Lightning Rider has been living in ponyville (or above it)with Rainbow Dash for almost a month. Yet, even though her life is awesome, she stills had overwhelming sadness for the fact that she'll never know who she used to be. That is until now...
Lightning Rider has been living in ponyville (or above it) with Rainbow Dash for almost a month. Her life is pretty good. But for some reason, she can't seem to make friends. She tried with the cutie mark crusaders but they just shut her out. No pony else really wanted to. Some foals ask to play with her but is usually out of pity. Also she feels overwhelming sadness because she can't seem to remember who she used to be. This leads to her crying a lot in secret. This routine is the same until one colt sees her crying and wants to be her friend.
"Okay kid, try doing it this way." I put on her goggles and made myself are aerodynamic as possible. I was up pretty high but not as high as, the incident. I had almost made it but some force flung me back. "Hang on squirt, I got you." This was impossible! I would never be able to make the Sonic Flameboom at this rate. Dash said that it wold take some time as she couldn't do the Sonic Rainboom again until she was well into adulthood. I got frustrated and kicked some clouds. "Hey kid," Rainbow said, picking up on my annoyance. She hooked her foreleg around my shoulder. "How about we take a break for today and head on over to Sugar Cube Corner?"
"Hey Lightning and Dashie! Is it the usual?" Pinkie pie was one of mine and Rainbow's best friends. Dash thought she got way too hyper but I find it, energetic. Rainbow's closest friends mostly welcomed me when they found out I was living with her. We got a table as pinkie brought our food over. "One super strawberry and one champion chocolate!" Pinkie pie had always made the best milkshakes. Even when Mr or Mrs cake made them, it was never as good as Pinkie's. While I was sipping my milkshake, Pinkie asked me if I'd made any new friends yet.
"I um have to go." I flew out as fast as I could. My eyes were watering and I couldn't let Dash or Pinkie see me cry. I usually lied or changed the subject when anypony asked me but this time, I don't know what happened. I don't know why but if I cry, I just can't stop. I cried for around an hour before heading home. I made sure that I hadn't looked like I was crying and tried to make it more like I was flying. "Hey Dash, I'm ho-" I was met by a brown creature. It didn't look pony but it didn't look like a monster either. "R-Rainbow?" I didn't know what to do. Was it going to rob us?
"Oh hey Lightning, where did you go kid?" She saw that I was terrified at this thing and introduced me to her. "Oh wait I forgot. This is my friend Gilda. We were super tight at junior speedsters flight academy. Gilda this is Lightning Rider. She's been living with me for a month now."
I asked Gilda what she was. "I'm a griffion. It's too bad you aren't one. We're two awesome animals for the price of one."
"Okay. So your part lion and eagle? How does that make sense with you name? Shouldn't you be called a ligle or a eaon?"
"Hah! This kid is funny. I like her"
I shook Gilda's paw? No, claw but then she started asking questions about me. Apparently, Rainbow hadn't metioned me to her. "So, did Dash adopt you or something?"
This made me and Dash feel kinda weird but then we started laughing on the floor. "Adopt? Aha oh Gilda seriously? Okay I did adopt her but not in the way you think."
"Okay then how?"
"Shes kinda my little sister."
"Wait, why did you adopt her?"
" She may have attempted suicide. But I saved her."
"Okay but why did you adopt her? Didn't she have a family or something?"
"Nope, she was homeless, had amnesia and didn't have a name. Plus she has a lot of potential. She also has a huge temper which isn't the best." This made my face go red. Why did she need to say I had a temper? I don't! I just get frustrated. Or angry. A lot.
Gilda said that I had guts and wanted to test my skills. "Dash knows what I'm talking about. She did it so that people would take her seriously." Dash asked me to go to my room while she talked to Gilda. It was strange, she said it like, like she was afraid. But that was impossible. Rainbow could never be afraid. But what was Gilda talking about? It didn't really matter. I thought she was really awesome and might teach me some real cool tricks. Maybe I could get her to tell me an embarrassing story about Rainbow. That would awesome!
"Gilda, are you crazy? I did that trick when I was 17, she just turned 12! She'd never be able to it! She might hurt herself or worse! No way in tatarus is she going to do that trick!" Rainbow Dash had yelled at her old friend. Gilda looked a little taken aback but went back to her chilled out face and told Dash that if she didn't want me do it, she wouldn't even think about it.
"Seriously though Dash, what happened to the cool mellowed out mare that I used to know? Your so uptight now. Anyway forget it, why don't you, me and the kid go out flying? Come on I wanna see what you've taught her"Rainbow agreed but was kind of insulted. Was she uptight? Sure she had taken up a lot of responsibility since she found me but she thought she hadn't changed in the slightest other than that. They came and got me and we set off.
"Wow Gilda! Your awesome! Where did you learn all those amazing tricks?" She told me it was years of training. I got kind of sulky after that since I wanted to try them out but I knew that I'd fail.
"Okay kid, you've seen me and now I wanna see you. Show me what you've got." I shot her a determined look and put on my goggles. They were old and tatty but it was the thing I treasured most in the world. It was the only thing I had left from my other life. I started by making some rings out of the clouds and doing some loops through them. She didn't look very impressed so I went onto the next part of my routine. Then I made some tornados and came out of the them unscathed. Now that I'd gotten her attention, I went onto the trick I've been practising since I got here. I flew in a circle to pick up speed. Then when I started to see smoke, I wrote my name in the sky with flames. My tail was a bit singed and I had some minor burns, but other than that, I was fine. Then I remembered I have to land. I was too fast and was already heading for the for the ground. I was greeted by dirt and some bruises and scrapes. "I've gotta work on that landing."
Gilda and Dash congratulated me. "I'm glad you were able to do it but, don't so often, you could really hurt yourself. I mean look! You burnt yourself this time! And what was up with that landing? I taught you how to do it safely." I don't know why she was always so overprotective. The Wonderbolts make lightning trails but then again, they have fireproof suits.
"Sorry Dash, I guess I was caught in the moment."
"Kid that was pretty cool, I don't think I could ever be able to that. But from what I remember in school, which is very little is that ponies have weird thing that griffions don't. I think it's like a trail they get if they pick up enough speed. Anyway that deserves some kind of reward, why don't we go chow down?"
I thought for a while before exclaiming "21!" The whole class laughed and I beamed with pride from the attention. Miss Cheerilee didn't seem to enjoy the joke and gave a death glare. " Sorry miss Cheerilee, I couldn't resist. The actual answer is 19 but I'm just wondering.."
"Yes Lightning Rider?"
"Why are we learning simple sums? I know that I'm not the smartest filly but this is just ridiculous!"
" I'm sorry class it's just, we have a new student. I know that this isn't really a big deal but he's never really been to school before. I thought we might need to take it from the top. I'm just preparing you for what you might need to do."
'This was great! That meant, I could have a fresh start, maybe finally make a friend! He might be a Pegasus and we could race each other and-' " That's just stupid! Why do we need to suffer because some dumb kid doesn't know his ABC?" Diamond Tiara whined. Most fillies ignored me but she, just pushes my buttons. Heck, she she pushes everyone's buttons! And thanks to her, I just lost my train of thought.
"Okay Diamond, enough. You will be nice to him and so will everyone else. Treat yourself as you want to be treated. I didn't mean that he isn't intelligent, it's that he's homeschooled. He might not learn the same way we do is what I'm saying. Oh look, here he is now. Everybody, please give a warm welcome to Cherryfizz!" The're looked to be a timid colt trying to go through the door. Keyword: trying. Miss Cheerilee was nice enough but asked him to do a sum on the board. He looked, decent. He was an earth pony, so no flying. He had a teal coat and a black and dark yellow mane and tail. Diamond said it wasn't fair and that he should do a super hard advanced sum. "I'm not sure. Hmm. If Cherryfizz is okay with it, I guess its fine. So are you up for the challenge?" He gulped and nodded. The new sum was (143(5)+67)5=. It hadn't even been a ten seconds and he had already written an answer! He had put 3910. Miss Cheerilee was checking the answer, "Oh my... By Celestia's beard it's right! How-how did you do that? I couldn't do that sum until high school!"
"So nerd, how did you get it right?" Diamond Tiara was being a bully again. I really hate her. I hope one of these days, she gets what coming to her. I can't do anything since Dash banned me from fights. It wasn't my fault anyway. That guy called my cutie mark nothing! He had it coming. How was I supposed to know he was Prince Blueblood?
"Well um, you see, my uh mom is my teacher so..." He mumbled.
"That doesn't answer my question geek."
He took a deep breath and said,"My mom is my teacher so that means that she knows what work had been set and how long that I should spend on it. I study for around 6 hours a day and I'm naturally gifted." It took him just under six seconds to say it. Everyone's jaw dropped. Six hours of work? I bet not even Twilight studies that much! Especailly since school lasts for seven hours. Miss Cheerilee asked him to take a seat. Fortunately, he sat next to me. I tried passing a note but Miss Cheerilee caught me in the act.
"And what is this Lightning Rider?" She snatched the note and proceeded to say it to the whole class. "Hey new kid, wanna hang out during lunch?" My face went pale and I put them in my hooves. Cherryfizz didn't look much better either. His face was red and looked like he was about to cry. I guess I wasnt supposed to be his friend. He obviously didn't want to be mine.
"OMC! Are you so pathetic that you'd go for the weirdest colt in school? It makes sense. The suicidal pony herself with a nerd!"
"Diamond! That's enough!" I'd thank Miss Cherrilee but it wouldn't stop her.
"I'm sorry Miss Cheerilee. It just that I'm wondering, why should I stop? Because I'll hurt her feelings? What's she gonna do? Blast me with a make believe Sonic Flameboom?" The anger boiled inside and I couldn't keep it in. I punched her in the eye. I didn't regret it and I never will. Sure Miss Cheerilee made both of us stay back for lunch and break. It didn't change anything though.
"Listen, you both can leave when both of you apologise." She saw the stubbornness and anger in my face and turned to talk to me.: "Look Lightning sweetie, I know she was asking for it but violence is never the answer. And look, you gave her a black eye!" I stayed silent. My one chance to finally make a friend and I blew it. "Okay then, since neither of you will apologise, I'm calling both of your guardians." I finally looked up and begged her not to call Rainbow Dash. My pleas fell deaf on her ears.
When she finally did arrive, she wasn't happy. Dash kept her cool until we got home, then she didn't yell, but she didn't talk either. "Kid, what were you thinking? I thought I told you not to fight! I know you wouldn't without a reason, so what was it?"
"She made fun of me for trying to make friends," I mumbled.
"What? Lightning, I can't help unless you tell me."
I couldn't keep it a secret anymore, so I just yelled it. "SHE MADE FUN OF ME FOR TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS! I'VE NEVER HAD ONE AND NOW, I NEVER WILL! There was a new kid in class and I tried to make friends. It's all her fault, she was asking for it!" After this I broke out crying. Dash hugged me until I stopped.
"Kid, why didn't you just tell me you didn't have friends?"
"Because I didn't want you or Pinkie to be worried. It's my problem and I should handle it. I thought I could make one today but I guess I was wrong."
Rainbow stopped in her tracks. It lasted a few minutes before she regained her cool. I couldn't see it completely but I'm pretty sure she's gonna try and cheer me up. "Hey, if that kid doesn't see how awesome you are, then he's not worth it. Say, why don't me, you and Gilda go out to Cloudsdale tomorrow?" I smiled and nodded. I bet tomorrow will be a good day. Hopefully I forget everything. And maybe, so will everyone else.
Cloudsdale was extremely confusing and hard to keep track of. I mean, it moves! And not just like a a little a year, it literally goes around Equestria.I'm glad we don't actually live there. It looks beautiful though. This was pretty much the first time that I'd been in Cloudsdale. I've been one other time. That was time I my new parents. We didn't do any sightseeing. "So Lightning, were do you wanna go first?"
I thought for a second. "Well Pinkie told me about the Weather Factory. I wanna taste the rainbows."
Rainbow chuckled lightly. "I'd say no to the rainbow tasting, but this is your day."
We went to the factory. it was more or less anti climatic. I mean, the rainbow tasting was pretty fun, but the rest of it was dull. I mean, people making snowflakes for hours? Yawn! I think Gilda could tell I was bored. I think so. Because her exact words were: "Hey Dash, I think we should leave. The kid looks bored."
Rainbow sighed. "Were else are we gonna go?" Gilda smirked at her. Rainbow knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Nope absolutely not. It's no place for a filly."
"Come on! Rider would love Nimbus!"
"I said no! It's a casino! I can't take her there! Gambling is wrong!"
Gilda chuckled. "You didn't say that when we used to go. That and there's so much more besides the casino."
"What's Nimbus?" I asked wondering what they were talking about. Gilda told me that it was the best place in the world. I got really exited after that. "Can we go Dash please?" She replied with the same as she had said to Gilda. :Not a chance. I thought of ways I could persuade her. I finally came up with one. "Watch this. It works every time." I whispered to Gilda. I made the biggest puppy dog eyes I could muster, quivered my bottom lip and forced some tears. I could see that she was going to give in any second.
"Fine! But you only go to places I say you can!" She says as me and Gilda cheer. I wasn't going to disobey her anyway. I don't know my way around Cloudsdale just yet. Turns out, Nimbus want actually attached to Cloudsdale. It was like a resort. And, it wasn't made out of cloud! I asked Dash how this worked. "Well you see... I actually don't know." I was disappointed. This was going to bug me until I found out.
Rainbow picked this up and tried to make me feel better."Hey kid, cheer up! who cares about the building? It's the things you can do. That's why I took you to this place!" I more or less, felt better after that. I don't know how she does it. I don't need to say anything, and she just knows how I'm feeling.
"Were do you wanna go first squirt?" Asked Rainbow. I thought for a while. I didn't really know the place. Then, I looked up to see signs telling what I could do.
"What's the Tack up Club?" I thought out loud. Rainbow suddenly tensed up.
"Nope no no way. Not a chance. You're not going there."
"I didn't say I wanted to! I just wondered what it was." I said feeling a little hurt from her yelling.
Dash relaxed a little. "Okay. Sorry for yelling. Why don't we go to the Wonderbolt Rollercoaster?
"That sounds awesome! Let's go!" The line wasn't long. The ride itself looked beautiful. It was blue with a lightning strike going down it. Each carriage had little wings and either side. The Wonderbolts logo was on the front. Me and Dash were lucky enough to sit in the front. It wasn't boring for at all. I loved every second of it. There was a part that went so fast, I swear that we almost broke the sound barrier. I could see smoke! Even Gilda looked excited. "That was epic! What's next?" I asked as Gilda laughed.
"Geez kid, are you an adrenaline junkie? That is gonna be hard to top. But, it looks like we can just catch the jousting tournament."
"That sounds awesome! But one question, what's a junkie?"
Gilda laughed. "Gosh Dash, how sheltered is this kid?" This earned her a punch from Rainbow. She just shrugged it off as we set off. There were two ponies jousting. One was a mare that had a light blue coat, green eyes, grey hair tied up in a plait and freckles. I didn't quite catch her cutie mark. She was also wearing golden gladiator style armor. The other one was a stallion. He had a white coat, black mane, blue eyes and a black knight from a chess game as a cutie mark. He was wearing some kind of Trottingham old century armor. He was defiantly bigger than the mare, so I put my money on him. My metaphorical money.
I actually don't know how jousts work, so I might be wrong. I also noticed that there were no safety nets. Was this a fight to the death? The fight actually started, and the mare delivered a devastating blow. He quickly recovers and fires a few quick shots at her. They then stop attacking each other and try getting the sword off one another. This goes on for a while and it was nail biter till the end. Sadly, the mare lost her sword and he hit her wing while she was off guard. She starts falling, but some medic ponies catch her. "Whoa! That was close. I thought they were gonna let her fall like they used too!" Gilda said, igniting my fear. 'They used to let them fall? What if they were injured and couldn't use their wings like her?' My thoughts were abruptly disturbed by my rumbling stomach.
"Take it you're hungry?" Rainbow asked me. I nodded in reply. "We better go to the buffet then." I just followed her lead. We entered a giant room.
"Whoa! What a view!" I exclaimed followed by Rainbow and Gilda laughing. "Hey! What's so funny?"
"Nothing squirt. It's just that, that was Dash's exact reaction the first time she saw this place." Explained Gilda. "But enough talking, let's chow down!" Me and Dash nodded in agreement. Most of the food was gourmet, so I didn't really see anything I liked. Eventually, I picked a daisy sandwich, candy carrots, an apple and a cupcake. While I ate, ponies kept staring at me. I quickly noticed, I was the only kid here. I don't know if it was because of the fact it's a school day, or because kids don't come here often. I shrugged it off. We finished our food, then Gilda chose the next place. "Listen Lightning, this place isn't really gonna be all that exciting. It's time for me and Dash to enjoy ourselves." I got kinda angry at this.
The title of the place was 'Preening Spa' I tilted my head in confusion. "It's a place were you get your wings cleaned. And massages." I groaned at this.
"Seriously? A massage place? Geez Gilda, I thought you were cool."
"Hey! I am cool. I just need to chill a bit. My wings have been getting real stiff lately." I sighed in defeat as we entered. We entered the preening part as I recognised as certain yellow Pegasus.
"Fluttershy?" I questioned. She heard me.
"Eep!" Was all I could hear as she tried to hide herself behind a towel.
"Hey Flutters! What are you doing here?" Rainbow asked. Fluttershy seemed to relax again as she noticed who it was.
"Oh it's just you." She said meekly. "Hi Rainbow. I'm just getting a massage. I mean, Aloe is really good, but this place is better. Actually, I'm just about done." She replied as she got off the bed.
"That's awesome!" Rainbow yelled to Fluttershy.
"How Rainbow?" Fluttershy asked confused and a little scared.
"Me and Gilda were gonna go get preened. Mind taking care of Lightning for a bit?"
"Of course! I haven't really had a chance to bond with her yet!" Fluttershy said happily. Rainbow nodded in approval as her and Gilda left. "I know the best place to here!" She exclaimed with a squeal. I just followed her blindly. She took me to a place that looked like a rainbow water fountain.
"Fluttershy, this is amazing!" I exclaimed to her surprise. Her surprise soon turned to a warm motherly smile.
"I'm glad you like it. Rainbow would have probably said it was lame or something along those lines."
"She'd be missing out then!" I said, still mesmerised by the rainbows. We stared at them for ten minutes, before snapping out if it. Fluttershy spoke again.
"This place has a swimming pool. Would you like to go?"
"Would I?" I replied as I once again followed her blindly. The swimming pool was huge! And empty. "Hey Flutters? Why is this place deserted?" I asked.
"This is the V.I.P. swimming pool Lightning."
"You're a V.I.P. member?" I wondered.
"I uh, come here a lot." Was her only answer. I just shrugged it off and cannonballed in. I got an idea. I called Fluttershy.
"Look! I'm a duck!" I said as I ducked my head underwater. She smiled warmly at me as I laughed. We both swam for half an hour, until we got pruney. We found Gilda and Rainbow at a casino.
"Lightning!? What are you doing here?"
"Question is sis, what are you doing here?"
She sighed. "Guess I'm beat. I'm just playing on a slot machine."
"What's that?" I asked.
"It's were you can gamble money, to get more money.
"But you said that gambling is wrong!" I exclaimed in shock.
"I know and I'm sorry. Gilda made me try again."
"Hey! Don't blame me! You didn't even have second thoughts. It was just 'hey dash, wanna go to the casino for a bit?' And then you said 'hecks to the yeah!'" I burst out laughing but Rainbow was not amused.
"I don't sound like that." Dash said in a huff.
"You do! *snicker* she got you spot on!" I said while giggling.
"Finally! Someone who appreciates good comedy!"
"Don't you mean somepony?" I asked.
"Nah. Not everyone's a pony. It seems kinda weird for a gryphon to say anypony."
"Oh okay then. So we're to next?"
"Kid, we're going home. There's only one other place we can go to, and it's no place for a filly." I groaned but knew she was right. On the way home, I started nodding off, so dash put me on her back while she flew us home. As soon as she did, she tucked me in. "Night kiddo."
I giggled as she left the room. "Works every time."
