Thunder and Lightning

by UnweptSchlipps

The Bestest Pony Ever

Y'know what would make my day? If you just took the time to click that thumbs up button in the corner over there. If you do, my eternal gratitude shall forever be with you. Anywho, on to the story!

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Tranquility…peace…silence…all of it was shattered when Dash hit the ground. She was flying in the middle of a field near Town Hall. It was a calm, green pasture, far away from the disaster that was her cousin. Or was she the disaster? Whatever it was, Dash couldn't decide. And this was the reason for her sudden crash.

The time was six o'clock, about three hours since Dash had fled Fluttershy's cottage. The cyan pegasus was covered in bruises and cuts, a result of non-stop practicing and rigorous routines. The Wonderbolts were going to be at the Town Hall at eight, and the pegasus wanted to make sure she would be ready.

But the burden of the Wonderbolts wasn't the only thing weighing on Dash's mind. Every time the pegasus soared up for a dive, a picture of a certain lightning-tailed stallion flashed through her mind. The picture of perfection, and how she loathed it.

Dash began to spiral down, corkscrewing speedily towards the ground. At the last minute, she would pull up, pulling off a perfect 90 degree angle at high speed. At least, that was the plan. But the trick required immense amounts of concentration. And if there was anything Dash was concentrated on, it was how her friends had so easily forgotten her in favor of Lightning. Of how they talked about him like he was special, kind, gentle, and strong. How she knew they were right. And of course, how she hated it.

As these thoughts spiraled through her mind, her body was quickly spiraling towards the ground. Finally, she collided with the dirt, her momentum sending her sprawling across the pasture. Tired and dejected, Rainbow Dash lay there on her back, staring up at the blue sky, her domain. Or at least she thought it was, until today.

Her wings ached, and her body was sore from the numerous bruises scattered about her body. Her wind-blown mane was even messier than usual, clumps of dirt and grass sticking in her matted fur. She tried to get up, but instead she fell onto her back once again, and this made her blood boil with rage. Angry, she pounded the ground, shouting, "Fucking hell! You're buffalo-shitting me!"

And so, seeing as though she couldn't do anything but rest, Dash lay there, solemnly staring up at the fluffy clouds overhead. But very soon, the clouds began to look like the faces of her "friends", and so she turned her attention to the horizon. The sun shone in Celestia's entire splendor, beginning to glow orange in its slow descent. Dash never really did understand why Celestia took so much time into making the sunset, even though it was only to make room for the night. But then again, something amazing like this would be too good to miss, Dash thought, a half-hearted grin on her face.

But the warmth wouldn't last for long, because before she knew it, she was thinking about her cousin again. Her mind had been a non-stop replay of the last 12 hours, remembering every single moment. And no amount of sunlight and beauty could take her mind off of this one.

Sure, the last few hours haven't been the best of her life, but one thing was certain, if she impressed the Wonderbolts today, it wouldn't matter what Lightning had done today. Because soon, she'll be the one up there, the one whom everyone, including her friends, would be watching. It may just be only for a moment, but any amount was better than having to put up with her cousin. At least, in Rainbow Dash's mind anyway.

Although her wings were still a bit sore, the pegasus found the strength to get back on her hooves and slowly lift herself off the ground. Tonight would be the night she would finally perform the Buccaneer Blaze in front of the Wonderbolts. That was the plan, and if she was to do it, she had to have the utmost concentration.

Step 1: Gain Altitude. The pegasus climbed high into the orange sky.

Step 2: Nose Dive. She quickly snapped down, directing herself towards the earth at high speeds.

And Step 3… The Flash.

Flash…Lightning Flash…such a nice pony…

With a slam, she hit the ground, hooves-first. Perhaps if it were any other pegasus, the collision would have shattered their front legs. But it was Rainbow Dash, who was used to this kind of crash, so she rolled into the impact, escaping without injury. But the crash might as well have broken her, because the failure hurt just as much.

Angered, she covered her face with her hooves, groaning. She didn't move for a few minutes, until she heard somepony from a few meters away. The voice was calling out frantically, and Dash hoped it wasn't who she thought it was.

Unfortunately for her, Lightning's voice rang out straight and clear, "Arco!"

The cyan pegasus quickly got up, just in time for the stallion take her in a loving hug, much to Dash's dismay. "Gracias a Celestia, Dash, I've been looking for you for hours! We thought you got lost in the forest or something, and we were afraid we wouldn't find you before nighttime!"

Dash shrugged her cousin off and answered dismissively, "Well, I'm fine. Besides, I wasn't even gone for that long."

The ponies began to walk back in the direction of Ponyville. Dash was keeping her distance from her cousin, who, unbeknown to her, was letting her have the room she needed. "Why'd you run off like that?" Lightning questioned sincerely.

"Because…I wanted to practice the Buccaneer Blaze. By myself," Dash answered. It was only half the truth though, and she kept the rest of the story to herself.

The stallion whistled and replied, fascinated, "The Buccaneer Blaze, huh? You don't forget who taught you that one, right?"

Lightning's attempt to cheer the mare up was futile. Instead, Dash refused to acknowledge the stallion, rolling her eyes and continuing to trot silently, leaving Lightning even more confused than ever. The two ponies began to near the outskirts of the village, still not speaking a word.

Concerned, Lightning finally told her, "Come on Dash. I'm your cousin. I can tell that this is about more than just the Wonderbolt show tonight."

"I told you, I just want to practice alone," the mare spat a little too quickly.

"Dash, all I'm trying to do is help," Lightning began. "I can't stand to see you mad, you know that. And if it's about me, well, you can tell me.

The rainbow-maned pony couldn't help but groan at the stallion's statement. Her cousin's unlimited reserves of kindness were weighing down on her, and she didn't know if she could stand another minute of it. Yet he was family, and she didn't have the heart to tell him what was wrong. So, glancing at Lightning from the corner of her eye, Dash said softly, "Lightning, maybe you should just…leave me alone for a little bit. Give me some time to think. That'll help me."

The stallion paused to look at his cousin. He exhaled uncomfortably, and although every fiber of his being told him not to let her go, he answered submissively, "Well, if that's what you want, prima. I'm not going to stop you."

"But I'm still going to be at the Wonderbolts to cheer you on, Arco. Just remember-," he began to finish. But as Dash began to flap her wings, a happy voice called out, "Look! There he is!"

Rainbow was already a few meters in the air, but she could still make out the shapes of three fillies, making their way towards the stallion below. The joyful voice belonged to Sweetie Belle, accompanied with the rest of the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Although Dash was ready to fly away, she couldn't help but watch the scene that unfolded below her. Lightning was still staring up at his cousin, but then the three fillies surrounded him, catching his attention.

"Hi Lightning!" Sweetie Belle cried. "See, he's the one who came over to help my sister. Isn't he cool?"

Applebloom replied, "Yeah! Ah remember you. You helped Applejack pick the apples this morning, right?"

Lightning , although wearing a gentle smile on his face, was still trying to talk to his cousin waiting high up in the sky. "Yes, I did… Uh, con permiso little ones, I just need to-."

But the young ponies, although innocent in their nature, continued to talk about him. Sweetie Belle asked him to show them his tail, and Lightning Flash, not wanting to reject the youngster's request, reluctantly flashed his lightning bolt shaped tail.

The fillies reacted merrily, and the rainbow pegasus found it a bit amusing to see them jump around excitedly. Except for Scootaloo, who for once stood still, gazing at the steel colored stallion. The orange filly's eyes shone with intrigue, a trait that tempted Dash to intervene. Not because of Lightning's safety, but because she could tell what Scootaloo was thinking. She knew, because the glimmer of awe in the young filly's eyes was the very same look Scootaloo gave as she watched Rainbow do her tricks.

With a jubilant smile, Scootaloo broke out of her trance, exclaiming, "Wow, you have got to be, like, the coolest pony ever!"

Rainbow Dash tried to block the words out. But it was no use; she had heard them loud and clear. Those words were a knife in her chest, shattering her world and leaving her heart an empty vacuum. And, just like a flood, anger and frustration rushed in to fill in the spaces.

The words kept repeating in her mind, over and over and over. All her friends, and now the little ones too? I thought I was your idol, Scoots. I was the one you looked up to. And now…now Lightning can't even let me have that!

Now, she didn't even care about hurting her cousin's feelings. Now, she felt only pure hatred and, although she wouldn't admit it to herself, jealously. She was broken, betrayed. And perhaps worst of all, she was determined to take her loved ones back. Nothing would get in her way, not even the beloved cousin she once looked up to.

With a scowl, she jetted off, putting distance from the group beneath her. Lightning saw her fly away, called out, "Dash! Wait!" But the words were of no use, because the only voice the cyan mare heard was that of Twilight Sparkle. If only she was more like you.

The rainbow-maned pegasus stared intently at the illustrious sun setting over the horizon, remembering her protégé's words. I'll show them who the best around here is, Dash promised herself. But despite the determination in her soul, a part of her couldn't help but wonder if she could keep her promise.

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Comments

[Stryker12324]

Wait, this is complete? No offense, but that ending was anti-climatic to say the least. There's too many questions left unresolved. What's Rainbow Dash going to do? Will her friends forget about her an replace her with Lightning? This story can't be complete just yet. Or if it is then you have to have a sequel.