> Lightning Dust Strikes Back
>  by JamesBurton
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Lightning Strikes Again
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	In a small bar in a small town know as Ponyville. A light blue pegasus mare by the name of Lightning Dust sat down at the bar drinking one of her favorite drinks. She sits the glass down on the table sighing lightly as soft music played in the background. Barely anypony was here at the moment and it was perfect time to sit down and relax for the rest of the day. 

Berry Punch's only daughter Ruby Pinch came up to the bar carrying a wet rag to wipe the bar. Lightning Dust looks at her smiling to herself while Ruby cleaned off the bar. As expected, Ruby became a bartender and she knew how to make the best drinks; Probably because her mother was known as the town drunkard, and owner of said bar. 

Now as for how Berry managed to run a successful club was anyponys guess. Ruby looks over towards Lightning while still wiping the counter. "Would you like another drink Miss Lightning?"   

Lightning Dust looks at her now empty glass. "Sure." she pushes the glass forward and Ruby grabs a bottle of dark liquor and pours it in Lightning's empty glass. Ruby pushes the glass back to Lightning Dust. "Thanks." 

"No problem, just let me know if you need anything?" Ruby smiles at Lightning before walking away to do something else leaving Lightning Dust with her thoughts.  

Lightning Dust looks down at her drink for a few seconds before taking a sip. She sits the glass back down closing her eyes until she heard the door opening and Ruby's voice greeting the visitor.  

"Hello and welcome to The Pint Noir," Ruby greeted before her eyes widen with surprise. "Hey! I know you! You're Commander Spitfire of the Wonderbolts!" 

Lightning's ears twitched at the name as Spitfire made her way to the bar area. "Yup, that's the name kid," she takes the seat next to Lightning Dust resting her head on her hooves. "Bring me a shot of whiskey please." 

"Sure, what kind would you like?" Ruby asked. 

"The strongest one you got." Spitfire replied. 

Ruby smiles turning around to get Spitfire her drink. "Oh, I think I got just the thing," she turns around again and sits a small glass on the table. "Here, try this one."  

Spitfire takes the glass and drinks it down in one gulp. "Give me another!" she said pushing the glass forward to Ruby who refills the glass and passes it back to the yellow mare who takes it and gulps it down again.

"Rough day?" Ruby asked grabbing a bottle and sitting it down on the table. "Here, help yourself." Spitfire thanked the  young bartender and poured herself a cup. 

"You have no idea kid," Spitfire said before taking a drink. " Between interviews, press conferences and the paparazzi in the mix, I've barely had any time to myself." Spitfire sighs and took another sip of her drink. "This is the first time I've had downtime in a while." 

There was a large crashing sound in the backroom where all the liquor was stored. Both Lightning Dust and Spitfire looked at the slightly embarrassed filly. "Uh, would you please excuse me for a moment?" Ruby quickly rushes off to the backroom where her mother was leaving the two mares alone. "Mom! You better not be drinking the products again!"

Lightning chuckles to herself at the events. "Heh, I'll never understand how a drunk can own a successful club." 

"Her mother is a drunk?" Spitfire asked the light blue mare. "And owns this place?" 

"Yep," Lightning replied before taking a sip of her drink. "One of the many secrets that nopony was meant to know."  

Spitfire looked at Lightning who only took a sip of her drink. "You look familiar, do I know you?" Lightning sits the glass down with a sigh. 

"I was in the Wonderbolt Academy a long time ago." Lightning said. "Until you kicked me out." 

Spitfire glanced over to Lightning Dust who doesn't return her gaze. She looked hard at the light blue mare trying to remember her but couldn't come up with anything. "I've kicked lots of ponies out of the academy, you're gonna have to be a little more specific."  

Lightning opened her eyes stared at Spitfire. There was something about those golden colored of hers, like at some point it was filled with ambition, pride and confidence. "Oh! Now I remember you," Spitfire said. "You're Lightning Dust! You was-" 

"The one who caused a tornado and nearly killed somepony." Lightning interrupted. 

"Well I was going to say the best flier we had but I suppose that works too," Spitfire replied. "You and Rainbow Dash were the top two but you scored just a little higher than she did." 

Lightning Dust chuckled lightly. "Well isn't that nice to know, although I'm sure she better than me now." both mares sit in silence for a few seconds until Spitfire spoke up. 

"So, why haven't you reapplied yet?" Spitfire asked.

"Huh?" 

"I said why haven't you reapplied yet?" Spitfire repeated. "You was quite talented and willing to push yourself beyond your limits." 

Lightning Dust looked back down at her glass in thought. "Well to be honest with you commander, I'm perfectly happy being a schoolteacher and I have no desire to join anymore." 

"Y-you're a teacher?!" Spitfire replied in shock. "You don't seem the type." 

"Things change commander," Lightning said chuckling lightly. "Things change." 

Both mares sit in silence as soft music plays in the background. "So what happened?" Spitfire asked breaking the silence. "I remember you being an ambitious go-getter, but you really mellowed out." Lightning pulls out her wallet and opens it up pulling out a picture of her with her hoof wrapped around young light blue colored colt standing side-by-side smiling. Spitfire studies the picture looking at the young colt. "Is that your little brother? I didn't even know you had one." 

"Well, I guess you could call him that," Lightning said looking at the photo. "He's the son of a mare who saved me a long time ago." 



 

Fillydelphia 11 years ago.  

"AND STAY OUT!" 

Sixteen year old Lightning Dust found herself being tossed out of another bar and landing on the ground hard as the owner slammed the door behind him. Lightning laid on the ground for a few seconds before deciding to stand up and walk home wiping some of the dirt and drool of her face.   

Three days after she was kicked out from the academy, Lightning Dust took a turn for the worst. Her light blue coat was stained with dirt from her nights of drinking in self-pity, her mane was a mess not really caring what it looked like anymore, and her eyes which was at one point filled with ambition now dull and lifeless. 

Lightning looked up at the afternoon sky and wondered just how long had she been in that bar. But soon pushed the thought away as her wobbled through the streets of Fillydelphia stumbling from her night of drinking. Her legs finally gave way and she fell on the ground. 

"Oh my! Are you alright dear?" a mare's voice asked her.

Lightning Dust slowly looked up at her. A beautiful cream colored pegasus mare wearing a pearl necklace stood before her with a small blue pegasus colt hugging her leg. "I'm fine," she replied groggily. 

"You don't look fine dear." she replied softly. 

"What do you want?" Lightning slurred annoyed. "Cause if you don't want anything then go away and leave me alone."  

"Mommy, her breath stinks." the colt said pointing at the light blue mare.  

"Oooh, I bet you say that to all the mares." Lightning said glaring at the colt.  

The cream colored mare chuckled lightly rubbing her son's mane. "Now, Rain Catcher be nice. My name is Nimbus, what's your name dear?"

"Lightning Dust. Not like that matters anymore." Lightning replied on the verge of crying. "I'm just a failure now."   

"Nonsense! You are no failure!" Nimbus said kneeling to Lightning's level. "You only truly fail if you give up on yourself." Lightning looks up at Nimbus who had a stern look on her face. 

"Why? Why are you telling me this?" Lightning said trying to keep her tears down. "Why are you helping me?" 

"Because you're still young and you still have much to experience Lightning." Nimbus replied rubbing her back. "Why don't you tell your story over some tea?"   

"Sorry lady," Lightning frowned. "But I got better things to do." 

"I'm sure you're very busy laying on the ground." Rain Catcher said looking at the light blue mare. 

Lightning looks at the young colt behind Nimbus's leg. "...You are really annoying kid." 



 

"So did you take up her offer?" Spitfire asked. 

Lightning nodded before taking a sip of her drink. "I guess I was just too proud to admit it back then, but, talking to Nimbus really helped me get a lot of things off my chest. And before I knew it I was talking to her everyday for the next two years, about everything, my past, my failures, everything. She even helped me get my teaching job where I met my best friend and assistant Blazer."  

"Wait, Blazer?! She's working with you?" Spitfire gasped. "I always wondered what happened to her after she left the team."

"She's fine." Lightning replied smiling. "She enjoying her peaceful life now away from the spotlight."  

Both mares sit in silence listening to the soft music in the background. "You must really look up to Nimbus." Spitfire said. "It must be nice to have somepony to confide in." 

"Yes, yes it was." Lightning sighed sadly.  

Spitfire looked at the light blue mare with a look of worry. "Was? Did you two have a fight or something? I sure she must've forgiven you by now." 

"No, we didn't fight. Life just has a funny way of screwing with you." 





Fillydelphia 9 years ago

"Ok class," Lightning said writing on a blackboard. "Today we'll be discussing improper fractions." the whole class groaned as Lightning laughed to herself. "I know, I know it sucks, but who knows? Some of you may use this in your future so listen up."

Before Lightning could begin her lesson, her best friend Blazer busts her door open starting her and the class. "Blazer?! Sheesh have you ever heard of knocking?"  

"Lightning, I need to talk to you." 

"Uh, can it wait? I'm kinda in the middle of something." Lightning said pointing back at her class.  

"Now Lightning!" 

Rolling her eyes, Lightning Dust sits her chalk down and excuses herself from the classroom shutting the door behind her. "Rude much? Blazer this better be important." 

"Lightning, I...I have some terrible news." 



 

Lightning quickly entered the waiting room of Fillydelphia's hospital wing. After Blazer told her that there was a terrible accident involving a cream colored mare and her eight year old son, Lightning immediately left her job asking Blazer to cover for her while she rushed to the hospital. "Celestia please, please don't let be who I think it is." 

Her prayers fell on deaf ears as she found Rain Catcher crying his eyes out while his father was trying in vain to console him. Lightning quickly rushed to the young colt embracing him in a hug who just continued to cry. "What happened?"

"An out of control carriage was speeding down...And...Would have hit Rain Catcher but Nimbus pushed him out the way at the last second." Jet Stream was choking down his own tears now. "...And got impaled on a piece of wood. They say she...She wont make it." 

Letting go of the crying young colt. Lightning Dust enters the room where Nimbus lied. "Oh, Celestia." Lightning whispered as she saw Nimbus lying down in a bed with various needles in her. Lightning goes up to next to the bed and sits down. 

"Mmm, Lightning?" Nimbus whispered weakly opening one eye. "Lightning is that you?" 

"I'm here Nimbus." Lightning replied grasping Nimbus's hoof. "I'm here."  

"Good, Lightning...Listen to me. I need you...To do something...For me." 

"What is it! Tell me what it is and I'll see to it without fail!" 

Nimbus smiled. "Lightning...I need you to...Look after my son...Please." 

Lightning squeezes Nimbus's hoof tighter as tears roll down her cheeks. "What?! What are you saying Nimbus?! You can pull through this!" 

"Lightning...Please...Promise me...That you will help guide him...For the things..To come...Help him prepare." 

"But Nimbus! I-I cant do it!" Lightning replied. "Not without you."

"Oh Lightning...Yes you can...You are not the same mare I met two years ago...Your eyes...They are sharper than they ever have before."  

"Nimbus...Please...Don't go...And leaves us." 

Nimbus closes her eyes still smiling at Lightning. "Lightning...My daughter...I...Love...You." her hoof goes limp in Lightning's hoof. 

"Nimbus?" Lightning said gently shaking the mare. "Nimbus?!" 



 

"Oh, I see." Spitfire said looking down. "What happened after?" 

"The night after her funeral, Rain Catcher came over to my house hysterical. Apparently his father couldn't handle the tragedy and left him while he was asleep." 

Spitfire covers her mouth in shock. "That's horrible!" 

"And just like that, it was up to me raise him. And...And it was hard, how was I supposed to raise an eight year old colt who's life fell apart in one day? He's was reclusive, severely depressed and losing too much weight. But, but I made a promise, to mare who helped me when I was down, now it was my turn." 

"And, and how did you do?" Spitfire asked. 

Lightning reaches into her wallet and pulls out a picture of Rain Catcher and some orange pegaus mare smiling. "I think I did alright." 

"Hey! isn't that pony the one who always hangs around Rainbow Dash?" Spitfire said looking at the picture. 

Lightning sighed putting the picture away. "Don't remind me. Out of all the mares in Equestria he could've picked, he picks this one. But he's seventeen now, I think he can make his own decisions. No matter how much he tries to deny it."         

"LIGHTNING DUST THERE YOU ARE!" 

Both mares turn to the door where Trixie stood. "Oh, hey Trix, what's up?" Lighting greeted. 

"An evil monster is attacking Ponyville! Twilight's outta town! And Trixie needs Trixie's friends to help Trixie save the day with the power of friendship and magic!" 

"Alright, alright I'm coming." Lightning finishes the rest of her drink and sits it on the counter. "Be see ya around...Commander." Lightning Dust follows Trixie out of the bar to go battle the monster. 

Spitfire waves her goodbye then looks down at her drink sighing. "Lightning Dust, you would have made an excellent Wonderbolt. Too bad fate had other plans for you."