“Lightning… Lightning!” I heard a voice shout, and I woke up, my wings spanning out. Rainbowdash pulled back, screaming in surprise.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Said Rainbow, punching my shoulder.
“Yes you did, you cruel pony.” I said, returning the punch. She laughed, and tackled me, making us both roll off the top of the couch. We rolled onto the ground, and she flew off of me.
“Sorry.” She said, blushing again.
“It’s okay. God, you are acting weird lately. Did you kiss a Wonder bolt or something while I was sleeping?” I asked jokingly, and she laughed
.
“Not exactly. Kinda under a whole lot of pressure. They asked me to join them, if I could. I guess I’ll try out after this whole thing is over.” She said, smiling awkwardly.
“Heh, just don’t change, okay? I don’t like it when friends change because of their status.” I said, and she turned away.
“So, what we going to do for the rest of the night? I’m kinda bored.” Said Rainbowdash, leaning on her fore hoof. I forgot that Dash was still quite young, only 21 years old. While I was not too much older than her, only 3 years difference, we had different ideas. She wanted to join the Wonder bolts, and I just wanted to have a family. She loved excitement and adventure, but I loathed it. I wasn’t the adventure type of guy.
“Why don’t we tell stories, like we used to do, before I went to canterlot?” I asked, going to the bookshelf.
“Yeah, sure! Except, not a storybook. Tell me how you got your cutie mark!” Said Dash, perking up immediately. I had heard how she got hers, but, only Claire and myself knew how I got the Electric shockwave mark.
“You really want to know?” I asked, looking at her intently. She nodded, and I sighed.
“I suggest you get comfy.” I said, and Rainbowdash plopped down next to me, still leaning on her for hoofs. She reminded me of when she was a filly, almost.
“Okay, well. It was in Canterlot, obviously. I was about 9 when I got it, so I was extra late. I was bullied for the fact that I didn’t have my cutie mark early, and it was really rubbing off on me. I spent most of my time in the clouds, reading, and drawing. I would really miss you at times, because at this point in time, you were really the only pony who actually got me.” I said, turning towards her. She smiled, and punched me in the shoulder.
“Ya big softy. I missed you too.” Said Rainbow, still smiling.
“Anyway, one day, Claire got her cutie mark. She was 7. It was shameful, terrible even. I thought of flying back to cloudsdale. In the end, that’s what I tried to do.
But, when it came to that point in time, I was stopped. By none other than my bullies.” I continued, my eyes drooping down, from looking back on that day.
“They took my luggage, which had a picture of all my good friends, family, and a map to get to cloudsdale. I decided it was time to just, end it. So, I flew high into the sky, being chased by a bunch of the bullies. Finally, they knocked me down, and I made no attempt to right myself.” I said, keeping a straight face.
“Finally, I hit air friction, and my body started to glow wild yellow, and when I righted myself, I sent a massive shockwave out, sending a massive, electric plume everywhere. I then got my Cutie mark. It was kinda like the same way you got yours. Breaching the sound barrier. Mine has a more…lethal effect, though.” I finished, and Rainbow looked puzzled.
“How so?” She asked, leaning on her right for hoof.
“My bullies were, uh… never seen again. I think I may have destroyed them.” I said, slightly chuckling.
“Well, I think that’s a very nice story, but have I ever told you about the time when I actually met Soarin and Spitfire?” She asked, extremely excited about it.
“Well, no I haven’t, but I bet you’re going to tell me.” I said, winking again.
And so we shared stories throughout the night, talking about our adventures, our downfalls, our happy moments, our sad ones, and most of all, retelling our stories together. It was a good calm before the storm. I knew the trip was not going to be easy, and that we needed to relax before we made the trip. I looked out the window, and the sun was down, and I knew it was time to sleep.
“Let’s get some sleep, shall we Dashie? You can use the bed, I’ll sleep out here.” I said, rubbing my eyes with my hooves. She just stared at me with an open jaw. I raised an eyebrow, and then I realized I had called her Dashie. Only Pinkie Pie had ever called her that, and that was a name that was used only by Pinkie.
“Sorry, anyway. Let’s get to sleep. I’m tired. And we’ve got a long day ahead of us.” I said, grabbing some bedding from the closet.
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Bright and early!” Said Rainbow, and she walked into the bedroom. I lay down on the couch once more. Letting myself fall into sleep.
I woke up, my eyes fluttering open. I heard the sound of Rainbow Dash showering, and I got up. I looked at the mechanical clock. It was 5:30, giving us an hour before sunrise. I sat up, and fluttered my wings, Making sure they could unstiffen before the long flight. I did a series of exercises, and then oiled my mechanical wing. The flesh was already growing back around the stump of the metal wing. I sighed with relief, and I heard the shower go off. I started to make breakfast, and laid out the table. I put down some eggs and bacon on the plate, and knocked on the bedroom door.
“Yes?” I heard Dash ask, hearing a blow dryer muffle her voice.
“Breakfast is ready. Also, if you need me, I’ll be in the Basement shower room.” I said, and then walking away.
Claire had turned the whole basement into a luxury area that I rarely got to see, or even use. I guess now was one of those times. I walked downstairs, and turned on the hot water, and walked into the massive showering area. I washed my coat, making sure to clean my mechanical hinges, and then the bolts. I finished off with my mane, which was now droopy. I barely ever let my mane lay down, but this was one of the few times I would let it do that. Probably because it would air dry in the sky, when we started to go on our trip. I dried off, and the brushed my teeth, then walked up the stairs.
“Hey Lightning. Good breakfast.” Said Rainbow Dash as I walked through the doorway to the kitchen.
“Thanks. You ready to go flying?” I asked, sitting down across from her, eating my eggs.
“I sure am! I got everything ready. Though the Wonder bolts are going to stop by beforehand to help me adjust to the turbulence clouds on the outskirts of Equestria.” Said Rainbow, waving her hair around, making sure that her hair was completely dry.
I had totally forgot about the clouds on the outskirts of Equestria. They were thick, and were made from natural means. It was past the Griffons lands, so pretty much nopony had ever been there. But, the Wonder bolts had dealt with turbulence while doing the cloud basher trick. As if on cue, there was knock on the door
.
“Come in!” I shouted, and then the Wonder bolts Spitfire and Soarin walked in.
“Hello, Dashie.” Said Soarin, and then greeted her with a hug. I continued to eat my breakfast, and I finished while the Wonder bolts were talking with Rainbow. I took my plate to the kitchen, and I heard the door open.
“Lightning, I’ll be back! Soarin is going to teach me about turbulence. You can come if you want!” Yelled Dash, standing in the doorway.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll get everything in check. You go out and do that. I’ll adapt.” I said, and Rainbow closed the door.
“I seriously doubt you will adapt.” Said a voice. A familiar voice, one that I had not heard in a while.
“Spitfire…” I said, my eyes narrowing. I thought she wouldn’t notice it was me with Rainbow Dash, but I guess not.
“Did you miss me? Because I missed you.” Said Spitfire, who was leaning on the doorway.
“In a way, yes, I did miss you. In the way where I missed the sense of being on my toes all the time.” I said, turning to her.
She had changed, her mane much longer, her face more mature.
“Oh, don’t be like that, Stormy. You and I both know you missed me.” Said Spitfire, who then walked behind me. I cringed at my pet name, seeing as how it was at least 5 years since the last time I was called that.
“Okay, what do you want?” I asked, turning towards Spitfire, looking her strait in her amber eyes.
“I want you to let Soarin have her.” Said Spitfire, smiling slightly.
“Pardon?” I asked, looking genuinely confused.
“You heard me, Stormy. I want you to let Dash go.” She said, looking at me her Amber eyes cringing. I released a sigh.
“What makes you think I have feelings for her?” I asked, turning back to the dishes, and then continuing to wash them.
“You reek of lies, Stormy. I have feelings for Soarin, and he has feelings for Rainbow. I swear to Celestia, I will hurt you.” She said, getting up in my face.
“Oh, so now you want the best for your best friend who you must have been friend-zoned by him about a billion times before.” I said, angrily, pushing her away.
“Shut up! You never had a chance with her, anyway!” Spitfire yelled into my face.
We stood there, breathing heavily into each other’s faces. I had feelings for Spitfire still, and I wasn’t about to ruin it.
“You want a drink?” I asked, immediately pulling away.
“Yeah, sure, what you got?” Spitfire asked, also pulling back.
“Uhh, some Fizz, some punch, and a couple bottles of apple liquor.” I said, opening the fridge with my hoof.
“I’ll have some punch.” She said, pulling out a glass from the cupboard.
I pulled the punch from the fridge, and I poured it in Spitfires glass. I got my own glass, and then poured some punch. I was drinking some of mine, when Dash and Soarin walked in, laughing.
“Well, now I know how to deal with turbulence!” Laughed Dash, who was obviously dizzy.
“Well, hopefully your friend knows how to deal with it as well.” Said Soarin, and I scoffed.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with humidity interference. And that is worse than turbulence.” I said, stretching my mechanical wing.
“Oh right! You were the guy who put his life on the line to save Derpy! Man, that was true act of awesomeness right there!” Said Soarin, closing his eyes while he laughed.
I smiled, and looked in the fridge, finding an Apple pie.
“Soarin! Think fast!” I shouted, my teeth together, holding the pie in between them.
“Pie!” Shouted Soarin, lunging for it. Both Dash and Spitfire laughed. Soarin was known for loving pies.
“Uh, Lightning, the suns coming up. We should get going.” Said Dash, motioning towards the window. The sun was coming over the horizon at an alarming pace.
“Alright. Get your stuff, we are leaving.” I said, walking over to the couch, were all my things were stashed in my saddlebags. Rainbow went to get her saddlebags from the upstairs bedroom, and I put my goggles on the top of my head. I walked out the door, and Rainbow galloped down the stairs and outside directly after me.
“Safe travels, you two. Get back here soon, okay?” Asked Soarin, walking outside with us.
“Yeah, see you soon, Soarin.” Said Rainbow, hugging him, and planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
I started to flap my wings, and lifted myself into the air easily. The wings were a big improvement, even though it took a while to get used to them. They were the same weight as my real wings, but they felt more maneuverable. I flew a couple laps around the house as Rainbow said her goodbyes. She then took off, hovering up next to me, and then nodding.
“Ready to go?” I asked, trying to keep steady. While the metal wing was a good addition, it was still hard to fly, especially after them being folded for 2 weeks.
“Let’s go.” Said Dash, and we took off. I felt the wind flying into my face, as I nodded hard so that my goggles would fall into my eyes.
We kept on flying, seeing the factory below us. We were only about 500 feet off the ground, but we were gaining altitude. I saw streamlines form over my wings as we flew, and it felt peaceful. We weren’t going fast enough to have air friction, or turbulence, but not slow enough to have slight speed wobbles.
“Never gets old, does it?” I asked, as Rainbow Dash pulled up next to me.
“Nope. If I had the choice, I would spend all my time up here.” Said Rainbow Dash, looking at me.
I sighed, looking upon the horizon. I saw the massive mountains that bordered Equestria with the griffin lands. We couldn’t fly over those, unless we had oxygen masks. We kept on flying, the everfree forest below us now. I looked back on Ponyville, watching the smoke from the factory below, the massive caravan of people moving back, due to the lessened pollution. I kept on flying, not looking back. If things went alright, we would be back there in a couple days time.
How wrong I was.