I woke up in a small bed. It wasn’t my own, but I knew it well. This was a hospital bed they had especially ready for me. I had been to the hospital on many occasions, including work injuries, “dread”, and when I was younger, getting into accidents. I guess this time was the worst, seeing as how my left wing is gone, and I had crushed ribs. Well, my left wing was gone. Now, I have a mechanical wing, sparkling black gloss, with actual Pegasus feathers. I had seen them use this with destroyed Pegasus wings before, making sure that the skin had grown around the metal contraption, and soon returning to normal, aside from having a metal frame, instead of bones. I saw that my body had pretty much returned to normal, my glossy grey coat shining in the small sunlight glimpsing through the window. I noticed my mane had returned to its black and yellow colors, and as I looked to the mirror next to the bed, I noticed my eyes had returned to yellow. I sat up, my eyes adjusting to the light of the dimly lit room, the only source of light coming from the machines that were my life support, and the cracked window. I hopped out of bed, flapping my replacement wing tentatively. I looked around the room, seeing the numerous amounts of gifts left by my co-workers, my friends, and most of all, Rainbowdash. I then saw a note left by my administrators, in the cluttered pile of gifts. I lowered my head to look at the note, trying to read the delicately written note.
“On behalf of Equestrian Oil, we would like to congratulate you on finding a new, renewable energy source. We have excused you from this absence, as seeing as how you have lost a wing, but stopped all pollution in the area, due to the explosion, and the renewable resource. You have been promoted to manager of the Renewable energy sub-company of Equestrian Oil.” Read the note. I sighed. At this point, I didn’t give a danm about the company I worked for. I walked out of the room, and I looked around. The hospital was bustling with business, but no one was grey any longer. I found a nurse, and I got some help taking all the gifts home. Finally, a day off. I mean sure, I had gotten a day off for the last, what, two weeks? I didn’t care at this point. I still had a slight limp from the explosion, but aside from that, I was fine. When I reached my home, I walked over to the couch, and plopped down, in the darkness. I landed on something soft, and it smelled like cotton candy.
“Oof!” It yelled, and the lights turned on.
“Surprise!!” Yelled the group of ponies, who had probably been crowding in my house as soon as they got the call. Among them were Pinkie pie, who I had sat on, Twilight, Rainbowdash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and the Almighty, Down-to-fricken earth, Princess Celestia. I groaned.
“A party, already?” I asked sarcastically, looking around.
“No, not a party, a get together.” Said Celestia, her rainbow mane flowing without wind as usual.
“In my house?” I asked, puzzled.
“Yes. We’ve all come to ask you of something.” Said Celestia.
“As you may know, everyone thinks the pollution has ended. It hasn’t.” Said Celestia, using her magic to pour herself a glass of water.
“The explosion just escalated it, and the “Sustainable Energy” They’ve been talking about, is killing Everypony by the dozen.” Continued Celestia.
“What the hell does this have to do with me, and all you people doing in my house?” I said, slightly annoyed.
“Well, the explosion sent shards of magic energy into your body, producing a magic no one has ever seen before. And we think you can use it to stop this.” Said Celestia, calmly looking around the room, trying not to scare anyone.
“Mhhm, yeah, sure. Now, let’s say that this magic is real, WHAT would I do with it, and how?” I said, the tone of my voice in annoyance. I just wanted to sleep, even though I had been for the last 2 or 3 weeks. It didn’t give me any real rest.
“Have you ever heard of respecting your rulers?” Said Twilight giving me an angry look. She looked around, and it seemed like the rest of the ponies were on my side. They wanted to get to the point already
.
“Have you ever heard of getting to the god-damn point? I really enjoy it when that happens.” I said.
“I’m sorry, Lightning. Tensions are high. We only have about 10 days left, before we all end up like Raven.” Said Celestia Calmly.
I slam my hoof down, my eyes filled with rage.
“Don’t you dare talk about him, you Hag!” I screamed, and all the ponies recoiled.
“What?” Asked Celestia, rage entering her eyes.
“You heard me. Now get to the point, before I do something I’ll regret.” I said, calming down a bit.
“Well, you need to choose a pony to accompany you on a quest to the edge of the world. Not two, not three, one. This is where you will find the guardian scroll. There lies the solution to our problem. Happy?” Asked Celestia, still gritting her teeth.
“No, since I still don’t know how to use this “Magic” Thing you told me about.” I said again, looking around the room.
I could guess why everyone was silent. They couldn’t try and persuade me to bring them. I was friends with all of them, but I had already made up my mind.
“If you focus enough, your energy can surpass anypony’s ability in flight and strength. You will become, well, super.” Said Celestia, pointing towards me.
So that’s why I suddenly felt so able to stand up to the sun goddess. I sighed, and looked around the room. Twilight would be longing to read that scroll, and she had magic. Fluttershy is good with animals; Pinkie Pie can defuse hostile situations, Rarity… I can’t say much for her. Applejack would be Strong, and fast, for a quick pace, but the best choice at this point would be Rainbowdash. Strong, fast, slightly good with defusing situations and with animals. The only thing she has lack of is that of magic, but I have enough of that.
“So, who do you choose, Lightning?” Asked Celestia, motioning towards the 6 ponies in front of me. They all had faces of longing on them, and I sighed.
“Rainbow Dash.” I said, looking up. She wasn’t very good at hiding blushes, because her face was as red as the stripe on her mane.
“M-me?” She asked, pointing her hoof at herself.
“Yes, you. You’re as good of a partner as any.” I said, myself almost blushing.
“Besides, I’m going to need a flying partner. With this new wing and all.” I said, winking, and she turned away, still blushing.
“Wait, Lightning?” Asked Derpy, standing behind me, awkwardly.
“Yes? Is everything okay, Derpy?” I asked, turning so I could meet her eye to eye.
“Well, I just wanted to say, thank you, and good luck.” Said Derpy, her eyes slightly welling up in tears. I gave her a small hug, and she walked off
.
“Dash, we leave tomorrow at sunrise.” I said, looking around.
“I still need to pack some things, at talk to some people.” I said, and then turned to Celestia.
“Sorry about being overly aggressive. Can you make it so that my employers know what’s going on?” I asked, my ears hoping for a positive answer.
“Of course. I’m sorry as well. Everything shall be arranged so that you’re absence does not cause any real damage.” Said Celestia. Her horn glowed, and then disappeared in a flash of light. Unicorn magic, I'll never understand it. Everyone else walked out of the room, talking, leaving only Rainbowdash, and I.
It was awkward, and that was a understatement. We just stood there, until she finally spoke up.
“Uh… is it okay if I bunk at your place tonight, Lightning?” Asked Rainbow, still blushing.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll ask Claire… if she’s in town.” I added, sighing.
“Yeah, she went to Appleoosa. She didn’t want to leave you in a time like this, but, she really had no choice.” Said Rainbow, still blushing.
“Well, I need to get ready. I suggest you do the same. We got a long journey ahead of us. Where is the edge of the world, anyway?” I asked, slightly puzzled. I never paid attention in the Social Studies class that we had.
“As far west we can go, without hitting the coastline. Pretty much Enderland.” Said Twilight, who was hiding in the shadows.
“Why are you still here Twi?” Asked Rainbow, who was blushing even more.
“Well, I just wanted to give you some info. At the Edge of the world, the goddess of destruction dwells. Sadly, the moon was already taken at this point, so Celestia had to banish Deceite to the edge of the world. There, she guards the Guardian scroll. She does this because she knows it can control anything, so if there is a time where she can escape, but can be controlled by the Guardian scroll, she will make sure no one can get it. And this is one of those times. She has a very easily found weakness for lightning.” Said Twilight, and Rainbowdash looked at me.
“I think she means the thing that comes out of the sky.” I added, and Rainbow nodded.
“Anyhow, I need to have that scroll after you finish this, okay Lightning? Just please, this one favor.” Asked Twilight, and I nodded.
“I’ll try. Thanks for the information.” I said, smiling, and Twilight walked out of my house, and I looked at Rainbow.
“I’ll go and get my stuff. I’ll be back in a couple hours.” Said Rainbow, and she flew out the door. I sighed, and gathered a bunch of stuff for our journey. When I finished packing, and threw myself to the couch, letting myself fall into a deep sleep. It was so much, in so little time. And I really didn’t have any choice, I mean, all of ponykind rested on my shoulders. I closed my eyes, letting myself fall into sleep.