked out. They found out about the truth of you and what you went through when they reported it to the police,” said Redstreak which made Lighting a bit surprised.
“I didn’t think anypony in my neighborhood cared...” whispered Lighting.
“You’d be surprised where kindness can be found sometimes,” replied Redstreak. “After they learned what happened, your parents were all but shunned. They couldn’t even go outside without being harassed. I guess they just got tired of it all and left.”
Lighting bit her lip. “Did they leave anything for me? A note even?”
“No, I did try to bring you up to them whenever I went to see them, but you were dead to them as you said,” said Redstreak with a sigh. “Some ponies you just can’t help it seems.”
“No, some of them don’t even deserve it,” whispered Lightning and shaking her head. “Whatever chance my parents and I had of making up is long gone. I don’t need them anymore, and I don’t wanna worry about them anymore. They screwed up, and I almost died because of them kicking me out.” Lighting looked up with eyes of determination. “I can’t forgive them for what they’ve done. Even if they were to apologize to me on their deathbeds, I just can’t.”
“I understand,” said Redstreak. “It’s not something I would do, but I understand your feelings.”
“Besides... I have a better family,” said Lighting with a bright smile. “You all have done so much for me that I don’t know if I can say I was ever happier than the moment you let me into your lives.”
“And I’m happy to have you in my life, my beloved daughter,” replied Redstreak which made Lighting gasp. “When you called me your “dad”, I realized that in a way I have seen you as my daughter as well. I have no children, but I would be happy to have you as mine.”
At that moment, Lighting Dust dived into his embrace and hugged him. Tears of joy fell from her eyes as she embraced him as hard as she could. He only smiled and hugged her back.
***
“Wow, I guess you and him were really close,” said Rainbow Dash with a smile. She then frowned and asked, “Why didn’t I see you at his funeral when he died? All the Wonderbolts were there. I mean as his daughter you should have had at least a speaking role.”
“I was there, I just didn’t want to catch attention to myself. There were a lot of rumors going on about what he did with his fortune and I inherited it,” said Lighting. “I didn’t want the attention. Plus, I didn’t want my parents finding out I was the inheritor of one of the most famous Wonderbolt Captains entire resources.”
“Do you really think they would come back to you for that?” asked Rainbow Dash in disbelief.
“I don’t know. My parents obsessed with me getting into the Wonderbolts because it was my sister’s dream. If I had all that influence and resources, they’d try to push me to do it again... or worse push it on my daughter,” whispered Lighting Dust as she shook her head. “I refuse to let them poison her as they poisoned me. I want her to choose her own path in life and follow her own dream.”
“Do you think they might have changed?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I mean, I kinda think at some point they would learn their lesson.”
“Look, I know you are part of that group that does Friendship and all that, but even if my parents did feel sorry I cannot find it in my heart to forgive them,” said Lighting Dust, sighing. “I don’t hate them, Dash. Not as much as I used to anyway. I just pity them. Losing my sister was hard on all of us, but parents just refused to move on. If I even see them again it's going to open doors that I feel are better left shut. I don’t care about them anymore, and my life is fine without even thinking about them. I know that sounds harsh, but I love the life I have now and I don’t want that to change.”
“Alright, I get it,” said Dash, raising her hooves. “It’s your life so I won’t say any more. But I do want to know about any cool missions you can tell me.”
“I suppose I can tell you the time me and my team helped take down Starlight Glimmer’s number two mare,” said Lighting Dust with a grin.
“Sure, but let’s head to a bar. I’m getting tired of the smell of coffee.”