Hooked on a Feeling

"So.....I was kinda wondering....would you like to go out to the form with me?"

A voice filled with hope, fear and anxiety resonated across the small room, currently occupied by its owner, who was entertaining himself by the locker's mirror.

An image of a pony, dark gray coat, silver and white mohawk, golden irises locked in an intense staring contest with himself, an expression of utter disappointment reflecting on both him and the mirror.

"Ha, a loser like you? Don't make me laugh. Don't ya need to work your fatass back on shape?" The pony replied to himself, as if already expecting that kind of answer.

The sound of ruffling feathers was the only thing that shook the stallion out of of his trance. His eyes quickly taking note of his wings falling at his sides, the same way a sad puppy would with his tail. He sighed in contempt, angry at himself for allowing such feelings to take place.

'Why, of all ponies, it had to be her? Cloud Chaser is an amazing mare, Blossomforth is beyond incredibly kind, Cloud Kicker is just so lively and athletic, Rainbow Dash is....something else I guess....but why? Of so many ponies? Why I feel like this about her?!'

Thunderlane huffed in irritation, not understand the logic behind his feelings towards a certain mare in spite of so many others. He liked to think that there were things that they should have in common for that particular infamous spark to exist.

'Okay, maybe we have few things in common' He begrudgingly admitted to himself. 'She likes storms, she likes sports, she likes pretzels, she likes....other stuff.'

Thunderlane frowned. He didn't really known her that well, he only found out about her liking pretzels out of pure luck, though that ocassion was a very particular one, for she was actually nice towards him for once.

They were similar in appearance, even in Cutie Marks. Thunderlane wasn't really sure that was a good thing, it worried him to think that her appearance could be a giveaway to the kind of ponies she would like to go out with. You couldn't get more tomboy than the way she looked.

'I wouldn't be surprised if she was into mares. Perhaps into both?...'

He knew it was a hopeful thought, and it frustrated him to no end to think like that. This kind of sentiment was gonna end with him being heartbroken for sure, and he couldn't think on anything to make that feeling go away, no matter how logical it sounded.

Yet, he needed to know for sure, this anxiety has been eating at his soul for weeks, ever since they met after so many months apart.

'Haven't seen her since our Flight Camp weeks. Years went by and I finally saw her at the Academy. I could tell she really didn't change much....aside of how much more lean and muscular she got, and her huge wings, her bright eyes, her big assseeeh???'

Thunderlane blinked, did he actually thought of her like that? Not only emotionally but sexually as well?

She wasn't that better good looking than a mare like Cloud Kicker or Strawberry Sunrise, but on athletic patterns....

'Rainbow Dash and her are very alike but, for some reason, that kind of thought makes me sick to my stomach.'

One would think that Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust could get along due how talented and determinate both are.

But no.

They hated eachother.

That much Thunderlane could notice when he met with Lightning at the Cloudsdale Gym, a place he visited more frequently ever since he got nominated as a Wonderbolt.

He couldn't exactly afford personal training equipment, he had to save the money to pay the bills and Rumble's school and materials after all. Yet, he managed to save enough to use the Gym for a few days per week .

It was pure coincidence that Lightning happened to frequent that same Gym, and it was pure luck that she favored him for a training partner.

Though Thunderlane has yet to decide if it was good luck or not.

It was kinda embarrassing and comical to think how they both met after so many months apart.

Thunderlane quickly took notice of how many mares would frequent that same gym and, being the hotshot he believed himself to be, couldn't help but try to impress any mare that would trot by him, suddenly working with double effort on the equipment he was using at the ocassion.

He didn't exactly expected to become some muscular freak like Bulk Biceps, but he was confident that his chances of getting a mare's attention would increase drastically if he gave away the impression of being incredibly strong.

Too bad he tried to impress the wrong mare.

He didn't recognize her at first, only having time to realize that it was, indeed, a mare that had entered the gym before he quickly set up the speed limit of the trotting machine. He did found her mane and coat colours to be very appealing and somewhat familiar.

Thunderlane couldn't help the smirk that grew on his muzzle as he remembered how naive he was to assume her strenght. That mare, without even bothering to look his way, went straight for the wing lifting bench. He, arrogantly one could say, watched her with low expectancy, unaccustomed of seeing a mare opting for using such equipment.

Pegasus would work their wings for that sweet extra wing power, the weight measurement used for workout is called POW, which stands for Pony's Own Weight. It wasn't a precise way to reach a specific measurement in wing power, especially since wing power was determined mostly by a speed test, but lifting POWs was the best way to reach that desired level of wing power.

Thunderlane was pretty confident he could lift ten POWs at his best, which was a fairly decent amount for a stallion. Of course it wouldn't be the same for a mare, it was a fact that mares usually would weight less than a stallion, but POWs were about lifting your own weight, not other ponies.

Thunderlane would be surprised if that mare, who he took way too long to recognize, was capable of lifting seven times her own weight. Hay, he would definitely be impressed if she could reach the same amount as him.

So just imagine his utter shock as she lifted not seven, not ten, but SEVENTEEN POWs!

He stood speechless at the unbelievable display of strenght, which costed him greatly since a trotting machine, working at full speed, is not the best place to stand still all of sudden.

It took a second for him to realize he was being launched backwards straight into the nearest wall. The loud impact, that rendered him extreme amounts of pain and embarrassment, caught the attention of the mare at the lifting bench.

Thunderlane couldn't remember much at the time, his hindquarters were still protesting against the sudden contact, but the sound of hoofsteps was a welcome distraction from the world of pain he was going through at that moment.

"Ya okay there pal?"

The sound of her voice, so different yet so familiar, and the closer look on her features, especially her Cutie Mark, was enough to clear his suspicion.

"Lightning Dust? Is that you?"

The concerned look on her face was quickly replaced by confusion, he wasn't really surprised she didn't recognize him either.

"How do you know who I am?

He remembered her asking, seemingly suspicious all of sudden.

"We met before a few times, long ago back at Flight Camp, you used to call me spearhead. And....we met again months ago. At....the Academy."

Thunderlane remembered his brief hesitation at the mention of the Wonderbolt Academy. That wasn't exactly a good memory for Lightning Dust, bringing it up wasn't really going to add him any favors.

Yet, her face suddenly morphed into recognition at the mention of his old nickname.

"Wait! Spearh....Thunderlane?! Is that really ya?"

It still baffled him how cheerful she got by seeing him again, though the smirk on her face left no doubts that she still saw him as a spearhead.

"Huh, yeah. I'm....urgh....chilling here. On the floor."

Thunderlane wished he didn't try to play it off his incident, it wasn't really something Lightning would ignore. Thankfully she preserved some of his dignity by keeping up the conversation.

"Should've figured that it was ya, especially with that good taste ya have on manecut."

The stallion was used by mares being in awe by his mohawk, but it was strange to hear it from a mare that sported a mohawk herself.

The conversation followed through few more minutes, from their time at Flight Camp until the Wonderbolt Academy. Lightning wasn't too thrilled to talk about that incident, but she didn't seem that much upset about it.

"It wasn't something I expected, but I got something good out of it. Now I got my own stunt troop, and we've been doing pretty well so far."

Thunderlane was intrigued by this revelation. As far as he knew there were no other stunt groups out there aside the Wonderbolts. Though his curiosity was replaced by bafflement at the name they used to depict themselves.

The Washouts.

The reasoning behind this name being that The Washouts were composed of ex-Wonderbolts, members that were kicked due some kind of misbehavior or kink on their part.

Thunderlane wasn't really sure what to think of this group. Lightning presented him with a poster of one of their previous shows, the outfit design was eye-catching and impressive, and also the several track layouts she presented him, most of them were new projects she had been working on.

"So you design those courses? And test them?"

"Yep, sure do! Except we only run them throught once, we already know how the equipment works and we are not exactly concerned by doing things on a time limit. Do the sprint only when you have to, otherwise you will tire out too quickly and things will go really bad."

Thunderlane was impressed and extremely worried at the same time. Lightning Dust, for all the problems her reckless attitude caused at the Academy, found a way to make something good out of her misfortune.

She was the leader and track designer of a very successful stunt troop, one that was getting pretty popular around Equestria these last few weeks, but her choice of career was so incredibly dangerous and she didn't seem to bat an eye at the possibility of an accident that could prove to be lethal.

She could die doing this and she didn't seem to care at all.

It terrified him to no end.

And yet, despite all the warnings going off in his head, his stupid heart decided to open up and allow her in for whatever reason it had.

"So you're a full fledged Wonderbolt now? Huh, congratulations I suppose. At least somepony else made it in my place."

Thunderlane couldn't help but wince at that remark. Lightning sounded extremely bitter, even if being satisfied with her career as a Washout. It was clear that she still resented being kicked out.

"Say, I gotta run up my exercises, what days you're usually around? I wouldn't mind have somepony else to talk while being here, it gets boring pretty quick."

And that's what got him and Lightning to spend few weeks in touch with eachother, not only talking but sharing equipments and working ways to improve their(his) training routine, and it was a huge eye opener to the kind of pony she had become.

And his stupid feelings to take place.

She didn't talk much about herself, only mentioning her Washout colleagues a few times, often remarks about fitness exercises required to fit her flying style, constantly admonishing the Wonderbolts, and very once in a while saying how much she hated Spitfire.

Thunderlane wasn't really sure why he agreed in keeping her company, part of him believed it was because of some sort of unspoken friendship they barely had in the past, or that she was actually helping him to improve his fitness, or that he hoped she would notice him as a stallion instead of just a pony to talk with.

Or maybe it was something along the lines of 'If you die tomorrow at least there will be somepony that will care'.

He wouldn't say that being a Wonderbolt wasn't without its risks, but the degree of safety and the protocols always assured each of their members for the unlikely possibility of severe accidents.

As long each pony did as they were taught and ordered.

And speaking of orders...

Thunderlane slowly moved towards the mess that was his bed, not really bothered by the disorganization that took place in his room. His excuse being his late arrival yesterday, and due how exhausted he was he didn't even bother to take a bath, which resulted in a heavy odor permeating his coat and sheets.

Laying at the floor was one of his Wonderbolt suits, heavily drenched in sweat and a couple of gashes, courtesy of Spitfire's unforgiving attitude towards him, especially after he foolishly talked back at her.

The Wonderbolt Captain has been in an increasing foul mood, which happened to originate at the same time The Washouts started making big hits around important towns of Equestria. The popularity of the stunt troop resulted in a heavy decline of the Wonderbolt's usual large audiences at each of their shows. Something that was directly impacting not only their reputation, but their financial support as well.

Due a strange set of coincidences, that Thunderlane was pretty sure they weren't, The Washouts were always performing a few days before at the exact same places the Wonderbolts had established shows to take place. The end result was a huge amount of ponies way less impressionable after seeing The Washouts perform, and very uninterested potential customers on paying for tickets with salty prices in comparison to the newer stunt group.

Spitfire, who tried her best to ignore the new competition, was fuming all over the place, her temper increased to dangerous levels, and she was at the verge of snapping at any mention of The Washouts.

Her closest friends, most notably Soarin and Fleetfoot, were attempting some damage control by replacing Spitfire at other important tasks such as Academy Intructor and Fan Services. It would make no good to have her freaking out cadets or their loyal fanbase.

Unfortunately other Wonderbolt members were not exempt from the current maelstrom of fury that was living up to her name more than ever.

Thunderlane was increasingly suspicious that somepony told Spitfire that he was seeing Lightning Dust with some frequency, it could be the only reason for the Captain to be venting out her frustrations on him, more than it could be considered normal if in comparison with the other members. Even Soarin, on multiple ocassions, came to his aid when things started to get out of hoof.

Thunderlane always received a ton of criticism from Rainbow Dash during their prime days as weather ponies, but Spitfire made Rainbow's rants seem like a foal having a tantrum for a piece of candy. Spitfire's attitude was so unbelievably wild and he wasn't really made of stone to take it for too long.

Of course that telling your superior officer to fuck off was hardly a good way to deal with pressure.

He was lucky she didn't rip his head off right at that moment, thankfully Soarin and Fleetfoot were there to save his sorry ass. Yet he endured three hundred laps as a punishment for his undisciplined behavior.

'Apparently if Spitfire has a stick up her ass I'm the one who has to be taught a lesson on discipline.'

Thunderlane's bitter train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a hoof banging on a door, he could immediately identify the sound as somepony being at the front door of the house.

Puzzlement was etched across his face at this event, it was way too early in the morning for him to be having any kind of visits. The only reason for himself to be up this early was due his necessity of preparing Rumble's breakfast, a quick bath, and clean the house before leaving for work.

Nonetheless he decided to check on his visitor, curious at who could be brave enough to make the effort of visiting him at such uneventful time of the day.

Suddenly Thunderlane regretted not taking a bath last night, he wasn't feeling very presentable at the moment, at least his mohawk was still looking sharp.

If the mohawk was fine, so was he.

The stallion moved to the hallway at a slow pace, it wasn't in his best interest to gallop through the house and wake up Rumble prematurely.

Thunderlane saddened at the thought of his young brother, no longer a foal but a young colt. Rumble was going through a complicated stage of life, one he wanted to have more control over his own decisions, hardly listening to anything Thunderlane said lately.

Long gone was the sweet, kind and obedient foal he worked so hard to raise, replaced by this slightly less caring and irritable version of the very same.

'I wonder if mom and dad had it this rough with me, before...everything changed.'

Thunderlane pushed that thought to the back of his head, it wasn't going to do him any good to wonder the 'what ifs' of previous events. He learned to accept things as they went and moved on with his life ever since.

His young brother was growing up quick and Thunderlane would have to understand that. On few months, Rumble would finally move on with his life, no longer in the need of his brother's watchful aid.

Rumble would find a job, find some special somepony, and leave for his own adventures.

Thunderlane was finally going to be alone.

And that was a scary prospect.

'Maybe that's why I got a sudden interest on Lightning? I'm really that worried of not being by myself?'

Thunderlane wasn't really sure that was the main reason for his feelings for Lightning Dust to come out of nowhere, but it surely was one of the few reasons he could think of that made any kind of sense.

The banging on his door got louder as he approached, Thunderlane's eyebrows furrowed in annoyance at his visitors's impatient behavior.

"Alright, alright, just wait a second woul-

Thunderlane cut himself short as soon he opened the door and saw who was standing at the other side.

"Huh, figures ya would be such a slowpoke during the morning. How ya doing spearhead?"

Playful yet serious at the same time, dressed in a very fashionable outfit that would stand out on a Nightmare Night event, one wing currently adjusting her googles, mane and tail standing out in contrast with the uniform with fierce intensity, despite the darkness that was still predominant over the town.

Thunderlane wasn't even sure how Lightning Dust knew where his house was located at.

"Huh...what you're doing here?" Thunderlane asked, formality forgotten due the shock of her visit. Lightning rolled her eyes, an amused smile adorning her features.

"Yeah, that's quite a surprise I guess. I knew ya lived in Ponyville but not where. Had to ask those mail ponies to give me the hint." She replied, sounding oddly chipper for some reason that the stallion was yet to figure it out.

"They were out there?! This early?" Thunderlane asked, disbelief evident in his voice. Lightning shrugged.

"Sure, that's normal. I've worked as one myself for few weeks, but I dropped cause I was tired of waiting for them to give me stuff to deliver."

Thunderlane chuckled at that piece of info. He shouldn't be surprised that the mail service couldn't keep up with Lightning Dust.

"So...why you wanted to visit me? Especially this early?" Thunderlane inquired, genuinely curious about her reasons to have come after him with such interest.

"Oh, right. We're doing a show this weekend at Ponyville, I was kinda wondering if ya could show up to see us perform. Unless being a Wonderbolt doesn't allow ya to do that." She added with a knowing smirk.

Thunderlane huffed at her attempt of poking fun with his Wonderbolt status, ever since she found out about his inclusion as a Wonderbolt there has been this incessant wave of jokes throw at him because of it.

Yet, he couldn't really be mad at her. Lightning actually wanted him to be successful at his career, her constant drilling of his muscles throught unforgiving exercises (in his personal opinion at least, Lightning called it for him being a lazy whiny), and strangely enough, her undying belief that he could be top Wonderbolt if he tried hard enough was something that earned her a huge amount of respect from him, even if he thought she was getting way over her head.

At least Lightning calling him names didn't sound nowhere near as demeaning when it Rainbow Dash who was the one calling him names.

"I'm pretty sure I can watch a show without permission." Thunderlane retorted, attempting to sound annoyed but failing miserably. "Spitfire may be my superior officer but she's not my...."

The stallion paused, a thoughtful expression on his face as he reconsidered his words carefully. Lightning Dust, noticing his sudden hesitation, furrowed her eyebrows in concern.

While both mare and stallion shared the gym, with Lightning constantly poking fun at his terrible shape while torturing him, in a productive way obviously, with tons of muscle burning tasks, Thunderlane rarely talked about himself. The very few times he did there was hardly any mention of his years as a young colt, or his parents for that matter. The stallion always avoided the subject whenever himself almost brought it into highlight.

Dust wasn't in the need of a degree in psychology to notice somepony who lost other ponies in their life, and in Thunderlane's case it was a huge loss. It amazed her to think he came all the way throught for this long, even more while carrying a brother with him.

Lightning Dust could only wonder what it felt like to lose somepony like that.

"So...you came all the way here just to wonder about me going to your show? That's kind of weird if you ask me." Thunderlane retorted, clearly recovered from his slip. Lightning snorted.

"Well, I didn't, so shut up." Her smooth reply sounded somewhat serious. "I mean...dunno. I was flying near the Weather Station yesterday. There were some weird rumors about ya getting in a fight with another Wonderbolt. My bet is on Rainbow Dash. Did ya broke her wing or something?" Lightning asked, she sounded a bit too hopeful for Thunderlane 's likening.

"First of all, do you really think I would break anypony's wing?" Thunderlane asked, incredulous at her questioning.

"Well, a leg maybe, doesn't have to be a wing."

"No! Dust, for real? How long will you keep this ridiculous grudge against Rainbow? I'm not a fan of her either, but I don't have wishful thoughts of seeing her broken!"

Lightning didn't seem to have an answer for that one. She rarely did when he got upset with her anyway.

While Lightning may have helped Thunderlane where he lacked physical strength and motivation, the stallion often found himself to be a voice of reason and common sense towards Lightning's complete lack of social behavior. More often than usual he had to argue with her about the way she acted around other ponies, especially when regarding anything about flying.

Lightning, surprisingly enough, is a pretty normal pony when she has her hooves and head on the ground, but once those hooves leave the ground and her head reaches above the clouds, she becomes a very different pony.

Yet, no matter where, no matter what, Lightning Dust was incapable of letting past grudges go away so easily.

Thunderlane never liked to raise his voice, especially at somepony else, but it seems that Lightning would only listen to him once he showed how upset he was with her attitude.

Even so he had to remind himself that, even if she was being nasty about Rainbow Dash, Lightning still bothered to pay him a visit at such terrible time of the day. Shouting at her was hardly a nice way to welcome a visit, especially since they were still standing at the doorstep.

He let out a heavy sigh, feeling dissapointed with himself for venting out a bit of his frustrations at her.

"Tough days, huh?" She said, seemingly aware of his distress.

"Yeah, things are not going too well back at HQ." Thunderlane replied, his own voice sounding strange to his ears. "Wanna come in? I gotta make breakfast, you're welcome to join if you want."

Her ears perked at the mention of breakfast, or maybe the invitation was a relieving sign that the stallion wasn't really mad at her, it was hard to tell.

Thunderlane closed the door after the mare passed by, albeit slowly to avoid making loud noises. He advised Lightning to keep her voice down as he guided her towards the kitchen.

It was a strange feeling to have a mare inside his house at this time, and also worrisome if Rumble happened to stumble upon them at a bad time.

Which is this particular case it could be at any moment.

Though that was just one of the reasons to be concerned. Thunderlane couldn't help but feel anxious all of sudden by her presence, and he was pretty sure his own house wasn't this heated up before he attended the door.

Lightning glanced around as they entered the kitchen, an unimpressed look on her face as she realized how simplistic it was. Wooden table, wooden chairs, wooden balcony, and several old pots, pans and fridges laying in a pile of total disaster inside the nearest closet.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting from a pegasus that lived on the ground, but she surely never bothered to think about how wealthy Thunderlane could actually be. It kinda blew her away to see from up close how precarious his lifestyle was. Everything inside his house was so simple and uninteresting.

"Say...how did ya afford to pay the gym? Ya don't seem to have that much." Dust boldly asked, not really concerned about the rudeness of her words.

Thunderlane didn't seem at all bothered by such question, instead he just smiled proudly, an answer already present at the back of his mind.

"Well, true that. I've been saving up a lot to pay for Rumble's education and few other stuff. I barely managed to get enough for the gym. We don't have much but we have all we need to keep going."

Thunderlane paused as he used his mouth to pick one of the fridges from the closet. How he managed to do that without scattering all the other pots and pans Lightning had no idea. She quietly observed as the stallion made his way towards the stove.

"So, anything in mind for breakfast?" Thunderlane asked while opening the small fridge. "Nothing fancy I hope." He added with a chuckle.

Lightning Dust couldn't help the weird feeling she felt in her gut all of sudden. A feeling she only felt few times before,
when she knew she was doing something wrong. She just couldn't understand what felt wrong about this situation.

"Huh, no big deal. Just some fried eggs will do. It's not like I expect ya to be a chef outta nowhere." She replied, a mix of sarcasm and nervousness that made her voice raspier than usual. If Thunderlane noticed her uneasiness he made no comment about it.

"Eh, I don't consider myself a chef, but I cook pretty good." The stallion answered while cracking a couple of eggs with the tip of his hoof. Lightning raised an eyebrow.

"Ya telling me ya know how to cook? Are ya trying to impress me or something?" She asked with a devious smirk on her face, despite the odd feelings she couldn't help herself on a little tease.

But Lightning's attempt at making the stallion uneasy went wide off the mark, Thunderlane was too entertained with his current task to be able to notice her tease.

"Yep, never thought I would like it this much! I always bought prepared food for me and Rumble, it wasn't really expensive at the start, but I was always thankful when Chaser or Kicker invited us for launch or dinner, it was quite a relief to save some extra bits." The stallion sounded quite enthusiastic about his tale despite all the difficulties he endured.

Lightning wasn't sure on what was so amazing about being poor. She has been poor for most of her life and she hated it so much. Having to share a small room with her cousins at an old ground farm for most of her youth, all because her useless mother couldn't care enough to raise her daughter by herself, it was one of Lightning's greatest motivators to pursue her dream career.

A dream that was long gone, replaced by something much better. She couldn't complain about her financial income.

Yet, that failed accomplishment was still eating away on her.

The hissing sound of frying eggs broke the mare from her thoughts, she watched as Thunderlane, who seemed very at ease, hummed contently while picking a clean plate from the sink.

Lightning could tell his body had develop decently after few weeks of gym exercises, his chest had a clear outline of musculature, though barely noticeable due his dark coat. The stallion, thanks to her advises, was lifting around fifteen POW's. A surprising amount in Lightning s personal opinion.

She tried to put him up to the test with a few races in between them, but Thunderlane, despite being a lot faster than before, was still unable to keep with her on a straight path. His strengths were highlighted once they performed more demanding maneuvers, such as extreme pulls from nose dives or long courses that gave him the stamina advantage.

Lightning Dust knew herself too well to know her own weaknesses, and flying for hours was something she didn't fancy in the slightest.

Unfortunately Thunderlane's qualities wouldn't apply to what the Wonderbolts wanted, which was speed and agility. Their stunts weren't meant to last hours or be so demanding.

Unlike The Washouts.

Lightning knew Thunderlane well enough to know the stallion wouldn't agree to change sides, not at this point at least. The stallion wouldn't be able to fly their current courses anyways, Dust designed them to fit her flying style after all.

"Anything to drink? I got j-

"Milk is fine. I don't really care much." Dust replied quickly, much to the stallion's astonishment.

"Hum, alright." He replied warily, not sure why Lightning seemed to be on edge. "I kinda wanted to ask you something."

The turquoise mare shrugged, but had to remind herself that Thunderlane wasn't looking at her.

"Shoot. It's not like I got anything better to do. "

Thunderlane paused on his ministrations of the fridge, throwing a sidelong glance at Lightning before resuming his task.

"Are you telling me why you came this early to my house? Or you gonna keep avoiding that for the rest of the day?"

"Urgh, can't believe you're still into that." Lightning replied, sounding extremely frustrated. "Fine! What other reason if not to avoid that blue backstabber piece of shit ya call friend?! Of course she had to live here, if only I knew before making a scheduled show in Ponyville..."

Thunderlane frowned at her language, but it was a fairly decent reason to be visiting his house at this unholy hour of the day.

"I suppose there's nothing good to be expected in between you and Rainbow." Thunderlane stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Ya got that right. I couldn't care less about that stupid mare. At least I can live with the premise that she won't be there to ruin my show." Lightning replied, a derisively snarl on her face at the thought of seeing Rainbow among the spectators. "But don't get me wrong. I rather avoid her stupid face than risk myself losing everything for pissing miss loyalty."

Thunderlane grimaced at her hostility, he knew he had to talk her out of it, otherwise a possible encounter with Rainbow Dash could only end up in tons of trouble. The stallion felt this was another of those situations in which he would need to be the voice of reason. Again.

"Dust. We gotta talk. For real this time."

A Little Less Conversation

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The first beams of sunlight finally broke throught the small kitchen's window, poorly illuminating the anxious atmosphere that paired in between it's current inhabitants.

The sound of utensils was the only thing heard in that moment, the pony that consumed her food casted worried glances at her table partner, the other pony kept staring away from her, seemingly unaware of her presence.

The mare wasn't sure what was going into the stallion's mind. He was adamant about them having a serious conversation, yet insisted on her finishing off her breakfast before they could proceed.

She couldn't help the sinking feeling in her stomach, which wasn't related with anything she was eating, that something was wrong and the stallion was about to tell her off.

She hated to admit but she was worried. Worried she messed up somehow, worried he might end what they have for a reason she couldn't really understand.

No, she wasn't worried.

She was afraid.

Afraid of losing a friend again, not really knowing why until it was too late. Yet, she couldn't afford the effort to ask him what was wrong, especially because they've been doing fine ever since they met at the gym. There was no reason to be upset.

Unless....

Lightning chewed the last remains of her fried eggs, she made sure to hide her surprise at how well he tempered her plate, although he exaggerated when he decided to add a ton of vegetables to it. She wasn't a filly after all.

"So... " She started hesitantly, hopeful that the stallion would finally break off of his weird trance. He didn't budge. "...what did ya want to talk with me about? "

Thunderlane remained silent for few more seconds, pondering whether or not he should go down with this. He knew that there was a road full of problems ahead of him, and the only way to clear those obstacles was to avoid them before they got in the way.

Lightning Dust at Ponyville was one thing. Lightning Dust AND Rainbow Dash in Ponyville was a huge thing. Thunderlane couldn't fathom a bigger obstacle than that.

He didn't like bringing this up. Hay, Lightning hated having this being brought up, but either they talked this out or neither of them would ever be able to live it down.

"Dust, do you hate Rainbow Dash?"

Lightning raised an eyebrow, an unimpressed look on her face as she stared him down.

"Seriously? THAT'S what this is about?" She asked, already sounding annoyed.

"Yes or no? Just answer the question." Thunderlane requested, he moved around so he could finally face the mare, his eyes locking into hers with a surprising amount of intensity.

Lightning was about to reply fervently how she hated the mare with no doubt, but something about the way the stallion looked at her made Lightning pause. That stare wasn't demanding nor judgmental, it was more of a pleading one.

"What do ya want me to say Thunder? Why does it matter anyway?"

The stallion blinked at the way she addressed him, it felt strangely off but he pushed that thought aside, there were more important things to discuss.

"I just want you to be honest to yourself. I don't want you to lie to me by saying yes, neither you to lie to yourself by saying no. Just how you feel about her." He replied coolly, a hoof scratching under his muzzle. 'Urgh, I'm getting itchy. I really should've taken that bath.'

Lightning broke eye contact, her sudden crestfallen expression caught the stallion by surprise.

"I...I don't really hate her. I'm...mostly jealous of her. Rainbow always get everything somepony could possibly want, and I always end up with nothing."

Thunderlane was pretty sure she couldn't have sounded more bitter even if she tried. Yet, he was confused at what she was talking about. Lightning Dust jealous of Rainbow Dash?

"What do you mean?" He asked, hopeful she would go into an explanation without the need of much persuasion from his part. Lightning made a very unlady-like noise with her muzzle.

"This is kinda of a crap story that I don't really like to go into detail, so I will keep it short for ya to spare ya the bullcrap ya don't need to hear."

Thunderlane nodded. He was pretty sure that was the best he was going to get from her.

"Alright, let's hear your sad life story. It can't be worse than mine." He said jokingly, a weak attempt to lighten up the atmosphere.

"Oh, I wish it was. Perhaps I would've been better for it." Lightning replied with such seriousness that Thunderlane couldn't help but stare. "Anyways, let's get this over with. Keep your damn mouth shut. I'm not doing this twice."

"Can I do any questions along the way?" The stallion asked, his intent of making these questions was clearly inevitable.

"Sure, if I find convenient to answer them." The mare replied with a smirk. Thunderlane rolled his eyes, though the grin on his face betrayed his annoyance.

"Anyways, how do I start? Right. Way back at Flight Camp. Ya do remember those days, right?" She asked hesitantly, averting her eyes toward the table.

"The times when you won every event and adressed me as spearhead? Yeah, I do." Thunderlane replied warily. This was a bit too close from when his mother and father were still around.

"Ya remember Rainbow's parents? Loud and obnoxious? Even when she didn't win anything?" Thunderlane nodded. "Yeah, they were crazy, but...they had her back all the time. Even when Rainbow failed, they supported her. I...I wish I had parents like that."

Lightning tensed up, not really sure if it was a good idea to keep talking about things she hated to talk about, but one quick glance Thunderlane was all she needed to keep up. For some unexplainable reason she felt more at ease with him around, something that happened way more often as time went by, probably a result of their time spent togheter.

She saw on him a pony she could trust.

"My...I won so many times...but it never mattered to them...not even my uncles. They were too busy looking up to my stupid cousin to bother with the young filly that was way more promising than that spike-headed moron."

Thunderlane eyed the mare carefully, her visible irritation wasn't enough to mask the clear pain that particular memory brought up. Still, there was something oddly curious about this particular event.

"Hum...what was so great about your cousin that made them ignore you?" Thunderlane asked with genuine interest. Lightning laughed, her laugh was somewhat mixed bitterness and irony.

"Some idiot that actually thought he was a good flyer. His family looked up to him as far I was aware of the world around me, but I spent enough time living with them at Stratousburg to discover the truth. That fucking idiot was never a flyer, the only reason he seemed a good flyer was because of his marefriend blowing him off."

Thunderlane blinked in alarm, unsure if he heard it right.

"Come again?!"

"What? Ya got something in your ears? I said she was blowing him off. Ya know, instead of him actually flapping his wings and getting lift she was blowing wind at him to keep him on the air." Lightning explained, sounding annoyed at Thunderlane's lack of attention.

The stallion deadpanned at her feigned ignorance at the clear cheap sex joke. Yet, something about this tale sounded oddly familiar.

"What was the name of your cousin again?" Thunderlane asked with a strong suspicious forming inside his head.

"Oh, dunno. I think it was Sky Wanker or something like that." Lightning replied, trying too hard to sound innocent. Thunderlane let out an exasperated sigh.

"Stop doing that, you're not fooling me around." The stallion complained, clearly bothered by the mare's antics. Lightning merely shrugged.

"Dunno what ya mean, but I think his name was actually Sky Stinger. He's your average idiot that think he's hot stuff but ain't nowhere near it." The turquoise mare poked her empty plate, a thoughtful expression adorning her features. "He probably would've noticed how much he sucks if his marefriend wasn't sucking him up so much."

'Gosh, you're impossible Dust.' Thunderlane shook his head, accepting his ineptitude at diverting the mare away from inappropriate conversation. 'I'm glad Rumble won't be up until a couple of hours.'

Yes, Lightning Dust was occasionally crude during their conversations, it took only few days of interaction for the stallion to allow himself to submit through such unashamed topics.

Obviously her language bothered him at the start, but he managed himself to get acquainted with it, as long the mare did not use such words near the wrong kind of audience.

But this wasn't the case anymore. He felt for her, way more than he ever felt about any other pony(in a romantic sense), and this kind of explicit topic was going to put him on edge more than anything.

"But why do ya ask? It's not like he matters that much." Lightning wondered, crossing her forelegs and staring down at him with a frown on her face.

Thunderlane was almost fully certain that Lightning has no idea of where her cousin stood at the moment, and his current status might infuriate her instead of alleviate her tension.

"Well..." He started hesitantly, a tinge of concern noticeable on his features. "...your cousin kinda is a Wonderbolt reserve."

Thunderlane braced himself for the impact, ears folding at the back of his head in an attempt to avoid possible hearing issues caused by brutal yelling.

But nothing happened.

The stallion tilted his head, confused at Lightning's unusual lack of response. She stood still, eyes locked on him with the utmost seriousness.

Until she suddenly cracked.

Thunderlane stood jaw agape as he watched the mare double on herself, the unmistakable sound of laughter followed right after, her forelegs clenching at her sides as she couldn't control herself, thrashing around in utter joy.

Never before Thunderlane thought in his life that hearing somepony laugh would bring him such a dreadful feeling. He remained motionless while the mare slowly brought herself under control.

Thunderlane wished she actually could be laughing for a good reason, but this wasn't going to end well and it saddened him to think about it. The stallion learned among the last few weeks that Lightning was a very difficult pony to entertain with any kind of jokes, her kind of humour was one that he simply could not fit. Maybe there was a way to get her around during a bad mood, but he was yet to find out.

"N-now that...that's how ya make a good joke!" She praised in between chuckles. Thunderlane couldn't help but feel guilty under her gleeful eyes.

A few seconds of awkward silence followed, in which the sound of Lightning 's ragging breath slowly faded, the joy on her face slowly evaporating at the sight of Thunderlane's frozen stance.

"Are you...." She paused. Her hooves started trembling, her eyes narrowing dangerously but not really focusing on the stallion in front of her. "...is this true?"

"Ye-

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!"

In a flash Lightning tossed her empty plate at the nearest wall, the resonating impact of shattered little pieces exploded in Thunderlane's eardrums fiercely. Yet, the stallion remained motionless.

"How that fucking bastard made it?! HOW?! He can't even fucking fly for fuck sake! What is this bullcrap?! Does Captain Bitch knows he's my cousin?!"

Thunderlane remained in silence, fully aware that arguing with her was pointless. Letting her vent was the only way to work throught this issue, he could only blame himself for bringing that up. The sound of a door opening at distance was the only warning Thunderlane got before working himself to bring Lightning's anger to an end.

The mare, who was currently pulling her ears in utter frustration, was on an onslaught of unimaginable curses and swears. The stallion slowly approached her as he made his way around the table, his eyes shifting from the agitated mare to the hallway entrance.

Once he reached by her side a hoof made his way towards one of the mare's forelegs. It took a huge amount of effort for Thunderlane to perform that action, while the intent was to calm her down(or bring her swearing to an end) the stallion was worried about how a simple gesture could be easily misunderstood by something else entirely, the mare clearly wasn't on her best mindset after all.

The gentle touch of his hoof stopped Lightning's wild tongue in an instant. Her eyes were filled with surprise and confusion as she stared back at him.

"I get you're upset, you have your reasons for it and I don't blame you for it. Anyways, I would kindly ask you to tone down on the language, my little brother isn't ready to learn such strong words." The stallion said, firm and apologetic at the same time.

Before the mare could reply the faint sound of hoofsteps brought their attention towards the kitchen's door. There stood a small figure, sleepy and confused while staring at the older ponies currently standing near eachother.

"Thunderlane? What's going on? I heard something break and loud voices." The colt said, his voice somewhat groggy. His eyes focused on the mare while Thunderlane struggled on a proper answer. "Wait...ain't she one of the Washouts?"

Thunderlane's feeble attempts at thinking on an explanation were evaporated and replaced with genuine astonishment. How did Rumble knew about the Washouts? The stallion did not recall ever mentioning them before to his little brother.

Lightning's behavior went on a complete circle as she saw herself in the presence of a kid, and the fact that the little colt heard about her group was a huge boost to her pride.

"Yeah, ya got that right kid! Ya brother probably told a lot about me." Lightning said, the smug grin on her face didn't last though.

"Actually, no. He never told me anything about you. I only heard about the Washouts because one of my friends was at one of your shows last weekend." The colt replied while looking at his brother for an explanation.

"Oh." Lightning couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. She gave a sidelong glance towards the stallion, who seemed to be avoiding looking at any of them.

Rumble's hald-lidded eyes went from the shards of the broken plate, scattered on the floor, to his brother's hoof, currently laying over Lightning's foreleg.

"Huh, bro? Are you...huh...doing things?" The colt asked warily. Rumble couldn't help his current trail of thought, especially with a mare in their house this early in the day.

Both older ponies seemed puzzled with his question, not sure at what the colt was referring to. Seeing their confusion made Rumble even more uncomfortable.

"You know, that....stuff you told me. That ponies do when they get older."

Lightning's eyes blinked, realization at what the colt was trying to get at dawning on her.

"Oh, ya mean semffffhh?!!"

Her answer was brutally cut short as Thunderlane muffled her reply with both his forelegs gripping her muzzle, his clearly panicked and infuriated glare being the only warning for Lightning to shut it up.

"Yes! Older stuff Rumble! But we were doing none of that! Hehe, since you're up perhaps you could get ready for school? Right?!" The stallion laughed nervously, his grip on the mare remaining firm, a huge amount of embarrassment weighing on his conscience due the current circumstances.

Rumble's eyes widened at the incredibly weird display. Not really sure of what to make of it, he decided to follow Thunderlane's suggestion.

"O...kay?I will gather my stuff." The colt replied hesitantly, not really buying his brother's acting in the slightest.

The stallion let out a sigh of relief as the younger pony left for his room, but a solid hoof hitting his ribcage turned that sigh into a sharp intake of breath.

Lightning, who clearly had enough of her muzzle being held shut, was the obvious responsible for the assault. She glared at the other pegasus, annoyance was her most predominant facial expression.

"Mind telling me what was that all about?" She asked with a tone of clear irritation. Thunderlane had to delay his response due the lack of oxygen in his lungs.

"That... " He started, pausing for deep intakes of air. "...was due....my brother being...too young to hear....about grown up stuff. It doesn't...surprise me...how clueless you are...about dealing with kids."

"Oh. That." Lightning replied, the plain obliviousness in her voice was incredibly frustrating for the stallion to hear.

"And here I was hoping you would have a better understanding of that kind of stuff." Thunderlane quipped, disappointed at Lightning's lack of subtlety towards younglings. "Guess you and Rainbow have more things in common than I thought."

"Haha, congrats for figuring that out." She replied sarcastically, clearly on edge about the mention of Rainbow Dash back at the conversation ."How about we get over that talk about Rainbow? We got really sidetracked here."

Thunderlane had to agree with her on that, though they only changed the topic of the conversation due Lightning's tantrum about her cousin. The stallion, with a hoof still massaging his pained chest, returned to his chair. The mare can hit pretty hard.

"So...you said that, aside your cousin being the center of the attention in regards to your family, Rainbow's parents made you envious of her due their support. What else? It can't be just that Dust. There has to be more reason for you to hate her like this."

"Urgh. Yeah, sure there is. That parent thing was way long ago. By the time we met at the academy I don't think we really remembered eachother. Me and her never talked when we were fillies, so...yeah. "

Thunderlane nodded absentmindedly, suddenly fascinated by the glow of Lightning's mane, a consequence of sunlight reflecting on it. He never realized how astounding she was under daylight.

Yes, he may have taken a closer look at her attributes during their gym sessions, her toned muscles and rebellious-looking appearance rubbed on him in a way he didn't thought it was possible. Metaphorically speaking of course.

Lightning Dust wasn't an exclusive example in terms of tomboy mare. Rainbow Dash, Cloud Chaser, Helia, Cloud Kicker, Fleetfoot, Misty May and High Winds were other fine mares with a tomboyish appeal to them. Yet, none of them caught his eye like Lightning did.

Not only her golden, with streaks of orange, mane, but her amber eyes(though they seemed orange at times) shone like precious jewels under the brightness of the external light coming throught the small window. The effect was mesmerizing and the stallion couldn't help but keep staring at them, his fascination towards her appearance deafening Thunderlane to the world around him.

Lightning, who was currently going on a not very enthusiastic monologue about her adventures in the Wonderbolt Academy, paused once she took notice of the stallion seemingly lost in a trance while looking at her.

She raised an eyebrow, confused at what was going on with her table companion. Perhaps he was getting sleepy or something?

"Yo, Lane. Ya alright? Ya kinda zoning out on me." She asked worriedly.

Thunderlane blinked, awareness returning to his senses at a slow pace. He tilted his head to the side, feeling displaced and confused for a second.

"He's probably admiring how pretty you are." Came Rumble's monotonous voice from the door, dropping a bucket of ice into his brother's dullness.

The stallion shook fiercely as he heard such coming from his little brother, a look of clear shock and betrayal on his face. Lightning, in the other hoof, chuckled nervously at his reaction.

"Hum...okay?" She replied awkwardly, her eyes switching from the colt to the fidgeting stallion.

Thunderlane was thankful that his coat was dark, otherwise the mare would be able to notice that his face was about to explode from sheer embarrassment. Unfortunately things were going only downhill from there.

"Yeah. He doesn't get out much. You're probably the first mare to ever get this far into our house. I guess that means he likes you a lot." The colt added, throwing more fuel into the raging fire of pure shame that his older brother found himself into.

Rumble had no idea his simple words could easily be misinterpreted by something much more serious. There were things that Thunderlane never considered teaching to his brother in regards to mares and relationships. Tact was definitely one of them.

Lightning wasn't sure of what to make of this conversation. She could easily tell that Thunderlane wished nothing more than to evaporate from sight, and the young colt didn't seem intent on making the stallion embarrassed, his words sounded truthful yet naive. His clear inexperience at the matter was causing his brother unnecessary trouble as it is.

"I'm sure he does and so do I. I'm glad I've become such a special friend for him." Lightning replied, pitying the poor fella and coming for his aid. "But don't worry, I will keep him out of trouble."

Thunderlane's flabbergasted reaction was too much for the mare. She laughed heartedly at his utter puzzlement, her odd reply driving him paranoid.

The stallion felt he was missing some important detail in regards of their interaction. He wasn't sure anymore if Rumble was being naive, or Lightning silly, or both if them were out to get him somehow.

He never felt so uncertain before in his life. And it was somewhat entertaining.

Thunderlane decided now was a good time to calm down his heart, which had nearly imploded due Rumble's silly rambling.

'Never thought my brother would terrify me this much because of a mare.' Thought the stallion as he mustered enough courage to face the amused turquoise pegasus. He felt his insides tremble as she stared back at him with a cheesy grin. 'Okay, maybe I do need to get out more.'

"S-so...y-you...huh..."

Thunderlane felt like a total idiot with his nervous stuttering. He knew he looked like a huge goof at this point, but Dust wasn't at all bothered with his nonsense.

"Hey, chill. It's okay. Don't let it get to ya. We are grownups after all. I'm not gonna judge ya for admiring a good looking mare." She said, shrugging nonchalantly in regards to the importance of such topic.

Her sympathetic stance was a huge stress relief for him. She was far more understanding than he would ever been able to give her credit for.

"Besides," She continued, a nervous grin tugging on her muzzle. "I'm sure ya have some special stallion out there waiting to meet ya someday."

....

.....

'What?!'

Thunderlane tilted his head sideways, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Come again?"

Lightning, noticing his reaction, suddenly seemed way more hesitant on her movements.

"Huh, you're a coltcuddler...right?" She asked, the sudden anxiety in her voice a huge sign of how much she got it all wrong.

Thunderlane couldn't help but stare speechless, baffled that she thought of him in such a way. What could possibly have given her the impression that he was into stallions?

Lightning, who realized she screwed up big time, brought both hooves to her face, clearly distressed and embarrassed by the wrong assumption. She let out a muffled groan of agony, feeling like the greatest moron of all time.

"Fuck, I such an idiot! I knew I should've asked this before." Her words coming out forcefully behind her hooves, unable to look the stallion in the eyes. "Now I feel like a fucking perv."

"Huhhhh." Was the smartest thing Thunderlane could think of to come out of his mouth. He had no idea at what the mare was getting at.

A silence followed this very awkward moment, but it didn't last long enough due the forgotten presence of Rumble.

"What's a coltcuddler?" Rumble asked, intrigued by the word he never heard of before.

Thunderlane's face went pale, he had completely forgotten that his little brother was still there in the kitchen. Now he had to deal that a mare that thought he was gay and a kid that didn't even know the meaning of it.

"Huhhhhh."

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The familiar sound of food being cooked over a frying pan was the only thing that distracted the ponies currently present in the small kitchen. After spending half an hour explaining a very complicate subject to his little brother, Thunderlane saw it fitting to make breakfast for the young colt.

His mood wasn't the best, still somewhat upset after listening Lightning's excuse for assuming such things about his sexuality, he wanted nothing more than dispatch Rumble away to school and finish the conversation with Dust some other day. He wasn't alone on that thought.

The mare has been oddly quiet ever since, clearly still ashamed of her equivocation. Her eyes wandered towards the dusty wall clock above the kitchen's door, fully aware that she has to leave soon if she wanted to avoid Rolling Thunder having to chastise her again for being away on merry errands at the wrong time.

Suddenly everything felt weird. All her commitment to the stallion, their time spent togheter, all those times she wasted staring at him, searching for something to work on and improve. She truly believed she was looking up for him, for a friend that was in a similar situation of hers, interested on the same gender.

She never saw him around other stallions, it was always mares, and he seemed to get along pretty well with them. There was none of that usual awkwardness stallions have when near a mare. Hay, Thunderlane never had any of it with Lightning either.

Until now.

Dust couldn't help but think he had become more on edge these last few days, but she never understood why. She assumed it was just his jobs stressing him out, it never occurred that she could be the one stressing Thunderlane out.

And now that she knew, that Thunderlane probably was into her, that Rumble's naive words held a huge amount of truth that not even his brother would be able to admit.

Lightning felt a quick surge of panic inside of her. What was she supposed to do? How could she lay him down without crushing the fella apart? She was into mares, not stallions!

All this felt a bit too sudden and out of the blue, but now that she was aware of his preferences she couldn't deny that this was sort of inevitable in a way.

She needed to get out, she needed time to think. Staying here was just making things worse in the long run. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder if he suspected that she was into mares. Shouldn't that keep him from harboring any kind of feelings towards her person?

'Crap, this whole feeling stuff is driving me nuts!' Lightning thought while standing on her fours, finally deciding on leaving for once. 'I will just go back and busy myself with what matters. I'm sure this can wait for another day."

She trotted quietly towards the door, ignoring the looks of surprise from both colt and stallion being throw at her.

"Dust? You leaving already?" Thunderlane asked. The mare cringed at the clear disappointed in his voice.

"Y-yeah. Got work to do, ya know. " It was a half-truth from her part, she wasn't gonna bother going into full detail. "We can catch up later,I guess."

For the first time in months she wasn't really looking forward to see him again. The thought of it made her feel awful.

"Alright. We see you at the show then?" He asked, sounding more hopeful than it would be usual for a simple friendly meeting. Lightning frowned, she had forgotten about the weekend show.

"Yeah, sure. I will be there being awesome and all that jazz. I'm sure ya will be...satisfied with our presentation." Lightning was about to say 'entertained', but she had an odd feeling that this wasn't going to be the case.

Thunderlane nodded thoughtfully, unsure of what to think of her sudden departure.

"Yeah, I'm sure it will be fine. I hope you get to visit more often. It was nice to have you visiting. Wasn't it, Rumble?" Thunderlane asked, addressing his brother with a withering glance.

"If you say so." The colt replied distractedly, his eyes occupied with a superhero comic. Thunderlane huffed, annoyance at Rumble's trash behavior more than obvious.

Lightning couldn't help but chuckle at the scene. Even despite all the awkwardness of late, she couldn't help but admire how these two managed to make her day way more interesting.

Thunderlane led her way back to the front door, his eyes casted downwards as she followed him throught the hallway.

"Hey." Lightning called, bringing his attention towards herself, an idea on her mind that could help alleviate his consciousness. "What's with the long face? Cheer up, Thunder. We still have a long time ahead of us, I don't know what to say in regards to....you know. But...after the show...if ya wanna talk about...stuff. I will be in Ponyville until Sunday. It's up to you."

Well, there wasn't anything clear on what she just said, and neither it sounded like a good idea either, but somehow it cheered him up. Whatever it was, it definitely had nothing to do with her terrible horse joke.

"I guess it's better than nothing." He replied with a sheepish smile of his muzzle. "There's a lot I want talk about. That we need to talk about anyways." He added with some seriousness, opening the front and giving the mare free room to pass by.

"Yep, but I gotta a lot of ponies here to show that The Washouts are here to stay. I do have a lot of awesomeness to share." Lightning replied, proud swelling her words in a similar way it did with Rainbow. It was surprising how Lightning got back to her old self with no issues.

"I don't doubt that for a second." Thunderlane replied while clearly rolling his eyes to annoy the mare with his sarcastic disbelief. "Just...take care of yourself, all right?" He added sincerely.

"Dude, ya worry too much. Ain't nothing that can stop me! See ya at the show spearhead!" Lightning yelled excitedly before launching herself into the air, her brutal take-off leaving an explosion of dirt and dust in her wake.

Thunderlane coughed, his eyes closing in an attempt to stop the hundreds of particles from entering and causing some severe irritation.

'It is because of things like this that I worry. Just don't get yourself into trouble again Lightning Dust.'

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

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The day after Lightning's unexpected visit went smoothly as any other normal day at Ponyville. Thunderlane managed to schedule himself free on the weekend so he could be present at one of the Washouts presentations. Surprisingly enough, most of the Weather team was off during that same day.

According to Cloud Kicker, who was the current Weather Manager since Rainbow Dash couldn't perform that occupation anymore, all the pegasus were very interested on watching this new stunt troop, especially since it was a flying team after all.

"I mean, there has been a ton said about them these last few days." The blonde mare commented while flying near the mohawk stallion. "It's getting everypony really hyped from what I could see. They must be something really different from the Wonderbolts."

Both pegasus were positioning rain clouds over Sweet Apple Acres, a 'request' from Applejack. The Earth mare was annoyed with the cancelled rainstorm, one that was scheduled for that specific weekend ever since the start of the month.

"Yeah, I guess so." Thunderlane replied distractedly. He wasn't sure of what to think of the new stunt troop.

A lot of the previous morning still clustered his thoughts with persistence. He moved small dark clouds into a tight mass , only focusing at the task when dealing with electric clouds. The stallion had been feeling perturbed with Lightning's sudden departure, even if it was a bit of a relief at that time.

Some of his worry must've reflect outside since Cloud Kicker, more often than not, was glancing at him at each small cloud piece he set togheter, his wing flaps noticeably slower than usual.

He pretended to ignore her attempts at striking on a conversation, no doubt the mare wanted to grab his attention for the sake of learning what had him looking so troubled. Yet, he wasn't sure that not talking about his personal issues would make things better. Cloud Kicker probably was the best mare to offer Thunderlane any kind of advice he needed in regards of...

'I'm not even sure if is actual love or just infatuation.' The stallion thought, unsure of how to describe his feelings towards Lightning Dust. 'But Kicks is the only mare I would trust enough to ask. She plays for the other team after all.'

Thunderlane couldn't help the cheesy grin on his face. Fond memories of Kicker's antics still fresh in his memory, adventurous times of when he was younger and struggling to raise his little brother by himself.

While it was true that Cloud Chaser and Flitter played a larger role in helping to raise Rumble, Cloud Kicker was the one pony to help Thunderlane understand how to raise him in a brotherly sense. The blonde mare was very independent on her own, but life experiences taught her valuable lessons in regards to certain family aspects.

One of them being compromise, something that required a lot of sacrifice from part of his life in order for Rumble to succeed in his own.

'You can't live up your life freely as anypony would desire. If you want your brother to have anything, you need to give up of something.'

Only of late Thunderlane came to realize that her advice could be applied to anypony who wanted to start a family. And lacked financial resources for it.

If sacrifice meant living on the ground, inside a small house with two small bedrooms, one kitchen/living room and a split bathroom, not ever having any kind of vacations in years, staying out most of his time working out for extra bits, being yelled at by a hot-headed Weather manager every day for slacking off when he tried to catch up a bit of his sleep, selling most of the few belongings his parents left for him before uneventful circumstances happened, not dating anypony at all and scarcely going out with his friends anywhere...then, yes. He was sure he made enough of a sacrifice.

Yet, despite Thunderlane feeling miserable few times, it was all worthy to see his little brother go off to sleep every night, happy and healthy like any other foal with good parents.

But things changed for the best, after enduring years of suffering and anxiety, he finally saw life offer him more opportunities.

He became a Wonderbolt, something not even Thunderlane himself was sure he would ever accomplish, it was well known how rare of a circumstance it was for a pegasus to join the Wonderbolt ranks. It was so shocking and unexpected that he felt compelled to ask Spitfire if she was serious when she came to his house to inform him of the promotion.

Obviously it annoyed Spitfire for him to think she was joking, but it was a fair reaction due the unlikely of such thing happening shortly after Rainbow Dash becoming a full fledged member of the bolts.

He could understand Lightning's bitterness in regards to his promotion. There was no way he would've been granted this opportunity if she hadn't screw up back at the Academy, but rather than be mad at him she seemed okay with it. Perhaps she wasn't concerned anymore about not being a Wonderbolt.

Mostly because she probably hated the Wonderbolts at this point. Which was something that the stallion had to adress during her visit. Thunderlane is a Wonderbolt too after all.

Lightning seemed shocked at first when Thunderlane asked if she thought less of him for being at Wonderbolt.

'W-What? No! Of course not. I...I mean, you're different from them. Sure, ya have to suck up the rules and all that crap, but that doesn't mean ya only care about being a hotshot.'

To say her reply surprised Thunderlane was sort of an understatement. Her reason for believing him to be different definitely put his feelings for her to the test.

'Being awesome and popular is great! What other reason there is to be a Wonderbolt? But talking with ya these last weeks...for ya it meant proving ya brother that dreams can become true...as long ya believe in those who care about ya. Pfff, yeah. I don't really believe that, but ya did it for the sake of somepony else, not your own. That's why ya different.'

Thunderlane had to digest a lot of problematic things that were hidden in her words. Most of it was confusing and didn't really made any sense at first. But once he started to set the pieces for the bigger picture...

Lightning Dust wanted the fame, she wanted the recognition, to be the best and prove it to anypony, no matter what. Yet, she failed to understand that it took more than just amazing flying performances to reach that particular spot of greatness.

Despite that particular flaw of her, in which she seemed unable to understand she was at fault in regards to her behavior, Lightning Dust understood what empathy was all about. And that was confusing Thunderlane every time he thought about it.

'She does understand about somepony caring about others. But...she doesn't seem to know what it feels like to care about somepony else. How does that even work?'!

The stallion flared his nostrils in exasperation. Why mares are so complicated?

"You feeling alright Thunder?" The gentle voice of Cloud Kicker reached the stallion's ears, concern washing over her words as she spoke. "I can get Sunshower to set the rest of the clouds if you have a lot in your hooves."

"Nah, it's alright." Thunderlane replied, waving a hoof dismissively as he pushed another small layer of dark clouds into the sizeable Cumulus. "Just got a lot in mind today, that's all."

"Oh? Now I'm curious. Why we don't talk about what's stressing you out then? We still got few hours to waste here anyways, and I definitely picked you up for this job so we could catch up for old times sake." The purple mare said with a certain amount of cheerfulness.

'Figures'"Fine, but you better keep this between us. No gossip, okay?" Thunderlane replied, the feeble attempt on making himself sound serious evaporating quickly. The anxiety he felt about revealing his feelings for a mare to one of his friends was just too strong to mask.

It seemed that Kicker sensed the stallion's internal distress, she adopted a more disciplined stance towards him before speaking.

"Gotcha, do I have to Pinkie promise too?" She asked expectantly. Thunderlane shook his head. " Then I promise as a friend to not speak of any of this, whatever it is, to anypony else that not you in the future."

The stallion couldn't help but chuckle at Kicker's sudden change of attitude. The amount of respect and admiration he had for the blonde mare was something beyond his own comprehension.

Deep down he knew that, if Cloud Kicker wasn't interested in mares, he would've asked her out a long time ago. She was that much of a good friend to him. Kicker meant so much in his life, but Thunderlane was aware that he would never be able to tell her that , at least not without sounding like he wished to push their relationship one hoofstep further. It would be awkward.

"Let's go on a cloud away from here. I don't want to risk anypony sneaking on us." The stallion suggested while searching for an ideal spot so they could land on. Kicker shrugged.

"Sure, but let me set this rain real quick. Celestia forbids me for having to own Applejack a favor. I really don't want to go throught that experience again."

"Uh, okay?" Thunderlane replied, unsure at what the mare was talking about. "Do you want my help or..."

"Nah, I got this. Go make yourself comfy. Besides, you already did most of the job on a pretty good time. I'm sure if Rainbow was still in the team you would be giving her a run for her ego." The mare joked, amused at the idea of Rainbow freaking out about competition in a weather team.

Thunderlane nodded, though he didn't bother to correct the mare in regards to how Rainbow would actually react to his 'threatening performance'.

The constant drilling of muscles throught Lightning's maddening routine paid off way quicker than he would expect. His increasing performance at both weather management and Wonderbolt training courses has been extremely noticeable. He impressed so much that Spitfire, with extreme reluctance, actually granted him his first Wonderbolt performance at Ponyville's Extravaganda Show about a month ago.

But the best thing of all those results was to see how infuriated Rainbow became after she learned that she was kept out of Ponyville's show. To see Thunderlane get the opportunity offered to him instead of her made Rainbow beyond salty for an entire week.

Normally Thunderlane wouldn't care about Rainbow getting upset, but he had the unfortunate luck of her locker being right underneath his. The stallion frowned just about thinking of the many times the rainbow mare wasted his time, keeping him from getting access to his belongings with an irrefutable excuse of 'not wanting an stallion above her' while she used her own locker.

Thunderlane knew better than to fall into her provocations. Rainbow did that way too often with him when she was the Weather Captain, it was frustrating that he had to deal with such again as a Wonderbolt. While he was sure that Rainbow couldn't fire him with some lame excuse, he was still wary of reacting to her constant shenanigans. Spitfire and Rainbow were way too close for him to not think that she would favor the other mare in a worst case scenario.

It was sad to think that, perhaps, Lightning's opinion of the Wonderbolts held some bit of truth.

'A bunch of stuck ups with their self-centered rules. Do as their say or get bent. No room for strangers, they all knew eachother since young. Now all their friends are Bolts, what a coincidence, huh?'

Thunderlane felt she took it personally by calling the Wonderbolts an exclusive club of of sexy pones. Or maybe she was just joking, he wasn't sure anymore.

"So, tell me my dear Thundy, what's been driving you if-

The mare's voice sounding right next to his ear made the stallion jump in fright. He stared dumbfounded at the amused blonde.

"H-How?...I didn't even saw you land!" Perplexity at her stealth approach was evident by the way the stallion spoke. His heart still hammering inside his chest with intensity.

"You would have if you stopped daydreaming so much." Kicker chastised with a hint of humour. "Honestly you really don't get distracted this often. Will you tell me already what's going on?"

"Fine, I might just say it already." Thunderlane grunted, heavily annoyed at himself for getting spoked so easily. "The thing is...that...well...there's this mare that I really like an-

"Wait! You're not gay?!

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"Yea tellin' me yea didn' know he wasn' a wussie?"

"Yes, how many times do I have to repeat myself? Turns out I fucked that up big time. I couldn't really stay there after that. It was too embarassing."

"I feel yea mayte, but yea runnin' back ovah heah won' fix that up. Yea godda talk him back latah. The show goes on tomorrow, beddah prepare for all the hard yakka. Geddin' worried ain' good for yea health."

"I know that!" Snapped Lightning Dust, flaring her irritation at Rolling Thunder's insistence on talking back with the stallion that Dust herself has been sulking about for the last few hours.

"At least I been hearin' good about the fella." Rolling continued, clearly unfazed by Lightning's bad mood. "Was worry he's sum bogan, but yea describin' him as decent spot. Thin' yea gonna nail that one?"

Lightning snorted in response. The mare wasn't even sure what the taller pegasus meant by 'nailing', but she wasn't worried about hammering anypony before getting the weekend show on the run.

The preparations for their first show in Ponyville were going smoothly, the news of a huge crowd of ponies setting camp for tickets at the established show arena was the promise of good income and audience. But, despite all the usual atmosphere of another promising event, Lightning was worried.

There were two things she would be concerned about during the show, and those things brought her more anxiety than the minimal chance of getting impaled by the Crushinator Jaws of something-yet-to-be-named-after.

And those two things were two particular pegasus that stood on opposite extremes of her perspective.

She wasn't really looking forward to see Rainbow Dash again, the mere thought of that mare would make Lightning's blood boil. Yet, there was always the possibility of Rainbow not going to the show, though Lightning wasn't sure if Rainbow even knew who The Washout members were. Even if Rainbow ended showing up it was unlikely for her to come forward to talk with the stunt group. No doubt Rainbow Dash would be too prideful to acknowledge another stunt group aside the Wonderbolts.

And if they ended up meeting again, well, Lightning would have to keep her promise in check. Thunderlane probably was going to be among the crowd, watching her with a ton of expectancy and the turquoise mare wished nothing more than impress, him more than any other pony.

'Urgh, if I don't watch myself I'm gonna get way too attached. I really don't need that.'

"Where's Shorty? We need to get the posters to the delivery, unless he wants to carry all that to Ponyville by himself." Lightning impatiently asked, inspecting the merchandise they would be dispatching for the autograph sessions. There were hundreds of posters, magazines and other items they prepared to deliver.

Lightning was thankful their sponsorship had so much faith in her project. The Washouts wouldn't exist without all the initial financial support received.

After successful months and huge popularity increase, Lightning would feel a lot better once she evens her debt. She hated depending on somepony else that not herself. At least Fancy would have all his investment finally generating profit in few days, and Lightning won't have to set her hooves in Canterlot ever again.

"Ah don' know. He may be on a rush to get the uniforms readey. He'll be right." Rolling replied, busying herself with stretching her hind legs as much as possible. "Ah burn myself the jog a bit. Been feelin' my back stocks jiddery for the week. Yea could get sum too. A scradch ain' be preddy for the photographs."

"Gez, does your accent gets thicker than that?" Lightning asked sarcastically, struggling to understand half of what the other mare said.

"Ah know sum thick yea might like be a stick undah sum fella yea wanna woggle after the show." Rolling replied, laughing at Lightning's reddening face. "Now there's a mayte that knows by insdinct what she wants, no mattah the language."

"I do not like him like that!" Argued Lightning, incensed at her partner's bluntness. Rolling snorted in disbelief.

"Yea keep tellin' yeaself that. Ah know a girl hot in heels for sum rammerhead when ah see one."

"THE UNIFORMS ARE READY! ARE WE DISPATCHING THOSE DAMN POSTERS ALREADY!?"

"Heya Shorty!" Greeted Rolling as she saw the small red coated pegasus that entered the room yelling his lungs out."Dusty heah wants to nail sum stick boy into her hindah."

"I do no-

"I REALLY DON'T CARE IF SHE WANTS TO FUCK DICK! WE HAVE TO TAKE THE MERCHANDISE AWAY OR WE WILL BE BLOODY LATE!!"

Lightning felt an eye twitch as she glared at both her teammates with extreme dismay.

"I swear I hate ya both sometimes."

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"So that explains a lot." Cloud Kicker said, her voice sounding distant as she reflected on everything that was said in regards to Thunder's mixed feelings towards Lightning Dust.

At least after Kicker endured the part where he shouted indignation at her for assuming his sexual orientation.

"Glad I could clear your doubts." Thunderlane replied with a sneer of his own. The stallion was irked after learning from the blonde that the majority of the mares in the town thinks he's a coltcuddler.

"Don't be such a prude Thunder, you never seemed the kind of.. " Kicker hesitated, struggling to find a word to describe exactly what she wanted to say. "...ahn, tough stallion we mares normally see in your gender."

"Huh?" Thunderlane gave the mare a very skeptical look. "Your definition of tough worries me. I might not be a muscle freak like Bulk but I'm not some measy flower."

"Urgh! I do not mean strenght!" Kicker was flustered with herself for not being more specific. "I mean...we never saw you hitting on mares."

"Why would I hit on a mare? That's barbaric!" Thunderlane replied, sounding serious but grinning internally.

Kicker facehoofed. She knew too well that he was just playing around.

"This is what I get for making assumptions." The blonde lamented before pressing a wing into the stallion's chest. "Now listen here mister funny guy. I do not want to play this game for the rest of the day. I'm sorry for thinking you were flying on the other side of the mountain, guess I should've asked."

"Alright, but you better tell the other mares that I'm straight. I don't want to have this kind of conversation over a dozen times more." Thunderlane could only wonder what the other stallions thought of him at this point.

Cloud Kicker raised an eyebrow at his request. She expected he would know better than to ask her such things.

"That might not be a good idea. I can tell that, even if they think you're into stallions, there is a considerable number of mares that would jump at you like hungry Timberwolves if they became wiser of your current status." The mare said, sounding mischievous near the end of her warning.

Thunderlane frowned, realizing Kicker might be awfully right in that regard. Only Celestia would know how many mares would want a piece of him, especially considering he's a Wonderbolt and lives with a young colt.

'Last thing I need is a herd after my tail. If that happens with Lightning around I might just seal my own fate.'

Thunderlane sighed in defeat. He wasn't getting anywhere with this conversation, perhaps he should just go talk with Dust and figure things out on his own.

"Kicks, do you have anything that can help me with this issue?And you know what issue I meant." Thunderlane asked tiredly, hoping she would just get to the point he wanted to discuss.

Cloud Kicker huffed, understanding his dilemma in regards to his feelings but, if she had to be honest, her answer would only hurt the stallion rather than aid him in his hopeless chase.

"I really can't do much." The mare started, doubtful of her own words. "You have to figure out if you do love her. It's not a matter of understanding how, but why. I'm sure you will find what you see in Lightning that drives your head over the clouds."

Thunderlane, who has been listening with expectancy, grimaced at the end.

"You were sounding decent until you ruined it with that terrible peg joke. But...yeah. I see your point. I don't know why, but I want to believe there's a good reason. I will figure what that is soon."

"So you do?" Kicker asked, midly surprised.

"Do...what?"

"You do love Lightning?"

Thunderlane didn't reply. He casted his eyes away from the blonde, his view resting over the rainstorm that fell over the apple farm far below, bolts of light surging through dense dark clouds as the crack of electricity ressonates across the skies. The view itself was always an impressive sight of power.

He wished he could say yes, wished he could admit he loved somepony else that not his own brother. But the idea of admitting it outloud was crossing over a line he never believed he would be able to break throught.

It was not the relationship itself that scared him, but the unpredictable prospects of life that he wouldn't be able to prevent. Because, no matter how hard he tried not to think about it. He wasn't sure if he was finally ready to take that risk.

To see somepony he loves dying.

Again.

Thunderlane put all his efforts into keeping his brother safe, no matter the sacrifices he made for that to happen. But, with Lightning Dust, there was no guarantee that he could do anything to prevent the mare from getting into harms way.

Lightning lived for the danger, for the excitement. He couldn't take that away from her by simply being worried for her well-being. Also it was her career, he couldn't just tell her to give up and try something else.

She already tried, and he knew very well how that ended.

But the most problematic thing was that Lightning wouldn't be able to believe in his concern for her, she already said she didn't believe in ponies caring about her in any regard. How could he even explain his feelings if Lightning herself didn't care for feelings?

How could he love a mare that could die at any minute and didn't seem to care or believe on that happening?

Unfortunately he wouldn't be able to provide Kicker with a proper response. Silence would be the only answer he could provide. The honest one for the both of them.

He may not be flying at the other side of the mountain, yet Thunderlane couldn't help but wonder, if this mountain standing in between him and Lightning Dust would be high enough to stop him from trying.

Feeling Itchy

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"So how about we do a test?"

"A test? What for?"

"Hon, if I had to guess, I'm pretty sure you never dated anypony. Do you really think a mare like Lightning Dust is going to like a total chump? Have you even kissed a mare before?"

Thunderlane felt as if part of him just died on the inside. Kicker's question brought into light one of his biggest insecurities as a stallion. No, he never kissed a mare, if Kicker meant in a romantic way.

Yet, after spending the last few minutes doing paperwork (the amount of bureaucracy for setting clouds always astounded him) and hearing from his other fellow workers, Kicker was still adamant on getting throught Thunderlane's confusing affection towards the leader of the Washouts.

"While speaking about that," The blonde continued, not bothering to wait for some sad excuse of an answer. "How old are you again? I'm pretty sure you could be married by now."

"You're not making this any easier Kicker." Thunderlane replied through gritted teeth. His patient stance towards her constant jabs was running thin.

"Are you a virgin?"

"Fuck! I just want to take her out and figure things out! Okay?! Stop poking at me with things that I really don't care!!"

Kicker's ears folded back at his outburst. While it was unusual for him to get so upset, she had to admit she was being too pushy.

"My bad. I just want to make sure that...well, if you two actually get something going, you don't wanna screw it up at the physical part."

Thunderlane expressed his disbelief with a disdainful raise of an eyebrow.

"And what exactly makes you think that Lightning ever had any?"

Now it was Kicker's turn to express her skepticism.

"Oh, please! A mare like her wouldn't have gone this far without a...refreshment. What makes you think that she never did?" Thunderlane shrugged nonchalantly.

"Easy. Did Rainbow Dash ever had any?"

Cloud Kicker opened her mouth to respond, paused, and slowly shut it back with some resignation.

"Okay. " She said after a short pause. "I see where you are coming from. But is better be safe than sorry, ain't that right?"

"And how exactly you expect me to get some sort of experience?" Thunderlane asked in bewilderment. "I can't just go around kissing and stuff for the sake of it!"

"Pfff. All you need is a good friend who is willingly to give you some advices." Kicker replied, a cheesy grin on her face that made the stallion suspicious.

"And who do you have in mind?" Thunderlane asked, feigning curiosity at her possible candidate.

"Well, duh. Who else if not yours truly?" The mare said as she gestured at herself with both front hooves. Thunderlane couldn't help but stare silently at her. "What's with the staring?"

"So you're saying you're offering yourself to kiss me and stuff for the sake of teaching me how to do it?" The stallion asked very slowly.

"Well...." Kicker scratched one ear sheepishly, glancing around to make sure there were no other pegasus trying to eavesdrop on them."...yeah."

"You're delusional." Thunderlane said, looking at her with some disappointment. The blonde jerked at this unexpected reply.

"What?!"

"Cloud Kicker, that's just cheap. I won't kiss you for the sake of learning how to be a good kisser."

Before the blonde could express her indignation, the abrupt sound of a door opening interrupted them. Both pegasus turned their attention towards the newcomer, who was no other than Rainbow Dash.

"Kicks! Something really bad happened! Ya gotta help me!" The cyan mare said, whatever has her distressed seems pretty important.

"Huh, okay?" Kicker was taken aback by the clear urgency in Rainbow's voice. She glanced back at Thunderlane, only to find that the stallion was clearly uninterested by Rainbow's presence. "What happened?"

"Scoots doesn't like me anymore!" Rainbow yelled desperately.

"What a bummer." Muttered Thunderlane under his breath, already antecipating some nonsensical drama coming their way.

Cloud Kicker seemed to share of the stallion's silent opinion, she glanced at Rainbow without expressing any visible concern.

"Hum...why not?"

"There's this dumb stunt troop she keeps talking about! The Washouts or something." Rainbow replied, clearly dismayed by the sudden change of events. "What the hay, I can't believe she ditched me for them!"

"You never heard of the Washouts before?" Thunderlane couldn't help but ask. It baffled him that Rainbow remained ignorant this long in regards of the stunt troop that was giving Spitfire nightmares. "Rainbow, are you paying attention to Spitfire's debriefs?"

"Why? Is there anything important that was said?" She asked, a sidelong glance directed at the stallion, he sweatdropped as a response to her question.

"Huh, it's called 'debrief' for a good reason Rainbow. Were you sleeping everytime through them?" He asked, perplexed at the mare's lack of discipline. Rainbow shrugged.

"Maybe, but that's not the point! Kicker, what do I do? Scoots can't possibly like them more than she likes me! She even said my stunts were junk!"

Now that was definitely surprising to hear.

"She actually said your stunts were junk?" Kicker couldn't help but admire how bold Scootaloo decided to be towards Rainbow Dash.

Thunderlane couldn't help but laugh, imagining how much Rainbow freaked out when Scoots told that to her face.

"Well..." Rainbow paused, a nasty glare threw at Thunderlane's direction. The stallion didn't seem to care though. "...she said the Wonderbolt's flying formations are junk!But I'm a Wonderbolt and that really sucked!"

"Who's sucking what?" Kicker inquired, a cheesy grin on her face. Yet, her attempt at a dirty joke went right over Rainbow's head.

"Huh?" Dash seemed confused for a second, unsure at what Kicker was trying to imply. "I'm saying it really sucks to hear this kind of stuff! From squirt no less!"

Thunderlane, whose attention was fading from the conversation, got caught by surprise with the 'odd' nickname addressing.

'Squirt?! Why in the bloody damn would you use that word to refer to anypony?'

Yet, the hilarity of Rainbow's terrible perception was enough for the stallion to keep the problem to himself, assuring some future amusement every time Rainbow talks about Scootaloo.

Cloud Kicker, who seemed frustrated that her sexual jokes have no effect on Dash, slowly made her way around the nearest table, picking some papers as she went by.

"Surely it is a problem, but what do you expect me to do Rainbow? I don't have experience dealing with kids."

"Yeah, but... what I do then? I don't known anypony that has a kid at the age of Scoots, aside Rarity and Applejack but they didn't seem that worried when I told them." Rainbow was evidently frustrated at her friends poor reaction to such important matter.

"Why you don't ask Thunderlane?"

'Kicker, what the fuck?' Thunderlane was livid that she would even dare to push Rainbow Dash at him in such an evil manner. 'You can't be seriously this upset because of a kiss!'

"What?! Thunderlane?!" Rainbow Dash sounded almost disgusted. "What does he even know about kids?!"

Aside the fact they were talking like if he wasn't there, Thunderlane often wished he could turn into a mare, only because he wouldn't feel guilty after beating the living shit out of Rainbow.

Cloud Kicker had this blank expression on her face, glaring at Rainbow with cold intensity, a clear sign of danger for anypony who knew her well along the years.

"Thunderlane, I may remind your damn ignorance, raised Rumble since he was four, he never had a choice on the matter because his parents were dead. Yet, despite struggling and starving, Thunderlane raised his brother to the colt he is today even without any experience on the matter. So I'm very confident to say Thunderlane understands a lot more about raising a child than you ever fucking bothered to care about."

The stallion couldn't help but wince at the stone heart sharpness of the blonde, yet it was justified. Rainbow Dash was unused to being on the receiving end of such admonishing honesty. The rainbow mare seemed properly abashed as she lowered her head to the ground in utter shame.

"And I will say this once and you better fucking listen." The blonde continued, her voice nearly a whisper as she stared down at a hopeless and petrified Rainbow Dash. "You will go ask Thunderlane for help, if he decides to refuse to help that's your own problem. But if I ever hear you saying that stupid shit about Thunderlane again I will split your face in two. Do I make myself clear?"

'She's really attractive when terrorizing others.' Thunderlane couldn't help but notice while watching the shocking display.

Rainbow, who seemed white as a sheet, could only nod numbly as a response. After few seconds of hesitation, in which she was assured that Kicker wouldn't rip her head off, the cyan mare slowly turned around and trotted towards the stallion at a timid pace.

Thunderlane was debating whether or not he should help Rainbow. The mare was clearly going through a difficult experience, she made less of him but Kicker's heads up probably shoved some humbleness into her. Refusing to help at this point would be downright cruel. Rainbow Dash didn't need to feel like the entire world hated her all of sudden.

"H-hey Thunderlane." Rainbow asked, her eyes focusing on the stallion's hooves, clearly too ashamed to go face to face. "Can... you help me... please?"

Every fiber in his body was screaming for Thunderlane to say no, to refuse and earn some rightful vengeance for all the times Rainbow made him suffer, for all the unjustified acts she performed against him in the past.

Yet, his heart begged him to help her, to try one more time to build any sort of friendship they never had. To not leave a mare in pure misery, one that Rainbow clearly struggled to cope with. Helping her is what his mother would've wanted him to do.

In the end the heart would always win, because he could never bring himself to do any different from what his parents taught and expected from him.

Thunderlane, while more inclined to offer a hoof in support, wasn't sure that helping Rainbow to solve her dilemma with Scootaloo would accomplish any good in the short run. There were many things that the stallion could say about Rainbow Dash. Maturity wasn't one of them.

Rainbow Dash stood as a hero and idol for many ponies in Ponyville, mostly due her individual heroics few seasons back, but that was a couple years back. Things changed after the incident back at the Weather Factory.

Due a strange chain of circumstances, that both Thunder and Kicker found out after asking few trustworthy pegasus, Rainbow Dash overloaded the main weather generator at Cloudsdale. The overload created a gigantic mass of tons of snow that, with a huge amount of bad luck, fell from the sky right on top of Ponyville.

Aside lots of property damage, few injured ponies, and missing ones that were found way later, the Winter Festival was completely ruined.

All because Rainbow didn't want her pet to go to sleep throught winter.

The stallion remembered that day marked the moment that Cloud Kicker, who used to be Rainbow's closest friend before the events of Nightmare Night, lost all the respect she had for Dash. A day in which many ponies stopped caring about Rainbow 'Awesome' Dash.

Yet, most of her fan club remained at her side, though they we're clearly shook by learning the truth behind the Winter incident. The kids would always admire her, but the adults no longer viewed Rainbow Dash as a role model or an example of any sort.

But it wasn't the fact that Rainbow nearly crushed and suffocated lots of ponies under tons of snow that infuriated Thunderlane. It was the fact that Twilight had the audacity of trying to cover her up.

Rather than explain exactly what happened Twilight came up with some shitty tale about Rainbow struggling with her emotions and being a victim of circumstances and bad decisions.

"If Rainbow was the victim then who was the murderer?"

Thunderlane was pretty sure Twilight would've zapped him if not for Rarity calling her out a moment later. And that was the moment that his respect towards Twilight Sparkle went from few to none.

Twilight may be the princess of friendship, but in Thunderlane's view that didn't mean she should cover up for her closests friends if they clearly were in the wrong. It was not fair to everypony else.

Speaking of fairness...

"Rainbow. Do you really need my help? Do you really think Scootaloo doesn't care about you anymore? Or... "He paused, frowning as the most logical thought occurred to him. "...are you just making a fuss because she doesn't like the Wonderbolts as much as before?"

"But, Lane! Come on!" The mare suddenly snapped, all the awkwardness of moments earlier quickly forgotten. "She called m- our stunts junk! Doesn't that hurt you a little bit?!"

"No, it doesn't." His reply stunned the cyan mare. Rainbow clearly couldn't cope with the idea of change, but Thunderlane wasn't swayed by Scootaloo's opinion. "And you know why?

"No... I don't....why would she say such things?!" Rainbow asked, seemingly desperate to find answers. Thunderlane sighed.

"Because she is a teen Rainbow. At her age they want to try different things in life, have different experiences, see more fascinating things they've have ever seen before. But most importantly, and somehow that went over your huge head," Rainbow frowned at the poke towards her ego. "Scootaloo is a daredevil kind of filly. And The Washouts are much more interesting for her because she feels she can relate more to them due their dangerous stunts. "

"But why?! It's not like what we do is that simple!" Rainbow's undignified complain was understandable, at least the stallion could sympathize on that regard.

Thunderlane felt that there was an important aspect here that was completely missing, he wasn't sure of why exactly Scoots would change so radically, but Rumble stopped being comprehensible a long time ago.

"I'm pretty sure we will find out after the show tomorrow. There's no point getting stressed until then. Dealing with kids requires you to be more complacent to their tastes, even if you do not agree or understand." Thunderlane said while exchanging a knowingly glance with Kicker. The blonde nodded in approval to his words.

"I guess so." Rainbow replied hesitantly. She seemed thoughtful, a rare occurrence in Thunder's opinion, before looking up at him and back to Kicker. "Hey, I...I'm sorry for the dumb thing I said. I just didn't think that..."

Thunderlane, who was already watching Raimbow very careful, realized in an instant what she wanted to say, but was too afraid because of how Cloud Kicker might react.

"You thought a stallion would never understand about kids, just like you think they are not worthy of lots of other things."

It wasn't a question. Thunderlane has been entertaining the idea of Rainbow Dash not liking stallions for a long time, especially after his exclusive treatment under Rainbow's command during her days as weather captain.

Kicker's troubled expression went unnoticed, mostly due Rainbow's reaction to his accusation.

"No! It's not that! I swear! Please Thunder don't say that!"

Rainbow's unexpected outburst surprised the stallion immensely. He stared in utter puzzlement at Rainbow's panicked expression, her wings ruffling in extreme agitation, her breathing becoming frantic as her pupils shrank, eyes focusing on him in sheer terror.

The way she acted was so bizarre that neither Kicker or Thunder had any idea of what to say. They both searched for each other's presence in hopes of finding an answer to this strange event, but neither had any previous knowledge of what might be the reason behind Rainbow's little panic attack.

"Okay..." Thunderlane said hesitantly, worried of causing any further reactions with a misplaced word. "Let's discuss that on another time. How about we go home and worry about getting to understand the deal between you and Scootaloo at the show tomorrow? "

Rainbow blinked, the sudden change of topic seemed to placate whatever weirdness she got herself into. Her stance visibly relaxed, though she remained wary as she eyed both ponies in the office, seemingly worried they would jump at her or something.

"Kay, I gotta check on Tank and stuff, so...yeah."

Rainbow slowly trotted towards the door, pausing as she went by Thunder. She was about to say something, but her mouth only hang open for few seconds before she gave up and moved on her way out. Thunderlane had no idea what just happened.

As soon the door closed the stallion made his way towards Cloud Kicker.

"Do you know what just happened with Rainbow? I never saw her freak out like that since-

"Since the day we found out she was hiding a lot of misplaced orders for extra layers of thunder clouds?" Concluded Kicker with a frown. "Yeah, Rainbow tends to freak out when hiding something or getting extremely worried about something. Though I have no ide-

Cloud Kicker paused. Her eyes averting from the current stack of papers laying over her desk to the dumbfounded stallion in front of her. A sudden thought occurring to her, one that she would never dare to entertain in a million years.

"Thunderlane, she seemed awfully worried that you thought she didn't like stallions." Kicker commented somewhat expectantly. Thunderlane shrugged.

"So? The way she acts gave me all the impression she doesn't, especially me."

"Yes, but.. " Kicker fought a grin as she played the words in her head. "...you know Rainbow is the 'hard to get' kind of mare. You know? The ones that make themselves difficult towards those they are interested in?"

"Huh." Thunderlane wasn't sure he liked this conversation.

"Maybe....maybe...she actually has a strong likening for those she treat poorly, maybe she wants a stallion to admire her for being such a badass. Maybe that's her way of showing how interested she is on a stallion. And I gotta say...she sure gave you a lot of her time. " The blonde couldn't help but blink an eye provocatively.

Thunderlane stared at her, a big part of him wondering if Kicker was trying to fuck with him or something.

'Oh wait, she actually was trying.' He thought to himself, remembering of their earlier conversation.

"I think I will go home. Lots of things to do tomorrow. Later Kicks." The stallion said despondently before turning away towards the exit.

His sudden departure caught the mare by surprise. She expected him to remain for a more in depth talk about his relationship with the daredevil Washout.

"Oh, uh, sure! Hey! Why don't you introduce me to Lightning sometime? I would really like to get to know her better."

Thunderlane paused at the door, glancing towards the blond with skepticism evident across his face.

"Errr, sure? If she's okay with it...is there anything else?" He asked, wishful thoughts of a warm shower and a comfy bed dancing inside his mind.

"Nope! See you tomorrow then! I will schedule your appointment for the next month, since you won't be available for some time." She informed while flipping her mane with one wing. A gesture that alerted Thunderlane for possible mischievous plotting.

Wait....how does she know about...

"I don't recall saying I was going on vacation from weather duty." He replied, a hint of accusation laced into his word. Kicker snorted.

"Well, you've been in the grinder this month. Even if you wouldn't I wanted to offer you the choice anyway. We don't have anything big for this next month. Besides, you haven't gone on vacation for years. You kinda earn that stuff, so why don't you use it?"

"Never felt like it. I really like my job, and being in the Wonderbolts didn't took away that much from me." He replied with honesty. Having two jobs wasn't as bad as he once feared.

"Well, I guess you can manage it easily than Rainbow does. Ever since she started working at the school I had to chase after her so she would quit the weather duty for once. I won't have ponies that don't show up getting reserved seats in here." Kicker sounded upset, probably because she hoped Dash would remain at the team. "By the way, I'm glad you didn't went for some bullshit job and stayed with us."

"Huh, you're welcome?" Thunderlane replied distractedly. "How come Rainbow works in a school again?"

Kicker let out a hearty laugh at that question.

"It's the thing that makes me smile every time I think about it." The blonde replied, an satisfied smirk on her face. "I can only feel gleefully avenged at thinking how Twilight suffers with Rainbow as a teacher in her school. Those poor 'uneducated' souls trapped there with her, screaming on the inside for death to come and release them from their suffering."

"...."

"What?" Kicker asked, noticing the stare from the stallion.

"Byeeeee Kicker." Thunderlane said before closing the door. Kicker huffed.

"You're no fun."

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"Urgh, mah hindah is jiggery real bad. All thes paper for sum shiny makes me stiff as plank."

"Is part of the income. We know about this, we work with this stuff for a reason, how else would the Wonderbolts make money?"

Rolling Thunder rolled her eyes at Dust's reply. The purple mare was well aware that signing posters was a huge deal for them getting financials, but it never meant she liked carrying tons of posters everywhere.

"Whatevah, ah nevah really cared much about the fan plight. I'm a flyer, and that's all it gotta be to me."

"Yeah, yeah. I feel ya. Why don't ya go help Shorty with the staff? I gotta check on something." Lightning replied, her eyes were following a small dark mass that flying above their current ground, descending rapidly into the town center.

"Gonna check on yer coltfriend?" Rolling asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. She always did that expression every time she referred to Thunderlane and it irked Dust to no end.

"First of all, fuck you. And second of all, none of your business." She replied fervently, already aware of the increasing heat on her face

Rolling laughed at her before flying off to join her teammate. Lightning couldn't help but wonder what exactly Rolling's family must be like, hopefully not all the same like her weird demeanor and sense of humour.

Lightning pushed these thoughts aside as she went off of the ground in chase after that dark mass, already aware of where he might have gone to. But she immediately halted as she spotted a familiar rainbow streak across the sky nearby.

'Fucking great, of all the times.' Lightning thought bitterly, watching with apprehension as Rainbow's colorful streak kept zooming around nonstop. 'Nevermind this. I will talk with Thunder tomorrow. I can at least wait that much.'

The turquoise mare descended slowly, returning towards the arena where the show would take place, feeling extremely annoyed that Rainbow managed to frustrate her encounter just with her mere presence.

'At least after the show tomorrow I won't have to worry again about her dumb face around anymore.'

Author's Notes:

As you may have noticed I was intent on making weekend updates, but due hetic circumstances I had to stop 'posting' the chapters, but I kept writing them. I do have around twenty chapters completed but there were some issues I had to adress first.

As we all must know at this point, season 9 will be the last for Gen 4 and I can assure you I will only finish this story once that season is over.
Also I'm yet to decide when and how I will end this story. It's been a struggle to think of it. So I felt like slowing down the update rate tremendously until the next season and I get an idea of an ending.

I'm really sorry I can't update frequently, but I will leave notes for incoming updates at the end of every new chapter from now on. Thank you for your attention. Have a great December ya'll.

https://youtu.be/la2MHTyi8bk

A More Than Friendly Outcome

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There were moments in life that a pony knew where to step back, especially when confronting an issue of which they knew nothing about or lacked the necessary assets to solve it. But that was never the case when dealing with other living creatures.

Stubbornness was one of the few things that defined the way Lightning Dust dealt with the ponies around her, unwilling to change her ways despite being told otherwise, her resolve bringing more trouble than it should be considered worth taking. She cared not for trivialities such as safety or advisement.

Yet, she felt the need to swallow her pride each time her group went out to put on a show. Liked her or not, she wouldn't risk the safety of her colleagues and her own so blunty. Being careless was one thing, being suicidal was other entirely different. She was perfectly aware of this when she designed the protective suits for her group.

Being burned, electrocuted, pierced or swatted away like a bug weren't things she could exactly live through without some safety measurements. But the occasional injuries were inevitable when performing new tricks or testing equipment. She was fully aware of the risks and committed with them. Either she took risks or she would suffer much more without this job.

Yet, after spending days prepping for this important day, Lightning felt an odd amount of anxiety in regards to the next show. She never felt this worked up about a performance before, it baffled and worried her to an unfamiliar extent.

Rolling Thunder and Short Fuse were going on their routine like any other show, although Rolling has been quite insistent on knowing more about Lightning 'special' friend. The turquoise mare swatted away all the nagging as best as she could, but the Sidneigh pegasus wasn't keen on dropping the subject any time sooner.

Lightning wasn't sure about how to explain her friendship with Thunderlane if anypony dared to ask. Sure they knew each other since many years ago, even if they had scarce moments together, but Dust never entertained the idea of liking somepony so much as she did now after spending all these last weeks with him.

Perhaps her lack of socialization had something to do with it, lacking other ponies to rely on may have turned her into a loner, and she never realized until recently how much she needed somepony else to talk with.

At this point she had to admit she cares, more than anything, about what Thunderlane would think of it. Maybe that was the reason she was getting so worked up? Was she concerned about the stallion enjoying the show? Was she afraid he would turn away if he deemed the whole thing dangerous?

And leave her just like Rainbow did?

Lightning spent enough time along to know for sure that Thunderlane is notthat kind of pony. He wouldn't turn on her just because he didn't agree with something. Maybe it would upset him to an extent but not change his mind all of sudden. Dust knew he would argue about it nevertheless, it was something she wasn't sure how to discuss once the moment arrives.

The stunt job is dangerous, that much was obvious for everypony involved, it may be thrilling for Dust but it was not the case for everypony else. The spectators didn't have anypony they cared so much involved directly with the stunts, that's why the presentations excited them so much. But it wouldn't be the case this time around.

Perhaps it was premature to think Thunderlane would be this much concerned, they were friends at best. At least that's what Lightning kept telling herself, wondering in many ocassions the 'what ifs' of their relationship.

Yet, no amount of self-assurance stopped her from making an early visit at his doorstep, her hoof hesitating to hit on the poorly kept wooden door.

She didn't want to bother him like this, but the anxiety got the better of her in the end. The need to know if he would show up was making her antsy. She hated that feeling.

She tapped the door a few times, glancing around anxiously while waiting, the nearby houses were peaceful, no ponies were in streets engaging on their own personal tasks.

A few seconds later the muffled sound of hooves hitting on wooden boards alerted the mare about the imminent encounter, she was still trying to formulate some sort of conversation, anything that wouldn't make this unexpected visit awkward.

But before she could decide on what exactly to say the door swung open, revealing the mohawk stallion that Rolling wouldn't stop pestering her about. His eyes widened in surprise while a nervous grin took place in response to her sudden presence.

"Oh...hey Dust...hum...what brings you here?"

"You." She replied without thinking. A mental slap followed right after, she frowned at her own carelessness before explaining herself. "I mean...I kinda was...and....fuck! I'm not good with this kind of stuff!"

"Are you alright?" Thunderlane became concerned with her strange struggle at having an conversation. "Did something happen?"

"Sort of..." Lightning replied hesitantly. All that concern about not making things awkwards for nothing. "Hey, huh, can I come in? I don't feel like talking outside."

"Oh, sure! Come in." Thunderlane replied too eagerly. The mare raised an eyebrow at his cheerful acceptance. "Heh, sorry. I'm in a better mood today."

"Huh, sure." Lightning replied, not sure at all if she should believe that or not.

She trotted inside and went through the familiar path towards his kitchen. The house seemed cleaner and had a more pleasent scent this time around. Obviously it didn't smell like stallion sweat just like her last visit. She guessed at that time that Thunder didn't shower, but it wasn't something worth mentioning.

"I kinda wanna ask something before I get to the point." The mare said once she took a more or less comfortable seat at one of the kitchen's desk.

Thunderlane nodded, seemingly curious as he took a seat across the small table. Normally he would've offered something for breakfast, but it wasn't the best idea with the upcoming show in few hours. The stallion had no idea how the Washouts prepared for their presentations.

"So....this is kinda our last show of the season. Roll and Shorty are taking off during the break to spend time with their families during Heart's Warming and Years Eve. And....well, ya know...." She said somewhat sheepishly.

Thunderlane immediately understood what was going on. With no shows or teammates around Lightning wouldn't have anypony to spend the holidays with, especially since she previously made clear she has no family to join with.

He couldn't help but feel extremely sympathetic towards her. It wasn't a common thing to ask to somepony that wasn't directly related. Thunderlane couldn't recall the last time he and Rumble spent the holidays with somepony else that not Chaser, Flitter or, on few ocassions, Kicker.

Rumble was far too young at the time to remember the holidays with mom and dad. Yet, those days were among the best in Thunderlane's life, and he always tried his best to replicate that holiday feeling towards his little brother.

Perhaps he could get something going if he could share the holiday feeling with Dust.

"Hum...yeah. I would love to have you around for the holidays. If you're ok with it." The stallion replied with a nervous grin. He felt like cutting too close with adding the word 'love' into the mix, but thankfully that bit went unnoticed.

Lightning's ears perked, her facial expression of one that did not expect such response.

"Wait, really?!" She asked, hope and disbelief mixed together.

"Yeah, I mean it." Thunderlane said a bit more firmly this time around. "How do you usually spend your holidays?" He couldn't help but ask. The turquoise mare grimaced at his curiosity.

"Well, last few years I was kinda working to get myself somewhere. I didn't have anypony around at those times so....I occupied myself with something. I just don't really feel like spending the holidays alone ag- at this time around." She stuttered a bit near the end, but that nearly slip of tongue did not fool the stallion.

Thunderlane frowned. It bothered him to know the mare has been spending her previous holidays all by herself, this wasn't a common thing for ponies, even among the less sociable ones.

"And also..." She chuckled bitterly, pausing for a moment to regain some control over her emotions. "...I kinda need some advice on Heart's Warming gifting stuff. I have no idea how ya gift other ponies with things they like."

Thunderlane felt caught off guard by this. His eyes widened in perplexity at Lightning's lack of experience in regards to Warming's costumes. Was her family so bad that they never gave her a gift? Didn't she had anypony before that she would want to gift something?

"You never exchanged gifts before?" The stallion blurted out, frowning at his own lack of subtlety.

Lightning scratched the back of her head, clearly uncomfortable with the way he reacted. It wasn't a bad reaction that she was worried about, but rather the embarrassment of it all. It was kinda abnormal for ponies to not gift each other during Heart's Warming.

"Well, no. I kinda didn't have....well, ponies that really liked me."

"Ah."

Thunderlane felt like kicking himself for asking stupid questions. Now he made the atmosphere awkward and embarrassed her even further. It was time to do some damage control.

"Say, I'm working on what to gift Rumble this year, but he's been such a little brat that I am tempted to gift him with a box full of rocks. Maybe that will weight on his conscience." The stallion said with a touch of humour. Lightning snorted.

"Yeah, sure. That would teach him to stop being an ungrateful little shit I guess, but I know ya wouldn't do that." She retorted, smiling at the stallion's idea of a punishment. That actually gave Lightning a great idea, her mind projecting the look on Rainbow's face once she opens a gift with a glitter bomb inside. The best part is that she would never know who sent it.

'Now that would be a neat prank.' Lightning couldn't help but congratulate herself for the great idea. 'Or maybe I should use something she absolutely hates, maybe even some nasty little creature.'

Thunderlane, who was oblivious to the dark plans going inside Lightning's head, stared thoughtfully at the mare before asking.

"Hum, and how would you know I wouldn't do that?" He asked with genuine curiosity. Lightning shrugged.

"He's the only family you got." She said, sounding melancholic all if sudden. "If I had one pony that I really loved I would make everything I could to make him happy, even if he was giving me trouble at times."

Thunderlane had a strange feeling that something was being presented at him, and before he could reflect better on what to say he let his big mouth take action first.

"Is there anypony you love?"

Lightning stared at him for a whole minute, the intensity of it making the stallion awfully nervous. He felt he crossed a line that he didn't know it was there.

Yet, after a very tense moment, her stance relaxed a bit, her expression seemingly doubtful.

"I...I'm not sure. I...never expressed love for anypony else before. And I don't think whatever I felt towards my....you know who when I was a kiddo really counts."

'Ha! I knew it! Kicker is so gonna hear it from me later.' Thunderlane thought victoriously. It seems his previous assumption about Lightning's love life was correct. 'Okay, enough gloating Lane, this is serious stuff. No time for that nonsense.'

Thunderlane pondered his next words carefully. He wasn't sure this was the best moment to have the talk. Hay, there would never be a 'best moment' if he kept waiting for it to happen. They were already deep into this conversation, it was a scary prospect to push it further, but waiting for the holidays to try it out would probably be much worse.

"Lightning Dust." The stallion said in a mix of seriousness and somewhat fear. The mare instantly took notice of the sudden change of tone. She regarded him with apprehension. "What I'm about to ask you might sound strange, all things considered, but I beg that you give it some thought before answering. In case you wish to ask me the same question, I will let you know that I already gave it a lot of thought, and I finally have found the most satisfying answer I could get."

Lightning gave the stallion an odd stare, wondering what in the hay he was on about. Yet, whatever he wanted to ask requested her invested thoughts on it, she couldn't exactly think of anything that would require her breaking a sweat thinking too hard on whatever he wanted to know. She nodded in acknowledgment.

Thunderlane sighed, fearing the worst outcome possible, but it was too late to turn back on it.

"How do you feel about me?"

Scratch the part about breaking a sweat. This was about to flood an entire ocean out of her.

'Wh-what?!' Lightning's first thought filled with panic. Her eyes widening so much that it almost hurt. The breath caught up on her throat, her sudden stiffness screaming enough of an answer for the stallion.

Thunderlane braced himself for her reaction. He could see how he shocked the mare to the core with his bold move. Now it was a matter of time before doom feel over his head.

There were so many emotions going into surface that Lightning couldn't even explain. But, for her greatest shock yet, fear was the most emanating one of all.

What was she afraid of? Of telling him off? Or actually admitting she felt something towards him? Was it really that simple to turn their friendship into something more? How could she be sure this would even work? Was it worth risking the only real friend she has?

"Thunder, I..." Her voice came off meek. It was upsetting for Dust to hear herself like that. She hated to look weak, even more in front of a stallion. Yet, she couldn't exactly be honest with her feelings by hiding herself behind a tough act. "I'm not sure. You're different from anypony that I've been with. I...do like you more than anypony else...but....I just wanna be sure. I ain't saying I never thought about us being more than just friends! It's just....it's something completely new for me. I don't wanna mess up our relationship."

Thunderlane couldn't exactly blame her for feeling insecure, it is a sensitive matter for her to risk another friendship in search of something better. He isn't so sure either, the chances of a first time relationship like this to be everlasting were incredibly minimal, yet among ponies it was more likely to last than one would imagine.

Thunder felt they have to do this, for the sake of both of them, not only because of how they felt towards the other, but the experience itself would make them better ponies in the long run. Thunderlane knows he has his flaws, just like Lightning has hers. This might be the best chance for them to learn.

"I understand. But then I don't think that, even if this really doesn't work out, I wouldn't stop being your friend after that. I do care about you a great deal. More than I can put into words. Would you....do you want to be my special somepony?"

The stallion was thankful he didn't stutter or melted into jelly, this moment being so incredibly nerve-wracking, way more than his first training session under Spitfire.

Lightning bit the inside of her cheek, wondering again the several 'what ifs' that would occur due her answer. She was fully aware of how hesitant she appeared, but Thunderlane seemed composed.

Of course she ignored the fidgeting sounds of his hind hooves over the wooden floor.

This all felt sudden but it really wasn't. It just would be her first time experiencing this kind of relationship. Lightning knew she would have to go through it someday. Though she never pictured herself being with a stallion.

'Live and learn, who would've guessed...' She thought, her own words sounding tired in her head. 'I really can't see myself trying this with anypony else. This is huge, but... I do trust him.'

"Eh, sure thing."

Thunderlane blinked.

"Huh?"

Lightning, much to the stallion's chagrin, decided to rest her hind hooves over the table while leaning her chair backwards. Her sudden slacking stance surprised him greatly.

"What? Ya asked if I wanted to be your marefriend, also I ain't gonna say special somepony because that's foalish, and I decided that, why the hay not? I will be your marefriend."

Thunderlane nodded slowly. This wasn't how he envisioned they getting together, he hoped it would be during a more special ocassion, not while they were in his kitchen during an early weekend morning. It wasn't nearly as dramatic, romantic or emotional as one would think either.

So now what?

"Hum..that's great, I guess." Thunderlane said, unsure of how to follow through the conversation.

"I know, right? It's been like until yesterday that I thought you were gay. Life sure does go around." Lightning replied, chuckling at her own silly assumptions.

Thunderlane didn't seem to share of her humour. He muttered a response under his breath before changing the subject.

"So...is there any kind of behavior you want to talk about now that we are...you know....together?"

Lightning's ears perked at that question, staring thoughtfully for a second before replying. The stallion couldn't help but frown that she kept her hooves over the table despite his narrowed glances at them.

"Now that ya mentioned. Yeah, there's some stuff we gotta work out before hanging together and whatnot. So...ya know I ain't a very touchy grabby kind of mare. N-not that I would mind if ya wanna cuddle one time or another." Lightning couldn't help the reddening cheeks on her face. "But...uhhh, yeah. I rather we keep it to ourselves. I don't go around kissing in public and stuff like that."

Thunderlane nodded in agreement, he could easily understand if she wanted to keep their interactions personal. He just now was realizing that he would be dating a tomboyish kind of mare, he should've know better.

"Okay, huh, I guess I can work with that no problem." Thunderlane said rather distractedly. "I will have to let my brother know about us, but I'm sure he will keep it to himself. I don't hide anything from him and this isn't something he wouldn't notice."

"I don't doubt that. He seemed pretty suspicious last time I came here. Little bugger is quick to catch on stuff. Also..." Lightning couldn't help but smirk as she locked her full attention on the stallion. "...do you have any kinks?"

Thunderlane's head snapped. The question was so unexpected that it threw him on a loop.

"S-say what now?!" Lightning laughed at his sudden panicked expression.

"Oh, come on Thunder. I know ya must have some kinks."

"And why would you think that?" The stallion asked, genuinely curious and worried at the same time. Lightning shrugged.

"Well, ya been staring at my hooves quite a lot." She said while lifting one of her hind hooves towards him in a provocative manner. "I ain't making it hard for ya, am I?"

Thunderlane felt his head was about to explode from embarrassment. He couldn't exactly argue that he wasn't staring at her hooves, but not for the reasons she thought! Her laugh at his expense felt like a sword going through his chest and ripping off all the dignity he had left.

"Hey, hey now. No need to be ashamed." Lightning said in an effort to be sympathetic, especially after the stallion tried in vain to hide his face behind his forelegs. "I really don't mind. Besides, I do have some kinks too, but that's something we can figure out later, I guess."

Thunderlane didn't reply, being too busy drowning in his own sorrowfull pit of shame. Lightning felt concern about his lack of response, she may have touched on a very sensitive subject and didn't realize.

Dropping the carefree attitude Lightning hopped from the chair and trotted to his side, her right wing gently embracing around his chest, a gesture she did without much hesitancy as she normally would. She was thankful for being able to be this more physical around him. Only Celestia knows how many times Thunderlane needed a hug.

'Well, crap. This is the part we talk feelings and yadda yadda. Urgh, I gonna need to get used to it.

"Listen, I ain't pretty with fluffy talk so I will make this short for ya." Lightning started, her voice sounding way less confident than from what she would expect. "Me and you, it's gonna be crazy but in a good way. We have a shit ton of things to learn and I ain't sitting on my ass waiting for this flower to blossom with time. I ain't getting any younger by fooling around so I rather we get to the point already like adults. I get ya may feel antsy with this stuff, but ya won't hear crap from me, that's for sure. No promises in regards from my teammates though." She added at the end with a touch of humour.

Thunderlane couldn't help but chuckle nervously. He couldn't say she was wrong, Lightning wasn't a very patient pony and shying away from her advances wasn't going to help their relationship at all. Even if her 'advances' were rather invasive.

"I...I get you. I didn't mean to be a wuss about this." Thunderlane replied hesitantly.

"Didn't exactly called ya a wuss for not wanting to talk stuff, but I get your point." Lightning replied quickly, a bemused expression on her face as she watched the stallion finally look at her without seemingly about to erupt in flames.

"Yeah, this stuff will drag on and I'm still to wonder how we're going to keep this in between us for too long. I don't really think it would go unnoticed from the guys back at HQ."

"Oh, your teammates?" The mare asked. Lightning didn't look concerned in the slightest. "Pfff, I'm sure you can talk some bullshit and they will buy it. No biggie."

It wasn't the answer that Thunderlane was hoping for, but then he should've expected as much.

"Riiiight." The stallion replied, feeling both amused and annoyed at the same time. "And what about your team? Wouldn't they get upset if they found out you are dating a Wonderbolt?"

That question made Lightning pause, her eyebrows furrowed at the thought of their reactions.

"Huh. That's...something."

"You're not sounding very assuring right now." Thunderlane noted, looking real smug for some reason. The mare quickly noticed that.

"Oh yeah? Well, kiss my ass, would ya?" She retorted back with a sneer.

"Can I?" He asked, sounding hopeful all of sudden. Lightning did a double take.

"Wh-who-what?! No! I'm not being serious, ya dork!" She replied back quickly, cheeks flushing while staring back at him in shock. Thunderlane pouted.

"Oh, well. I was really looking forward to it." He said jokingky, though while maintain a serious expression on his face. The mare couldn't help but laugh at it.

"Damn Thunder, if ya can become such a tease like this so fast I can only wonder where we will be in few weeks."

The stallion shrugged, though the suggestive smirk on his face spoke volumes of what he thought of their relationship in future events.

Lightning shook her head before returning her thoughts back on more pressing matters.

"Look, we will have a ton to worry about later, but the first show will start in few minutes. At least I know that much by looking at that rusty garbage clock over the balcony." She said while indicating said clock with a hoof.

Thunderlane's smirk disappeared for a moment as she mentioned the clock.

"Yeah, that clock is from my grandmother." He replied. Lightning grimaced.

"Oh....huh....how's she doing anyway?" Lightning asked awkwardly enough. Thunderlane glared at her for a second, seemingly unsure of whether to take her seriously or not.

"She's dead."

"Fuck! S-sorry. Didn't mean anything bad by it." Lightning responded sincerely. 'I am totally blowing this up.'

Judging by the stallion's expression, Dust should consider apologizing without her first word being a swear.

"I know you didn't, and...yeah. It's old, but reliable. The show is in few minutes, I guess you have to go prepare yourself, right?"

The mare nodded, still resenting her stupid mouth from running wild on the wrong moment.

"Huh, Lightning?" Thunderlane called all of sudden.

"Yeah?"

"Errr, I don't mean I don't like it, but...can you let go of me? I kinda have to move."

Dust blinked for a second, then realized the stallion was talking about her wing still enveloping him tightly. She quickly let go of her wing hug, suddenly feeling very self aware for no good reason.

Thunderlane, who glanced at the mare quickly before landing on his fours, decided to not make any comment on her behalf. He knew better than to tease when her ego just took a scratch.

"Sooo....see ya at the show?" Lightning asked, wilfully ignoring what just happened.

Thunderlane's nod came as a relief for her. She could rest assured that she would no longer feel antsy about his presence there. Yet, there was something else instead, a feeling she couldn't exactly precise what it was.

"You bet on it, gotta wake up my brother though. He's always a heavy sleeper in weekends. I'm sure we will be there in time." Thunderlane informed somewhat apologetically. Lightning shrugged.

"Fine by me....say....this is actually the first time you date?" The mare couldn't help but ask. Thunderlane grinned sheepishly.

"Yeah, it kinda is."

"So you're still a virgin?"

"....get out of my house. "

Honest Regrets

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The atmosphere around the Arena, in which the Washouts would be performing shortly, had a predominance of expectations, mostly exciting and with a degree of anxiety. The majority of ponies living in Ponyville had only a vague knowledge in regards of the stunt group that was becoming wildly popular among Equestrian citizens. But rumours spread like wild fire and soon the entirety of the humble town was present to witness the show.

All but few.

Cloud Kicker glanced at the clouds around her, watching as her companion for the shift, Star Hunter, busted wild clouds formations that were originated from the Everfree Forest. Thankfully there wasn't anything big on schedule for today, which would grant her and Hunter some quick work, but they would only be able to watch the show from above, they couldn't leave their posts until the clockwork clicked in. Dammed whoever invented those things.

The blonde heard rumours of a Washout member visiting Thunderlane's house early this morning, and Kicker couldn't help but wonder what Thunderlane was playing at. It's not a usual thing to have ponies dropping at his house so randomly like that. It couldn't be that he broke past the friendship barrier so fast. Or did he?

'I hate to not know about this stuff, especially with such a close friend of mine.'

"Hey, Kicks! Ya listening?!"

Hunter's booming voice broke Kicker from her thoughts, she blinked rapidly before searching for his presence, immediately locating him only few meters away, hovering smoothly with concern etched across his face.

"Oh, nothing Hunter, just wondering." Kicker replied dismissively. The stallion snorted at this, his dark blue coat becoming even more distinguishable from the foggy pale blue sky all around as he approached the mare.

"Come on Kicks, you don't usually get worried for no good reason. What's going on? I might help give you some peace of mind." He offered with a remarkable amount of gentleness that suprised the blonde. She never saw Hunter being this caring with anypony else.

"Well, if you insist....how often you saw Thunderlane lately?"

Hunter raised an eyebrow in confusion, unsure of why such a close friend of his would be causing Kicker such noticeable worry. Thunderlane wasn't hurt or anything last time he checked.

"Huh, I saw him few times."

"Did he look different?"

"Different?"

"Yeah, like, dreamy and somewhat anxious."

Hunter paused. He wasn't sure why she would ask about how Thunderlane's feelings were acting up, that wasn't something stallions would bother to check.

"Nah. We didn't talk much from few weeks back to now. He's always either at the Wonderbolt HQ or at the Gym. I don't really pay him any visits since he's only at his house late at night or way too early in the morning."

"Would it surprise you if I said that he probably has a marefriend?"

"Say what now?!" Hunter jolted, his constant wing flaps pausing momentarily, the stallion quickly recovered from the sudden drop with a quick inverted summersault. He stared back at the mare with incredulity. "T-Thunderlane?! But....how?! And when?! Something like that would've spread so quickly! You know it better than anypony how many mares were trying to edge on him for so long."

Cloud Kicker couldn't help the annoyance she felt at the reminder of said mares. Yes, Thunderlane has been wanted for a fair share of mares that, in Kicker's opinion, weren't ever worth the trouble of being acknowledge of their existence. Perhaps Kicker would have given Cloud Chaser the benefit of doubt, but Thunderlane was never around aside work or his house. The very few times the stallion bothered to go out were during important events and festivals, but even at those he was incredibly hard to be found.

"Yes, yes, yes. I'm well aware, but Thunder had other things to worry about. Except that something must've changed ever since he got into the Wonderbolts. Dunno what that could be, but he told me there was a mare he was seeing often during his Gym schedule, days went by and he fell for her. For what reason I have no idea, he never told me."

Star Hunter nodded, seemingly lost at what to say in regards to Thunderlane's life twist. Normally he wouldn't bother to pry into his friend's life without reason, yet curiosity got the better of him.

"Soooo, who's the mare? Somepony you know?" Cloud Kicker chuckled.

"Yep! Remember our days back at Wonderbolt Academy?"

"Eh, somewhat. It wasn't really a thrill ride for me." Hunter replied, frowning at the memories. "Pulled muscles here and there way too often."

"That's what you get for not exercising." Chided Kicker, shaking her head in disappointment. "Honestly Hunter, you could be such a great flier if you didn't spend most of the time just stargazing the whole night. You only work morning shifts because you never manage to stay awake the rest of day, which happens to be the best time to get some athletic routine going. You got powerful wings, you should treat them better."

Hunter grunted, he wasn't really concerned about becoming top flier in the slightest. Yet, he felt guilty by the worried tone of voice that Kicker had on her words. She meant well and he should at least consider her words more carefully.

His eyes drifted to the ground below, shame forcing him into a search for a reason to avoid the mare's piercing gaze set on him.

"Hey....isn't that Thunderlane?"

Kicker shifted her attention towards the ground below. Truth to be told she spotted the aforementioned stallion almost immediately. His dark coat was easily distinguishable in the sea of colors that reigned over the several bleachers. But the stallion wasn't at one of the bleachers, instead he was nearby the Washout campsite, along the unmistakable company of a Washout member.

"Well, would you look at that..." Kicker muttered to herself. " I'll be right back Hunter!"

"What? Where you going?" He asked, perplexed at her sudden departure.

But Hunter got no answer as the blonde dived straight towards the duo below, her angle of approach dangerously narrow if considering her speed and distance to the ground. Cloud Kicker was unfazed by her own reckless stunt, flying alongside Rainbow Dash for so many years earned the blonde few quirks other ponies wouldn't dare to try.

She immediately regretted diving so narrowly as her landing options became clearly scarce and were truly uncomfortable to perform. Nevertheless she came to an abrupt stop at the ground, a cloud of dirty elevating spontaneously due the intensity of Kicker's wing flaps. She winced as her hooves protested at the unnecessary stress they were forced upon, hitting the ground with anything but smoothness.

Thunderlane and the Washout member, who was immediately recognizable as Lightning Dust, simply stared at the spectacular display of brutal landing. The stallion seemed somewhat baffled at the power display, Lightning chuckled at the roughness of the stunt.

"Woah, easy on the knees. That's the kind of thing that will pop all your joints, suprising ya didn't went face full on the floor." The daredevil commented, noticing the blonde wincing a bit as waves of pain washed up her legs.

"I admit I should've thought this one more throughly." Kicker replied, gritting her teeth as she took a step forward. "Urgh, this will take some time to forget."

"Tell me about it, I had one nasty bruise on a super charge t-

"Kicker, is there any reason you had to be this urgent?" Interrupted Thunderlane, still frowning due the uncharacteristic carelessness the blonde displayed just a moment ago.

"Oh, not really. I felt like checking on you and whatnot." Kicker replied with a wink before returning her attention to the other mare. "You must be Lightning Dust. Thunderlane talked a lot about you."

Lightning's eyebrows perked in surprise. She pegged Thunder for the kind that doesn't go around talking about his own life to others. A sidelong glance towards the stallion was enough of an answer on how she felt about it.

Sensing that she could be getting Thunderlane into trouble the blonde quickly acted on it.

"Not that I wouldn't known you! I mean, we kinda met at the Academy. We shared a bunker but you weren't the most talkative pony."

"Oh, that." Lightning said, her usual hesitancy at the mention of anything regarding her academy experiences becoming noticable. "Yeah, I was always the action type, never felt the need to chatter pointless stuff."

"I could tell." Was all Kicker could say in regards to Lightning's antisocial behavior. Even now the blonde could feel that the daredevil didn't want to talk with her at all. "I don't mean to interrupt anything, I can go if you want."

"There's no need Kicker, Lightning is going back to the barracks anyway." Thunderlane said with a tone of caution that intrigued her.

Lightning huffed, annoyed at the feeble attempt of dismissal coming from the stallion.

"Ya still didn't take the tickets." She said, sounding upset all of sudden. Thunderlane groaned.

"Look! I told you I'm not taking charity! I will pay like everypony else!" The stallion replied, clearly frustrated with Lightning's insistence.

"It ain't charity ya doofus! I'm giving them because I want to!" Dust snarled back, her patience running thin quickly. "Now take the damn tickets or I swear I will shove them up your-

"Woah, woah, woah! What's going on?! Why you two so angry?" Kicker asked while raising both hooves in an soothing attempt. Lightning rolled her eyes before adressing the blonde.

"Spearhead here thinks I'm playing favorites or some dumb shit like that. Can't see I'm trying to be nice for the sake of it."

"Oh, that sounds legitimate." Cloud Kicker shifted her attention towards the stallion. "Why you not taking up the offer? Yeah, she's a member of the stunt team in this show and you two relate somewhat, so what? It's not exactly a bad thing."

Thunderlane sighed in bitter contempt. While understanding of Lightning's attempt at doing something nice for him, especially after they just agreed on dating, it was difficult for him to not let the financial matter take the better of his judgement.

"I know that. I just don't feel it's fair with everypony else. I can pay my own tickets." Lightning chuckled. "What?"

"Ya can pay the average seats, not the ones I'm offering ya. Unless ya can spare two hundred bits for a single ticket." She replied, confident that the stallion wouldn't dare to pay such amount for few minutes of entertainment. "Also these happen to be under the few places with cover, I'm sure it will be more easy going for ya. Unless ya ok with frying your dark coat under the sun."

"That's very considerate of your part." Kicker complimented. Lightning shrugged, not really caring for what the blonde thought about it.

Thunderlane still seemed reluctant. Dust could understand his hesitancy, she also didn't like to feel that she owned anypony anything.

"Hey, how about a deal?" The turquoise said, a grin on her face that got Thunderlane's attention instantaneously. "Ya take the tickets, and ya pay dinner later."

Cloud Kicker couldn't help the stupid smirk on her face as she stared at both of them, a mischievous glint on her eyes as she pondered her next words carefully.

Thunderlane was taken aback by her proposal, it made him feel awkward, especially since his boss was right next to them.

And his boss was anything but subtle.

"Hmmmm, I got that feeling that tonight will be a good night." Kicker spoke outloud, making both ponies glance at her briefly.

"So, what do ya say? Deal?" Lightning asked, hopeful that the stallion would be more lenient this time around.

"I swear Thunder that if you say 'no' I will tell everypony you're gay." Kicker threatened, but her voice was playful at the same time. Thunderlane glared daggers at the blonde before looking back at Dust.

Lightning eyed the blonde in confusion, unsure of what was up with her and why she was opressing the stallion with pointless threats.

"Yeah, I guess that's fair. Won't there be a show for the evening?" Thunderlane asked.

"Eh, not. It's our last day and Rolling and Shorty are desperate to take a break. Gotta make sure they are not wear out too much. This stuff doesn't allow room for slacking off." Lightning replied confidently.

Thunderlane could've sworn he saw a flash of worry on Lightning's features. Perhaps they were reaching on a limit point that Lightning wasn't sure they could surpass.

"Also, I think I should ask who she is?" Dust added, pointing her hoof at the purple pegasus. Thunderlane groaned.

"Cloud Kicker, this is Lightning Dust and vice versa. Of course Kicker already knew you beforehoof." He replied morosely. "Kicker is the Weather Captain of Ponyville."

Lightning's eyes widened in understanding. She did remember of the blonde somewhat, she was the mare that spread the rumour about Thunderlane being gay at the mare's bunker one night. Lightning didn't pay her any mind at the time.

"Oh, she's your boss." The turquoise mare chuckled at the awkwardness. "Wow, that's tough luck Thunder. At least you don't have to deal with Rainbow anymore."

Thunderlane gave her an incredulous look in return.

"Are you serious? Rainbow's locker is right beneath mine! I'm far from not having to deal with her!"

Lightning winced, she had actually forgotten that important detail.

"Come on Thunder, I'm not that bad." Kicker pouted, feigning being offended at the way he spoke on her introduction. Thunder rolled his eyes in disbelief.

"No, but you still seem obsessed with embarrassing me every chance you get. Not to mention all the pointless flirting."

"Flirting?" Lightning asked, a frown on her face as she faced the other mare. "Wasn't aware Thunder had mares after his tail. I thought you said to everypony he was gay after all."

"WHAT?!"

The stallion stood in shock. Staring avidly at both of them, a look on his face that clearly demanded explanations.

Cloud Kicker, for the first time that Thunderlane could ever remember, seemed incredibly fearful.

"I-I-I...I didn't...I mean...err...kinda?" The blonde stuttered for few seconds, her words failing her as her brain was incapable of coming up with any sort of decent explanation.

"So it was you!" Thunderlane yelled, the sharp accusation cut through Kicker as a huge wave of guilt. "Mind telling me why?!"

Lightning was standing at the side while watching the strange scene unfold. She had no idea of what was going on and there was no more time to wonder either.

"Lane, I gotta go. See ya at the show." The mare warned before trotting back to the barracks, where Rolling and Shorty would be expecting her with their judgemental looks.

Thunderlane barely acknowledged Lightning's sudden absence, his attention fully focused on the fidgeting blonde.

Cloud Kicker knew she was in deep water. Hay, she wasn't expecting for Lightning Dust to remember that particular night back at the barracks! Also she could've sworn that the daredevil was sleeping at the time.

Her eyes timidly raised to meet Thunderlane's piercing gaze on her, his nostrils flaring at each deep exhale of breath, a sign of how furious he was at the moment.

"Look, I know I screwed up, but I had a good reason to say that stuff." The mare started, hopeful he would care to listen her explanation without hating on her even more.

"Did you now? Then this better be good Kicker, but rest assured I won't resent you for it." Was Thunderlane's dry reply, much to the mare's surprise.

"You won't?" She asked skeptically. The stallion shrugged.

"Eh, I'm really angry, but..." He trailed off, his expression softening a bit. "I don't see much to complain. Things were complicated back then and I don't think that having several ponies breathing down my neck would've helped."

"At least you're reasonable. Also don't think I did that for the sake of having you for myself or anything like that! I already have somepony else in mind." The mare warned jokingly. Thunderlane merely huffed at her reply. "Speaking of it....are two a thing?"

"What? Me and Dust?" Kicker nodded. "Well, yeah. We kinda are, but we decided to go easy. It's a first for both of us."

"Wait, what?! You're her first!?" The blonde shouted, incredulous at the astonishing information. Thunderlane frowned.

"Yes, so what?" He retorted defensively.

"Nothing! It's just...odd. I mean....both you are kinda around the same age and not really bad looking at all." Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

"Huh, thanks, I guess?"

"So you actually said you love her?"

At this Thunderlane didn't reply immediately. No, neither him or Lightning ever said anything about love. He wasn't sure if that was a bad thing or not, perhaps it was something they would figure out with time. How they would do that it was the real question.

"I care for her, a lot. So does she. That's it for now."

Cloud Kicker stared mouth agape for a second, unsure if what she heard was real or not.

"What the actual....what?! You two decided to be a couple with even being sure if you love each other?!" She shrieked at the baffling event. The stallion let out a pained sigh before replying.

"Listen, this is not so simple. We still need to figure out some stuff, but we agreed with doing that together and without worrying about whether it will work out or not." Thunderlane hoped that he sounded convincing enough. The possibility of this relationship not working worried him to an unimaginable extent.

Cloud Kicker had no idea of what to say. Being a couple for the sake of being one sounded wrong in her ears, and it made her worry immensely that Thunderlane could easily get heartbroken out of this. And she wouldn't be able to blame neither depending on how such event happened.

"Lane." Kicker said, a motherly tone to her voice that Thunderlane easily recognized. "I don't want to see you getting hurt."

The stallion smiled appreciatively at her mindfulness. He could never stop being grateful for how much Kicker cared for his well being along the years. It was the main reason he couldn't really be mad at her for spraying rumours on his behalf. She always tried to do what was best for him, no matter how unorthodox her methods were.

"I will be fine." He assured the mare, fully aware that he most likely wouldn't be if things didn't work out. " Besides, I'm not the one to be worried about on getting hurt."

Kicker's ears perked in alarm, a sense of unease spreading on her as she fully understood about who the stallion was clearly concerned.

"Again, are you sure of this? We both know how Lightning was back at the Academy. Now she has her own group os misfits, and they don't seem all that worried about how long they can keep this kind of lifestyle."

Thunderlane's expression soured, he was expecting somepony would point that out.

"I can't tell her to quit. I mean....what else is she supposed to do? Be a courier? Work a dull job as a weather pony?" He asked, exasperate breaths at the end of each sentence.

"For the love of...Thunder, just....hear me out." Kicker pleaded. "If you don't do something about this, sooner or later, Lightning is going to get hurt. Bad. Do you really want to see that? Is her career worth the cost of not being able to fly or walk again?"

The crestfallen look on his face was enough of an answer for the mare. She felt bad for the dilemma he would be facing upon.

"What....what do I do then? What else there is that would possibly make her happy?" He asked hopelessly.

'Huh, he doesn't say he loves her but wants to make her happy. Urgh, stallions.' Kicker shook her thoughts away before replying. "How about....the Wonderbolts?"

Thunderlane gave her that ironic look of when others ponies thought she was lying through her teeth about not having affairs.

"Kicker, what is this bullshit? Do you really think she wants to go back there? Or even that Spitfire would want her there?" The stallion was trying his best to not yell the obvious at her. "Are you trying to get me into trouble? If I even tried to ask any of them they would kill me!"

"Well, it doesn't hurt to try." Kicker replied with a shrug. Thunderlane glared.

"What part of 'they will kill me' went right over your head?!!"

"The killing part. I'm sure they won't kill you, break a leg or dislocate a joint perhaps, but you won't die from it. There's no reason to get so worked up."

"I hate you so much right now."

"Awww, don't say that. I love having you around." The mare pouted with a sad face. For Thunderlane her feelings were as believable as Rainbow Dash being a math teacher.

"I guess I should get to my sea." Thunderlane said as he noticed the huge line of ponies forming nearby the main entrance. "You still on your shift?"

"Yep! Me and Hunter, I guess he must be angry that I'm chilling down here." She replied with a chuckle. "Poor guy needs to enjoy better the daylight."

"Why don't you help him with that? He likes you a fair amount after all." Thunderlane suggested. Kicker's eyes widened in surprise.

"Does he now? Hmmm, I guess I can work something around." A suspicious smirk grew on her face. Thunderlane snorted at her obvious train of thought.

"Yeah, well, be easy on him. So many disastrous relationships made him a bit jumpy when it comes to spend time with other mares." He warned. "Just as you worry about me I worry about him. We're good friends after all."

"No doubt. I will make an effort to behave. Any idea what he likes most on a mare?" She asked, already plotting her next encounter. Thunderlane shrugged.

"Wild guess. Perhaps mares that don't talk too often about themselves or about foals."

"Is that so? Then this should be rather easy. Speaking of foals..." Kicker added as an afterthought. "If things between you and Lightning go far,...will you two consider raising a foal?"

Thunderlane muddled in silence for a few seconds. The idea wasn't an alien concept for him, but he was painfully aware that some fears of his own wouldn't allow it.

"Who knows? It might happen when we both retire. But right now? I will be dammed if I risk a kid having to go through the same things I did."

Heartfelt Fears

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"Mateh, where ya been?! Ah been sittin' mah hindah for ages heah. Ya done plottin' out at yer coltfriend?"

Lightning Dust let out a long suffering sigh, her mood wasn't so bad until Rolling Thunder decided to get under her skin. What should've been a rather simple last debrief before an ending season performance, suddenly started to change into one of the hardest days in her life.

The turquoise mare returned her partner's accusatory glare, she felt her jaw stiffening in an attempt to hold back the huge amount of profanities that threatened to explode from her mouth. She wished nothing more than to tell them to fuck off already.

It wouldn't be the first time Lightning seriously considered breaking apart from this team, while managing a bunch of suicidal flaks wasn't thrilling nor easy, she couldn't exactly just quit out on them for the sake of some peace of mind. She liked them just as she hated them at times. They weren't something she would call family, but it was close enough.

"Does it fucking matter?Kickers just do this, I really don't wanna hear anything until the show's over. Is that good enough for ya?!"

Rolling's eyes widened at the harsh retort. She expected Lightning to be annoyed but not to vent at her so intensely. She felt a tinge of concern for her colleague, watching the furious mare strap her safety helmet with unnecessary strenght.

The sidneigh pegasus shared an awkward glance with her shorty tempered partner, but the red maelstrom of well known fury returned her attention with an oddly quiet chuckle.

"Ah have no idea what ya up to. I ain't gonna fuss yer life if ya don' wanna. Ah still think we should talk it out before it gets to yer head."

Lightning paused on her abrupt movements. The fact that Rolling Thunder talked so clearly to her was the sign of how serious things were getting between the group members.

Dust lifted her helmet visor, her eyes focusing at her teammates. She took note of how off they seemed while looking at her. Nor angry or sassy as she would've expected.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"But y-

"It's showtime, just get on with it." Lightning cut off before pushing down the visor, she exploded dust into the air around her with furious wing flaps, exiting the barrack with unbelievable speed.

Rolling and Shorty shared one last worried glance before following after the daredevil.

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"What do you mean he's gone?!"

Cloud Kicker narrowed her eyes, not really taking well the manner Lightning demanded answers from her. The blonde glared in silence for few seconds as a warning.

Lightning, with a great amount of annoyance, nodded at the silent reprimand. She wouldn't apologize for being rude though, she was too distressed at the time to bother.

For unknown reasons to anypony that cared to know, Thunderlane, after the Washouts finished their remarkable acrobatic performances, bolted from the arena in a hurry.

Perhaps 'hurry' was a mediocre description of the event, at least in Lightning's opinion. If anything, Thunderlane's exit shook everypony's ear drums with a fierce sound wave that resonated across the entire town, scaring a great amount of ponies as a result.

Nopony had any idea of what just happened, and while Rolling Thunder kept telling her to not worry about it, Lightning couldn't help the sinking feeling in her chest after witnessing what just transpired.

"Heya, Dust! We gotta autographing stuff to do!" Rolling called her out, indicating the long line of ponies forming near the barracks.

"Go ahead without me, and get that ankle sorted out." Lightning replied, cutting a quick glance at Rolling's recent injury.

It was going to be a huge problem to keep up their presentations with one less member, but Dust rather take two than risk Rolling getting worse without need. There was nothing at stake here so she saw no need to push it.

Dust sighed before returning her attention back to Cloud Kicker, this Ponyville stop was given her more headaches than all the other previous shows combined.

Seeing that Lightning wasn't going to join Rolling gave up on waiting and went after Shorty. Her little companion wasn't very good at dealing with crowds by himself and leaving him be all alone with so many ponies was far from being prudent.

"Any idea of what just happened? I don't think that's normal." Lightning asked. Cloud Kicker bit her lip, seemingly hesitant for a second.

"I...don't really think it's right for me to say it, but..." The blonde stared apprehensively at the Washout captain. "...can we keep this between us?"

Lightning's worry increased at this request for secrecy. Surely whatever was going on with Thunderlane couldn't be this bad.

"Sure. I don't go spoiling others businesses for the sake of it, and surely wouldn't do that with Thunder." Lightning replied confidently.

"....lane."

"Huh?" Cloud Kicker giggled.

"You said Thunder but without the lane. It's kinda cute. Huh, Lightning and Thunder..." The blonde pondered for a second, poking her jaw lightly with a hoof. "This kinda reminds me of that weather joke we have about-

"Is this really the time?!" Lightning asked, incredulous at how easy the other mare deviated from the issue at hoof.

"Sorry." Kicker apologized, looking briefly ashamed before resuming her previous conversation. "So, the thing with Thunder...lane," Lightning rolled her eyes. "He kinda had a panic attack."

"Wait, what?!" Lightning stared in disbelief at her, unsure if she could trust Kicker's explanation to be accurate. "That was a panic attack? And you said kinda?"

"Ehhm, yeah. That's the most likely thing that happened. Though I never saw it being this bad."

"So it happened before." Lightning said, realizing that there was some solid base to Kicker's guessing. "And how many times?"

"Well, it only happened few times. And in all of them it involved Rumble somehow. The last time Rumble went missing after Rain-aawwnn, there was an accident at the Weather Factory and the whole town was covered in snow. Thunderlane freaked out so bad we had to take him to the hospital, but only after we found Rumble of course."

Lightning decided to ignore Kicker's poor attempt at concealing her near slip of tongue. Yet, she couldn't see why Thunderlane could've freaked out since Rumble has been at his side during the entire show.

She voiced her thoughts to Kicker, the blonde seemed stupefied at Dust's cluelessness.

"Girl, are you serious? How can you-

Kicker paused, realizing that she was getting loud without reason. She took a deep breath before thinking things more throughly.

"How much he told you?" Kicker asked, her voice coming out nearly as a whisper.

"Told me...of what?" Lightning replied, confused at what she might be failing to understand.

The blonde mare glanced at the sides, the majority of ponies were far away at the barracks, a gigantic line forming all the way to town center. Once she was assured they were out of earshot, Kicker ruffled her feathers to alleviate the discomfort of the dirt accumulated from all the dust that Thunderlane's departure caused.

"How much he told you about his family?"

'Crap' Was Lightning's first thought. 'Are we really going down this road?'

"Enough, I think. It's not something he talks it often anyway." Lightning replied, hoping that she sounded mindful enough in regards to Thunderlane's parents. Cloud Kicker nodded.

"The thing is....he was really young when it happened and..." Kicker winced for a second, she did not like talking this out to anypony, not that she usually do."...he saw it happen too."

"Oh." Was all Lightning could say in response. "He....yeah, that is...huh, fucked."

"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Kicker asked, somewhat surprised and undignified.

"Well, what the fuck do you want me to do then?" Dust replied, frustrated with the blonde and herself. "I can't say I relate or understand his pain! I didn't have parents to start with! I can't fake that I share whatever his feeling and crying won't make it any different or better!What did you expect? I can tell it sucks! I don't want him to be sad or upset, but rather than help me to understand you are just expecting me to share feelings and shit! I'm not like that!"

"Do you even love him Dust? Or are just pretending?!" Kicker retorted angrily.

"Yes! No! Fuck! I don't know! Okay?! I...I don't know what love is like..." She admitted, feeling her frustration bleed away into despair.

Cloud Kicker, once seeing how unsure and confused Lightning was, felt more at ease in regards to her stallion friend. Perhaps Lightning was being genuine about her feelings towards Thunderlane, she just didn't understand them yet.

The purple mare couldn't deny how skeptical she has been ever since Thunderlane told her about the daredevil. Years of effort trying keep the problematic mares away from him, and the mohawk dork picked the most dangerous of all!

Kicker had no doubts their relationship was bound to fail from the start, but maybe that's because she haven't listen to Lightning's side of the story yet. Accusing her of playing with his feelings wasn't going to help matters at all.

Yet, she wasn't expecting for Lightning to be so dense, the unbelievable stunt she pulled earlier was enough to shock anypony.

"When you went flying through the pointy metal thing." Kicker started, but Dust quickly called her out on the vague description.

"You mean the Crushinator?" Lightning asked with a sheepish smile on her face.

"Huh, lovely name. Did you actually got caught by it? We saw your feathers float all over the place after...you know."

"Nah, that's just for a dramatic effect. Pretty cool, huh?" Lightning asked, looking smug all of sudden. Kicker glared at her for a second before taking in a deep breath, struggling to keep her temper in check.

"Gosh, you're just as frustrating as Rainbow." Kicker muttered under her breath, looking away for a moment before returning her attention back to the current source of her emotional distress. "Lightning, did you really think this was a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, it's dangerous to perform this kind of stunts. If something goes wrong it might-

"Oh, really?! I'm tired of listening ponies saying we gonna get permanently grounded doing this, it's so irritating!" Lightning complained, tapping the ground with her hoof angrily. "I had enough of it with Spitfire giving me crap for weeks about my safety, like I would care what she says. I designed all of this! I tested it enough times to know the limit! I ain't gonna risk Rolling and Shorty's lifes or careers for the sake of looking the greatest team ever! Fuck! I'm not a fucking sociopath!"

Lightning's voice had gotten so loud that some ponies back at the autograph line were looking their way.

"Wow, easy Lightning." Kicker calmly requested, raising her hooves slightly. "I'm not saying you're any of those things."

"Yeah, you're not, but ponies talk." Dust replied after a moment of silence, realizing that her temper was getting the better of her. "I know what they say about me. No big surprise there. I'm the one who nearly killed the Elements, something like that does wonders to your career and public view."

Cloud Kicker wasn't sure how to respond to that so she changed the subject right away.

"Still, you do understand where I coming from, right? Thunderlane-

"I need to talk with him, I get it." Lightning was beyond impatient at this point. "I'll go after him, but I can't make any promises. Don't gimme that look! I do care! Just...this is very new to me, I worry that I might screw up."

"Huh, why don't you ask for advice from a....ehm, me?" Kicker suggested, quickly correcting herself on a poor assumption. She couldn't really be certain that any of Lightning's few friends were, in any sense, romantic.

"You?" Dust raised an eyebrow, but her expression was thoughtful. "I guess? I mean, I barely known you, but..."

"But being friends with Thunderlane might give you some better insight to his feelings and reactions that will occur during your relationship?" Lightning couldn't help but chuckle at Kicker's reasoning.

"Yeah, all that stuff." She said before frowning due recent thoughts. "I gotta go after him. Any clue were he went?"

"Try the plaza, it's very unlikely he would go to his house. He can be a bit claustrophobic during panic attacks. The more room to move, the less suffocated he will feel." Lightning's eyes widened in surprise.

"Damn, I gotta do a lot of catch up. Guess we still have a long way to learn more about the other."

Cloud Kicker couldn't help the silly smile on her face. She wouldn't tell Lightning but having somepony else that genuinely cared for her friend would mean a lot, especially after so many months the blonde spent debating whether she should step up to the marefriend spot herself or not.

Lightning, who took Kicker's weird smile as a sign of lewd things she didn't want to discuss, slowly turned around and opened her wings for take off.

"Oh, by the way Dust!" Kicker called, delaying the Washout's departure.

"Yeah?" Lightning asked, hoping Kicker wouldn't take much more of her time.

"As soon you find him, do yourself a favor and take that helmet off. I had to talk with you all this time while you were using it. It's weird and makes your voice sound like you're eating a sponge."

Lightning coughed, yet it was undeniable the attempt at hiding a laugh.

"Will do. See ya soon, Kicks."

Lightning took off in the blink of an eye, leaving a surprised and annoyed mare in the wake of her cloud dust.

"Urgh, as if I hadn't enough dirt on my wings." She complained with herself before trotting towards the autograph line. "Might just get something out of this while I'm here."

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"How about ice cream? Banana flavoured?"

"Just go away....and why banana?"

"Well, you kinda swing the other way, so...."

An agonizing groan followed after that particular suggestive phrasing. Thunderlane didn't even bother looking her way, the annoying mare has been driving him nuts even since he chose this particular spot to vent his problems away. He couldn't believe his luck.

After all, it wasn't every day that Starlight Glimmer would care to talk with him.

"Or...maybe not?" Starlight said hesitantly, worried she got things really wrong. She barely knew anything about the stallion other than him being a Wonderbolt. The few she knows was nothing but gossips from other mares, and the majority of things they said were mostly about his appearance or what kind of stallions he was into.

"Listen, huh, Starlight, right?"

"Yep, that's me!' She replied, a nervous smile on her face. 'Urgh, he's probably about to give me an earful about the coltcuddler thing.'

"Can you, like, just stop asking me stuff? I really just had a bad time and I'm not in the mood to talk with anypony. Can this whole friendship thing wait for another time?"

The unicorn mare seemed confused by his need for loneliness.

"But, wouldn't you kinda need a friend to help you out?" She asked, hoping to get through his stubbornness. Thunderlane huffed.

"Probably, but you ain't a friend of mine. Get lost."

Starlight stood mouth agape at the brutal rebuttal. Her opinion of this stallion just dropped quite a few miles. Yet, she couldn't go around chastising him without understanding what had him in such a bad mood.

She glanced around awkwardly. The plaza was empty with the exception of a couple of ponies cuddling on a bench far away. The sight of the couple made Starlight wonder if Thunderlane was suffering from a heartbreak

'Huh , and I thought the ponies at school had annoying issues.'

"Okay, so let me guess." Starlight started, her voice caught Thunderlane's attention unexpectedly. "You got that pony you knew since young and admired so much, then one day they were gone and you felt as your life crumbled around you, losing all hope and faith you once had of accomplishments. But then you talked yourself out of it and decided it didn't matter, that you didn't need them to acknowledge your existence. But then years went by and you've become this really degenerate shadow of yourself a-

"What the hay are you talking about?" Thunderlane interrupted, looking at the mare as if she was going crazy.

"Oh! Huh, nothing. I was just...thinking outloud." Starlight quickly responded, a sheepish smile on her face as she averted her eyes away from his.

Before the stallion could say anything the sound of crackling electricity exploded near them. The noise made both ponies jump for a second but, while Starlight was perplexed at seeing what caused the commotion, Thunderlane merely frowned and stared away from the newcomer.

"Ops, I think I overdid it." Lightning Dust said after removing the safety helmet and placing it on her back. She lightly acknowledged the couple a few meters away shouting angrily at her for the huge scare her arrival caused. "Sorry! I kinda had to rush, my bad!"

Starlight couldn't help but chuckle at this particular scene, it reminded her of that time Rainbow flew around Ponyville in a desperate search for her missing pet. She also couldn't blame the couple for being upset, Lightning's landing left burn marks on the ground around her. It did felt extremely over the top.

"So what brings you here, huh.... " Starlight asked hesitantly, hoping for a name right off the bat.

"Name's Lightning Dust, and ya?"

"Oh! My name's Starlight Glimmer! And wha-

"Kay, cool, now can ya gimme a sec? I need to talk with him." Dust interrupted, indicating with a hoof the stallion laying miserably behind the unicorn mare.

Starlight was taken aback by the clear dismissal, why ponies were being so neglectful of her all of sudden?

"Oh, huh, sure! No problem! I will, err, trot my merry way and n-

"Kay, cya then." Lightning replied as she passed by Starlight, who seemed completely shocked at being treated like a nopony.

'I guess too much time around Twilight and Trixie is giving me a different sense of things.' Starlight thought as she watched the other mare approach the stallion with a worried expression on her face.

Only then Starlight took notice of the uniform the mare is wearing. Her eyes widened in suprise and recognition.

'A Washout? But isn't Thunderlane in the Wonderbolts? Celestia knows how much I had to hear Rainbow moaning her problems about the Washouts and Scootaloo in the school reunion last night.'

Normally Starlight would leave them alone for their own troubles, but she couldn't help that this perhaps was something she needed to learn more about.

That and she wanted to hear good reasons for being so poorly treated by these two.

As soon Lightning kinda moved into Thunderlane's field of view, without making a sound or movement, Starlight casted an invisibility spell over herself. It was a good thing they were willing to ignore her, otherwise her sudden disappearance would've raised many questions.

Questions that Starlight was too worried that could reach Twilight's ears.

She watched as Lightning Dust attempted to start a conversation but, for the majority of her attempts, she fell into hesitancy and awkwardness.

Thunderlane was hardly even looking at her, at times he glanced briefly before looking away, as if he was afraid of making eye contact.

They spent minutes just doing this weirdness, to the point Starlight was starting to get annoyed with it. After few seconds of Starlight debating with herself about leaving, Lightning finally found strength within herself to speak.

"I'm...sorry. I....I forgot. "

Starlight had no idea what that was supposed to mean, but the stallion finally gave her his full attention, though his expression was hard to decipher.

"Was that meant to happen?"

He sounded so weird as he spoke, as if he was trying to swallow a particularly ginormous cupcake.

"Y-yeah, I mean...it was part of the show. " Lightning stuttered for a moment, much to her own frustration. "I should've told you. I...look, I'm really sorry. It won't hape-

"NO!"

Thunderlane's shout caught both mares, and the couple nearby, completely by surprise.

"Don't say it won't happen again! That's complete bullshit! And you know it well as I do!"

"What?!" Lightning felt indignation flare up at her chest. "You don't believe me?!"

Starlight was starting to regret staying around.

"This isn't about trust Dust! It's your life being at the edge every time you run through these Tartarus looking things!" Thunderlane was on edge of desperation, making several motions with both wing and hooves. "Do you really you think yourself invincible? It never ran throught your head that something will go wrong someday?!"

"Of course it did! You think I don't care?! You think I don't give a fuck about getting hurt?! How many times I will have to say that?! It's my job Thunder! Not as peasy as being a Wonderbolt, you know I tried, but fuck Spitfire and her bullshit! And fuck Rainbow and her friends!"

'Say what now?!' Starlight thought, alarmed at this mare's angst.

"Why you insist on this?! You really think you can live like this for much longer?!" Thunderlane asked and Starlight couldn't help but pity the state of despair he was in. "You saw what happened with Rolling Thunder, she got lucky she didn't lose her leg! What's next? A tail? A wing? A head?! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THIS IS THE ONLY WAY?

"What else then, Thunderlane?! I rather take my chances than living on the street, I'm not going back to that life again!"

Judging by the stallion's hesitation, this was something she never told him before. He tried to calm himself, he could feel the panic in his chest barely at bay.

"I don't see myself being a Wonderbolt for much longer." He said with a pained expression. "I wish, but...I thought that once I became a Wonderbolt I would be happier, and I was, for the first few weeks. Things weren't that great much after and life felt so hollow all of sudden. I just...wasn't sure what to do anymore."

Thunderlane clearly wasn't the only one learning new things, if Lightning's surprised face was anything to go by.

"But then we met again." He couldn't help the grin on his face, something that floored all of Lightning's current anger and dissapointment. "It was like waking up from a dream, but I couldn't tell if it was real or not. You and me, heh. Many ponies would never believe it."

He sighed heavily, like the weight of the world was being lifted from his back, and his eyes fixated on hers, a brightness she rarely saw permeating his golden irises.

"I spent quite some time wondering to myself but, after what happened today, I'm finally sure of how I feel."

Lightning didn't say anything, her fear of him giving up on her grabbed her mind irrationally all of sudden. She felt the desperate need of saying something, but her throat had tighten due her emotional distress.

"I...I do love you."

Lightning blinked.

'Did he just...'

"And....the thought of seeing you...die scares me too much." His lips quivered for a second. The brightness of his eyes increased as they watered. "I saw mom and dad die. I don't want to see you die too. "

Lack of Empathy

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Upon return to the arena Lightning Dust had the unpleasant encounter she dreaded that would happen at any given time.

At distance she recognized her teammates along with two other ponies, one which she was far from happy to encounter.

She landed with an excessive amount of speed, but her hooves slowed her down after dragging across the terrain for few seconds. She took off her helmet as she came to a stop, staring with great displeasure at the pony she disliked the most after Spitfire.

As if her head wasn't hurting enough from the difficult talk she had with Thunderlane, especially his confession of his feelings towards her, she still had a team and an old 'acquaintance' from the Academy to deal with.

"Lightning Dust." Rainbow Dash said with a great amount of displeasure, her eyes narrowing at her old nemesis.

"Yeah, whatever." Lightning retorted, much to Rainbow's surprise. The cyan mare wasn't expecting such nonchalant attitude in return.

Rainbow struggled with words, unsure of what to say in regards to such dismissal behavior but, before she could reply, the orange filly next to her spoke with a great amount of excitement.

"Oh, oh! Hi! Name's Scootaloo! I'm a big fan!" She said with a ginormous smile covering most of her muzzle.

Lightning was about to regard the filly but she halted as Rainbow's frown deepened, her angry stare now directed at her smaller companion.

"Yeah, yeah, you are." Rainbow said with a clear amount of bitterness. "She wanted an autograph." This last part now adressed back to Lightning.

Lightning wasn't sure of what was going on, thought she couldn't care less about Rainbow Dash and her life issues. She sighed in contempt before looking at her squad mates. Her eyes detaining on Rolling's patched injury.

'So what's next?! A wing?! A tail?! A head?!'

Lightning shuddered. She did not like the way she felt all of sudden. That sense of imminent doom never stuck on her before, but now...

"Hey, ya kay mateh? Ya seen ya saw a boggy." Rolling Thunder asked, chuckling at the idea.

Lightning wasn't sure of what to say. She never expressed worry or fear about the possibility of getting hurt, at least physically. It wasn't like her to be scared or worried, but things weren't as they were just few days ago.

She finally had a good reason to worry.

"Yeah, just gotta shake stuff outta my mind. And...get some posters so we can give her the autographs." Lightning replied, sounding awfully tired.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow at Lightning's exhausted behavior. She couldn't help the spark of curiosity on knowing what had the other mare so worn out.

"So how's Wonderbolt life going for ya? I heard ya doing alright in the main squad." Lightning casually asked towards her old wingmate.

Rainbow Dash felt her question was way too casual.

"Hum...yeah, it's alright. I'm nailing it and being awesome stuff." Rainbow replied awkwardly enough. "Huh, why do you ask?"

"Eh, just wondering. I can't help but think it gets old after a while." Dust replied while shrugging.

"No way! Being a Wonderbolt is awesome!" Scootaloo's energetic response made both Dust and Rainbow chuckle.

"I don't doubt." Lightning said, a sad smile on her face as she looked away at the empty arena, her recently designed track devices laying peacefully after being used so intensely for few minutes. "Though I don't think I will ever know what it feels like."

An uncomfortable silence followed those words. Scootaloo wasn't sure why Lightning would be so negative about it. Rainbow Dash was sure she was somewhat to blame for that, and despite seeing Lightning being so successful as a Washout, hearing the despondency latched into those words, it gripped Rainbow's consciousness in a way she did not expect.

"Can I be a Washout?"

A simple question that stunned all ponies around, they all stared down at the hopeful filly in bewilderment.

"As if! You're Wonderbolt material Scoots." Rainbow replied indignantly.

"But I want to be a Washout!"

"Huh, let me think. No!" Rainbow Dash said, her previous anger returning instantaneously.

"I wasn't asking you!" Scootaloo rudely retorted, much to Rainbow's shock.

"The answer is still no."

Rainbow Dash's head lifted in surprise towards the turquoise pegasus. She was expecting a lot of things, but a denial from Dust wasn't one of them. Scootaloo was looking completely crestfallen.

"Sorry kid, but this ain't no joke. Even if ya were older ya don't have enough to qualify for this sort of routine." Lightning explained somewhat apologetically. Rainbow Dash was slightly impressed. "One wing flap at a time, when ya get to the Wonder-

"I can't fly."

Lightning felt like chocking on her own words. Her eyes widening in both shock and disbelief towards the young mare. Her eyes switched between Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash, her silent demand for explanations was evident.

Rainbow wanted nothing more than to sink into the ground and disappear.

"Wait." Lightning said, looking somewhat annoyed. "You can't fly?! And...you know that, right?" She asked towards a flustered Rainbow Dash, who nodded hesitantly. "Then why you're telling her she's Wonderbolt material ya dipshit! They will never take non-flyers!"

"Hey! Watch your language!" Rainbow retorted heatedly, indicating the filly at her side.

"Huh, I don't think anything Lightning says will be any different from what I heard you say Rainbow." Scootaloo declared, rolling her eyes at the irony.

Rainbow's face reddened to the point of combustion.

"Fucking unbelievable." Muttered Lightning as she heard Rolling Thunder laughing nearby along with Shorty. "So you can't fly, and that's why ya wanna join."

"Yeah! I saw all the amazing stuff ya'll do without even flapping! I do a lot of that stuff with my scooter! There's this time I slingshot myself all the way to Cloudsdale an-

"YOU DID WHAT?" Asked Rainbow, who seemed on the verge of a heart attack.

"Huh, oopsie?" Scootaloo chuckled awkwardly.

Lightning stared at the duo, unsure if she should laugh or not.

"Is she your sister or something?" Lightning asked, feeling intrigued by Rainbow's protectiveness.

Rainbow sighed. She wasn't sure how to reprimand Scootalo for that suicidal stunt she just revealed, and Lightning's question was a bit tricky to respond.

"Well, kinda, in a sense." Rainbow replied while scratching the back of her head. "We ain't blood related if that's what you asking, but I definitely look after her as if she is."

Lightning nodded. She could now understand why Scootaloo was back talking so much at Dash. That and her being on her teen stage was also a huge contributing factor.

"Can I join though?" Insisted Scootaloo with begging eyes. Rainbow muttered something unintelligible under her breath.

Lightning couldn't help but feel bad about the kid. Having wings and not being able to fly was enough to bring any flying creature into a irreversible depressing mood, but Scootaloo seemed very cheerful and with a strong sense of spirit. Dust couldn't help but admire her resilience.

Though she would have to be the portray of bad news nevertheless.

"Hum...kid...I'm really glad ya look up to us so much, more even so considering Rainbow Dash over here." She indicated with a nod of her head towards the other daredevil mare. Rainbow huffed. "But...as much I wouldn't mind giving ya a shot for the team...I can't let ya do it until ya get older and that it doesn't risk my career if ya get hurt."

"Huh?" Scootaloo stared confused, unsure of what kind of problem her presence in the team coukd cause.

Rainbow, surprisingly, seemed to have understood it better.

"What Dust is trying to say, at least I think it is, is that if you get hurt while performing underage it might cost the Washouts their license to perform any more shows, not to mention Lightning might have to answer for endangering a filly." Rainbow explained, much to Lightning's surprise.

"And here I thought you were really stupid, perhaps not that much." Dust said with a grin on her face. Rainbow Dash chuckled.

"I know, right? I ain't tha....hey!" The cyan mare protested once realizing what was said. "What gives?! I ain't that dense! And you stop laughing!" This last being adressed towards Scootaloo.

Lightning watched as the filly tried to control her histerics while Rainbow made her best to ignore it.

"So, Dust." Rainbow said, a heavy frown on her face that had nothing to do with Scoots laughter. "Why did you left the arena all of sudden?"

"Wait, you were actually watching the show?" Lightning couldn't help the tone of disbelief in her voice.

"Huh, I didn't have much of a choice, especially with Scoots dragging me to it." Rainbow explained sheepishly. Lightning shrugged, it was a fair excuse.

"I had to go after my coltfriend, he kinda had a problem with his... huh... inner self."

Rainbow Dash did a double take once she heard the word 'coltfriend'.

"Wait, wait, wait! You have a coltfriend?!" Rainbow asked, visibly perplexed at the news.

"Is there a problem with that?" Dust responded defensively, not liking Rainbow's tone of irony.

"No, no, no. I, huh, thought it would be, you know...the other team stuff." Rainbow said enigmatically, probably due Scootaloo being nearby.

"Ah think she meants she expected ya to be eating donuts." Rolling Thunder intruded into the conversation with all her charismatic wit. Lightning laughed while Rainbow flushed red.

"Yeah, that's fair. What about ya? Have found anypony who can bear your attitude?" Lightning asked humorously. Rainbow scoffed.

"As if, I'm too awesome for anypony to sway me like that!" Rainbow retorted proudly.

"It's not really that bad, ya know? It's nice to know there will be somepony out there that will care to know if you're alright. I didn't know what that was like until...recently, but now....heh, I don't mind in the slightest. It feels nice actually."

Rainbow frowned in deep thought. She couldn't imagine how different it would be from having a ton of friends that really cared.

"Who's your special pony anyway? They must be really thick if they actually can put up with you."

Lightning glared for a second before replying, she had nearly forgotten this was Rainbow Dash who she was dealing with, not a friend of her.

"Yeah, it's Thunderlane."

Rainbow blinked, then scratched an ear with her hoof before doing the same with the other ear.

"Hum, sorry? I think I didn't hear that right."

"I'm dating Thunderlane ya dimwit. How hard is for you to know who that is?" Lightning asked with a smirk.

"What?! THUNDERLANE?! HOW?"

Rainbow's outburst surprised all the ponies nearby, including earning the attention of some others far away.

"What? Is he hard to talk with?" Lightning asked, not sure what the drama was all about.

"But, but!" Rainbow was clearly having a mental stroke at that point. "He's gay! How can that even be?!"

"Gay? What does that mean?" Scootaloo asked, genuinely curious about that word she never heard of before. Rainbow pointedly ignored her.

Realization dawned over Lightning as she understood what was happening.

"Hum, I'm not sure how to say this, but... that whole thing about Thunderlane being gay was a lie." Lightning explained, wondering if Rainbow's shock was past beyond more than that detail. "So, yeah. Ya better ask Cloud Kicker more about that."

"She knew?!" Rainbow sounded downright furious at this point. "Fucking twat!"

"I think Scootaloo wasn't lying about hearing you being colorful after all." Lightning joked. The orange filly giggled while Rainbow glared daggers back at both of them.

Dust was more than satisfied with the development of the current events, at least nopony was trying to strangle the other. She couldn't help the awkwardness she felt in regards to the orange filly, her disability was the worst nightmare for any flying creature. The mere thought of never being able to fly again was terrifying, but then why wouldn't Dust think that it could happen with herself?

Thunderlane wasn't exaggerating when describing the consequences of a failed stunt, not to mention there were worse things than losing a wing. Yet, here she was, challenging fate at each show and training, not thinking the 'what ifs' of her actions.

It's weird to think that Spitfire dared to warn her of the same. Though Spitfire's way of warning others was just as smooth as falling down a cliff filled with cactus right into the maws of angry alligators that could swim in an acid lake.

Or perhaps it was just the fact that she didn't like Spitfire. Thunderlane was a totally different story.

Also she expected to have admirers in her current career, but to see somepony that breaths under Rainbow's shadow to be so delighted with The Washouts gave Lightning some insight. Perhaps Rainbow Dash wasn't all of that as everpony usually says.

Rainbow's popularity was mostly due her association with Princess Twilight, being a Wonderbolt didn't change her status as much as one would think. Rainbow was popular enough before even joining their ranks.

Lightning heard enough from Thunderlane about Rainbow being the favorite pegasus of Ponyville. Though he described Dash an an 'iconic kid idol'. A pony any filly or colt would look up to, and a few adults here and there.

Yet, how come this orange filly, who was clearly so close to Rainbow Dash, would look at Lightning with so much praise and expectancy?

Were the Wonderbolts really falling that far behind?

"Anyways, gotta prep for night show. Ya know, we gonna be a member short with Rolling's injury." Lightning said as a crazy idea suddenly popped in her head. "Why don't ya join in for a short? If there's somepony who can do awesome here that's definitely ya."

Scootaloo took a sharp intake of breath, her body shaking from sheer excitement. The mere idea of seeing her favorite pony doing her most favorite activity was bringing her emotions near the point of explosion.

"No, thanks. I'm already a Wonderbolt." Rainbow outright refused with a solemn expression on her face. Lightning sighed while Scootaloo deflated.

"Come on Dash. It's just for one show. I'm sure ya will like it. " Lightning insisted. "Also, ya don't need to do it for me, do it for the kid. That probably would mean a lot to her."

Rainbow frowned, conflicted at the idea and the sudden drop of Scootaloo into the conversation.

"It's too dangerous. Spitfire would never -

"Spitfire? Are ya for real?" Lightning asked, anger surging from inside her chest. "Ya ain't gonna get hurt, chill. Safety equipment exists for a reason. I'm only asking ya cause I'm sure ya the only pony who can pull these stunts without a sweat."

Rainbow wasn't all that convinced. While this was a different situation from the past incident back at the Academy, she couldn't help but feel some familiarity with the development.

"Not sure if I should believe you. You didn't think it mattered when I got hurt back in the Academy. I don't see why would you care if it happened again." Rainbow said, letting her thoughts on the matter very clear.

Lightning shared a quick glance with her Washout teammates, exchanging silent words before adressing the cyan mare on the matter.

"Look, what happened back then... I'm sorry, okay? Ya right, I wasn't a good friend. Or a good teammate. It was my first time flying with somepony who could keep up, at first I thought I finally found somepony like me! Fearless, tough and daring. I was so assured we were the same..."

Lightning couldn't help the bitter chuckle from escaping from her muzzle. Rainbow felt the bitterness as if it was her own, an old feeling resurfacing as she saw the incredible amount of regret and disappointment in Lightning's face.

"I fucked up. After years of dealing with the adversities, I hadn't learn yet that nopony is the same like I am. I thought I was right, even the Bolts made me reassured that I was right. And... I... I was too prideful to admit I've made a mistake. Yet, it hurt to see ya didn't care to see me go. I thought... friends forgive eachother, right? But... I guess ya never thought of me as a friend. That's why ya were fine. Ya got all ya wanted, me far away and the badge on your chest."

Rainbow had no idea of what say. She imagined many things, but to hear Lightning telling her how betrayed she felt by Rainbow's omission during Lightning's dismissal. It was surreal.

This was awfully similar to her fallout with Gilda, something that Dash wished nothing more than forget. Gilda and her were good friends again, but not thanks to Rainbow's willingness to make things right.

Twilight more often than enough gave Rainbow Dash enough earfuls in regards to one of Dash's worst peculiarities. Her unforgiven bitterness to those who wronged her someway.

Cloud Kicker often complained about Rainbow's terrible attitude to ponies she didn't like, even those who were not at fault.

You keep that ridiculously foalish attitude and you will hardly keep friends for too long. You have serious issues of letting things go, learn to accept that others can make mistakes too Dash!"

Wiseful words that came from a very pissed blonde mare. Especially after Rainbow, rather unnecessarily, poked at old wounds during a reunion of the Winter Break, a special occasion in which weather ponies would gather to celebrate the end of an entire week effort of ridding the skies from several tons of snow clouds.

Rainbow didn't care much for Kicker's words, but as time went by she started to realize how many of her friends became so distant. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie were her closest friends. Yet, every other pony she knew beforehoof simply didn't bother to talk with her.

Dash wasn't really sure what made ponies so uncaring towards her person lately. Kicker hinted at Rainbow being less 'helpful' than what she used to be. Which could be interpreted as Rainbow Dash causing more troubles than solving them.

Rainbow took too long to realize that her old friendships were crumbling around her while she dedicated most, if not all, of her free time with the other Element Bearers. The biggest wake up call being Kicker's harsh words after Rainbow learned about Thunderlane being flagged a member of the Wondebolts.

"I better not hear you're giving Thunderlane trouble. We all had our fair share of you during these last few years, Thunderlane more than anypony. Do yourself a favor and let him focus on his career. You don't need more ponies to hate you at this point."

Rainbow wasn't sure were Cloud Kicker had gotten the idea that ponies hated her. But she learned, not too soon after that day, that she no longer was Ponyville's favorite anymore.

And there was nopony else to blame but Rainbow Dash herself.

"It's not only the failed stunts, property damage, or unnecessary aggressiveness you use when talking with certain ponies. You made a lot of them suspicious after what happened with the last Winter incident. Twilight was out of her mind if she thought nopony wouldn't find out somehow. You screwed up so many times lately, barely helps anypony, pranks and hurts others without a care, sets terrible examples and yet you had three jobs! Rainbow, did you ever stop to think that you may have too much when you hardly deserve all of it? I had to fire you from the Weather team cause ponies wouldn't stop complaining!"

It was hard to listen that ponies had grow to dislike her, not only because of her attitude but also because of her success. Yet, Rainbow couldn't deny that being a teacher in Twilight's School was anything but earned. The fact that Twilight pays Rainbow a considerable amount was probably one of the reasons that had ponies so infuriated.

Rainbow tried to argue in her defense. Saying she has sacrificed a lot to save ponies when they needed her. Kicker, being true to her name, slammed into her with unforgiving truths.

"Yes, nopony denies that. But when has you ever donated anything to this town aside your muscles? Your house alone is worth half Ponyville Rainbow! Even Filthy said you were incredibly high for his standards! Most your friends are barely sustaining themselves. Hunter, Helia and Chaser work two jobs to keep their houses. Thunderlane worked extra hours and never had days off unless I paid him to not work for a day or two! When did you ever bothered to help any of your friends when not during a monster attack or unforeseen accident? And don't get me started on Gilda! Pinkie told me she was selling and eating rocks for a living! Did you ever bothered to ask Gilda what her life was like? Or to wonder how she felt seeing you living in such a majestic house while she lived in a dump?"

Rainbow probably would've remembered more if not for the fact she was crying at that point. Kicker was merciful enough to stop chastising her for few days after that.

"-s ain't no flyin on mah hood. It's not like she could anyway."

Rainbow blinked. Did she actually got so lost in thoughts that she forgot the ponies around her?

"And what did you do?" Scootaloo asked, sounding amazed at whatever Rolling Thunder was talking about.

"Pff, ah just hold my matehs till brick shore. Can't say ah wanted to jiff all juice up mah house. Hah!"

Rainbow could only stare in utter confusion as both Rolling Thunder and Scootaloo laughed their heads off while Lightning and Shorty rolled their eyes.

"Huh, I didn't understand any of that." Rainbow said to nopony in particular.

"No big surprise. Ya had your head on the clouds for few seconds. That and only the kid here seems to have understood it." Lightning said as she preoccupied herself with signing some posters. "Also whatever it's going in your head will have to wait. I gotta see somepony after I'm done here. I know you and I have to talk some things through... let me know when you're ready."

Rainbow felt the urge to say something, but she no longer knew what to say. Her head was spinning and she wasn't sure anymore if she should feel something about it.

Rainbow Dash always imagined that Lightning Dust felt resentment about her expulsion from the Academy. Dash had no doubt Dust hated Spitfire, but she did not expect for Lightning to not see Rainbow under the same light.

Rainbow wanted to have a reason to hate Lightning, to say she was dangerous and that she should be avoided. Now she only could say that Dust was a pony Rainbow herself let down when it mattered the most. Another failed friendship of her life.

Would Twilight have done any different? At least Twilight and the others didn't seem that much upset despite the near death experience. Should Spitfire have done different? Should have anypony said anything at all?

"Hey, Dust... do you... don't you hate me?"

Lightning paused, her eyes averting from the poster in her hooves to the cyan mare standing still nearby. A calculated expression on her face. She sighed as she put the pen away and pushed the signed posters towards Scootaloo.

"I don't hate you. I just... I don't feel like I can ever trust you again. Even if we fly together someday, somehow... I don't think I will ever be able to call you a friend again."

A Date Out Of Time

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"When you said you wanted to talk later this evening, this isn't exactly what I had in mind."

"Huh... too many candles?"

Lightning snorted. While she could understand that Thunderlane would behave very differently now that they were dating, she wasn't expecting for his romantic side to blossom that quickly.

They both were back at his kitchen, the table excessively decorated with all kinds of ornaments that Lightning only saw when she was occasionally invited to a marriage. Several small candles spread all around the room that gave away the feeling of a ominous ritual taking place.

Dust wouldn't mind if he wanted to set a frisky mood or anything of the sort. If that made him happy and more comfortable around her then she had no reason to complain. Besides he clearly put effort into it despite the environment feeling anything but romantic.

But he better not dare mentioning this ocassion to anypony.

"Nah, just... I dunno. Perhaps they should be more centered instead of around us."

"Ahn." Thunderlane felt slightly frustrated and embarrassed for his mistake. He spent a long time trying to set a mood, but perhaps he should've asked for Cloud Chaser or Kicker to help him somewhat. The events of the afternoon still were plaguing his mind.

At least Rumble wouldn't be at the house this night. The colt decided to spend the weekend with his friends back at the Cutie Mark camp. Thunderlane was glad Rumble has friends at his age to spend time with, it felt rewarding to see his brother having a better social life after all their struggles.

"So... ya cook? I actually had forgotten ya said that. Huh, ya could make some nice extra money. The team is always going out for fast foods and whatnot. Some home cooking would be a nice change." The mare suggested while serving herself of a generous portion of carrot soup. "It's annoying to workout all that food crap outta my body later."

Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

"You mean that their food is... well, a bathroom issue?"

"What?" Lightning stared at him before laughing. "No, ya dork! I meant calories and that stuff!"

"Oh." The stallion could feel his face heating up. If they could through this night without Thunderlane making himself look like a complete idiot then it could be considered a successful date.

Yet Lightning found herself highly amused by Thunderlane's clumsiness. She wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary in regards to this date, it was fair and simple just as she prefered, if she ignored the dozens of candles around, and Thunderlane was just being as nervous as she expected him to be.

"So... all the fun aside... do ya want to talk about this afternoon?"

Thunderlane hesitated halfway through his motion of picking his wooden cup. The tip of his feathers resting on the edge of the table for few seconds before his wing returned to its natural position.

The mare expected him to be wary from now on, she knew this wasn't at all what he wanted to discuss.

"I... just wanted us to have a good time." He sounded so disappointed that Lightning almost didn't have enough courage on herself to push the issue forward.

"I know, I know, and we are, trust me. It's nice to able to be with somepony for once that won't look me sideways with envy, or hatred. Well, aside Rolling and Shorty of course, but they aren't the greatest company if I had to be honest."

"Then why? Why can't we just forge-

"Can you? Can you forget?" Dust abruptly asked, a mix of doubt and incredulity. "Are you telling me it doesn't hurt you? That it doesn't make you sick with worry?"

Thunderlane reluctantly remained silent, his reaction being enough of an answer for the mare.

"Look, we gonna be a thing now, we gotta look for the other more than usual friends. I know that much at least. I'm... not very into talking feelings and that sort of stuff, but... I care a lot about you. Well, shit. I'm not sure 'love' is the word I'm confident to use, but I will figure it out along the way. This isn't the first time I say it and it won't be the last."

The stallion nodded, seemingly lost in thoughts as he poked his spoon in a manner that screamed sadness all over it.

Lightning felt worried that she may be pushing too hard all of sudden, last thing she wanted was to make her partner miserable. She wasn't an expert on telling others how to deal with their life issues.

That and she did not want to get on Cloud Kicker's bad side.

"Did you talk with Spitfire?"

The unexpected question made Dust jolt in surprise. Her eyes widened in pure perplexity at this unforeseen intrigue coming from her crestfallen partner.

"Talk... what with Spitfire?" Lightning retorted, trying her best to not sound upset by his assumption that she would even want to talk with Spitfire.

Thunderlane was well aware that he was trotting on thin ice, he reconsidered his words more carefully before replying.

"I remember you mentioning Spitfire talking you out of your job a few times, at least trying to. Is that true?"

"Oh." Lightning felt silly for forgetting that obvious detail. "Yeah, she was giving me a lotta crap about danger and some other bullshit, like she actually gave a fuck about me breaking my neck! I bet she's looking forward to see me outta a wing soon."

Now Thunderlane did not doubt that Spitfire did try talking Lightning Dust out of her dangerous stunts, but to want Dust actually hurt? That was clearly Lightning's biased opinion.

Any other day of the week Thunderlane would've spoken in defense of his captain, but Spitfire left much to desire in the stallion's short career as a Wonderbolt so far, that and his special somepony mattered more to him than Spitfire ever would.

"Speaking of it, how ya feel about being a Wonderbolt? I remember I probably asked but we never talked much into it."

"Well, we didn't because I didn't want to upset you."

"Hey now, why would I be upset?" She asked, clearly humored by his silly worries.

Thunderlane couldn't help his jaw stiffening for few seconds before replying.

"Because, as much you don't want to admit, there wasn't a single day you didn't wonder the 'what ifs' of what happened back at the Academy. Wishing and regretting the choices you could have made and didn't. The chance you wasted at the possibility of accomplishing the thing every pegasus dreams about ever since they learned how to fly. How much you hate yourself for not realizing your mistakes and how you hate others for not calling you out on your mistakes, or how incredibly judgemental they were about the type of pony they thought you to be."

Lightning stared in silence, as if regarding the pony across her for the first time in ages. Her stunned expression the greatest giveaway of how he nailed that feeling of hers that not even her knew how to describe.

After what seemed an eternity the mare finally found her voice back, still too dazed to understand how did he understood so well how she was feeling.

"That... I don't even... how did you?..."

Thunderlane shrugged.

"A few reasons I think. A pony I took care for so long helps you learn to see how others feel without them expressing or voicing their problems. My... mother taught me a few things for, well, when I was a bit older. Also you do not notice but you're very expressive with the way you feel, even if it do not goes with what you're saying."

"I am?" The mare was clearly dumbstruck. Thunderlane nodded. "Crap. That explains why Rolling is always beating me up at poker nights."

"You play poker?" Thunderlane asked, genuinely surprised Dust made no mention of it before.

"Yeah, we kinda play around few times, when we don't really have much to do with the bits we have on excess."

"How much do you all earn per show? If you don't mind me asking of course." The stallion quickly added, worried she would take it the wrong way.

Lightning didn't seem to mind, but the way she took her time to answer made Thunderlane understand that this was something she might be uncomfortable to talk about.

"Well, it's not like it should be that much of a deal, but... " The mare bit the inside of her cheek, displaying a fair amount of anxiety. "How much do you earn as a Wonderbolt?"

Thunderlane was starting to regret asking. Now he was the one who felt cornered about being asked of his income.

"About two hundred bits a month." He replied hesitantly.

Lightning's reaction was of total surprise and slight disappointment.

"That's it?! Wow, that's not much as I expected."

"Well, we get extra for each show we get called upon." Thunder explained, although he knew the extra amount didn't really matter much.

"Oh, cool. How many shows ya been up so far?" She asked more excitedly this time around.

Thunderlane braced himself for the impact.

"Hum.... one."

"What?! ONE?! But you're almost a half a year in the Wonderbolts!!"

Her shock and indignation made the stallion's face flush from the embarrassment.

"I mean, I had my debut in Ponyville. If it wasn't for Soarin and Misty backing me up I probably would still be waiting. It was four months after I got fledged. I honestly thought about giving up few times."

"How can anypony give up on being a Wonderbolt?" Lightning asked, perplexed that the stallion even considered such affront.

Thunderlane wasn't sure how to explain what he felt during that time, he never talked with anypony about his issues at the HQ, not even Cloud Kicker. The more he thought about it, the less convinced he was about staying in the Wonderbolts.

"My father was a Wonderbolt." He said in despair, memories of the older stallion, sharing and teaching the young colt, easily came to surface. "I.... he taught me a lot about being one. The way he said made everything sound awesome. It was there and then that I decided that I wanted to become one too. Mother was worried about me chasing down that path, said that life could get really demanding when it comes to be a flying celebrity. Though I never cared about being popular. I just thought it would be a career I would be happy with."

Lightning didn't say anything, worried she might spoil this rare moment in which the stallion was sharing more of his family, something he always avoided.

Yet, she saw that she had different reasons for becoming a Wonderbolt. While she sought fame and recognition, Thunderlane prefered the enjoyment of just being part of it. He never intended to be a comet in the sky, for him being among all the other stars was just good enough.

She couldn't understand why he prefered minimum when he has potential to be so much more.

"Still, that totally blows! Two hundred bits, fuck."

"Well, how much you do then?" He asked politely, this discussion about his salary wasn't doing any good about his resolve on staying a Wonderbolt.

"Eh, a bad month around six to eight hundred bits." She nonchalantly replied.

Thunderlane felt something in his chest sinking really fast.

"And.... on a good month?" He asked somewhat fearfully.

"Best we got was around two thousand bits. For each one of course."

Thunderlane was struggling to absorb this information. Two thousand in a single month was enough to cover for almost all members of the Wonderbolts! Lightning's paycheck was enough to cover Spitfire, Fleetfoot and Soarin for the entire season!

Lightning wasn't sure what to make of Thunderlane's panicked face. She was already anticipating some awkwardness the moment he told his salary was almost ten times less of what she earned, and she felt bad that the gap between them was so gigantic when she knew very well that he was having a much harder time as a Wonderbolt.

" Lightning... " He asked after a moment of awkward silence. His eyes finding hers after a long time of internal struggle from his part. "... are the Wonderbolts done for?"

Dust scratched one of her ears, unsure if she understood what he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... seeing how successful your team is and how your style is so appealing to everypony. Will any filly dream about becoming a Wonderbolt?"

Lightning immediately understood at what he was trying to get at, and the reason of his worry was not out of merit. Yet, she couldn't see how to counter that troublesome thought.

"I... don't know. I wouldn't think that we would cause that huge of an impact." She admitted, frowning at the consequences that the meteoric success of her team could cause. "But I can't be blamed. This is part of the business, if the Wonderbolts want to compete they gotta step up."

Undeniably true. The Washouts really went a few steps up in terms of what a daredevil can present to impress crowds. Yet, those few steps were just way over the line for what the Wonderbolts deemed 'reasonable'.

Thunderlane couldn't see how Spitfire would ever consider training the Wonderbolts, or cadets for that matter, to do such dangerous stunts for the sake of being more impressive.

Unless...

An idea popped in his head, crazy and beyond logical comprehension as one could expect, but an idea nonetheless.

"What if I told you," He started, unsure if he could even believe his own words. " That you could be a Wonderbolt and perform the same stunts that your team does?"

Lightning, unsurprisingly, gave him an ironic glance in return.

"The hay ya talking about? Is this some kind of prank or something?"

"Not a prank." The stallion was glad be sounded more firmly this time around, despite the idea still feeling ludicrous. "I mean... let's think this through.... you want to be a Wonderbolt more than-

"I don't want to-

"Lightning! Please, stop lying to me and to yourself!" Thunderlane cut her off right away. For the first time feeling extremely upset with her stubbornness. "You want it just as much as I wanted before I got fledged! Being a Washouts won't change what you really feel about it! You dreamed about this since you were a filly! Just as I did since I was a colt! The only thing stopping you from trying again is Spitfire! The Wonderbolts are way more than just Spitfire!"

"So? She's the one who make the calls. What chance do I-

"No, she deals with the calls cause she's the one who's in physical condition of doing it. It doesn't mean she has the final say on everything."

For the first time in what felt like ages, Lightning felt a small spark inside her chest that she had forgotten all about. She dared not to hope, but all this sudden crazy talk from the pony she trusted the most was getting to her.

"How can you even be sure of that? Or know it for that matter?"

Thunderlane, after carefully studying Lightning's facial expression, realized that the line of denial was finally being crossed. Now it was a matter of not making promises that he would regret later.

"Do you know General McFly?" Lightning snorted.

"Who doesn't? One of the greatest of all time an-

"Do you know him personally?"

Lightning shut herself for a second, the serious look on the stallion's face warned her from having any doubts from what he was about to say.

"My father introduced him once. He was the one who pulled dad's ropes back then and taught him discipline, aside other things. Tough, straight to the point, no bullshit. Yet, I could call him many things, but never unfair. There was no Wonderbolt with better judgement than him. If I didn't know any better, I would say dad tried his best to be like McFly. Some of his colleagues always made fun of dad for being the Captain's favorite."

Thunderlane paused, the memories bringing a familiar sense of pride and joy that was left behind after the tragic events.

"What I'm trying to say is... you founded the Washouts, and seeing how the Wonderbolts are going down the cliff due your success, I think you should talk with McFly. If there's somepony that breathes the life of what the Wonderbolts of old truly are, it's him. He will listen to you. And there's the important part obviously." Thunderlane added with a chuckle.

"Which is?" Lightning asked, still too bewildered to express any opinions.

"He's Spitfire's superior officer. What he says goes, no matter she likes it or not."

It was almost as if somepony has just presented her with the most predictable gift she could expect from a Heart's Warming night, yet it totally surprised her nonetheless, especially because she never bothered to think about it before.

"I can't believe I never thought of that." Lightning said mostly to herself, yet confusion was evident as she still couldn't see what to do with this info. "So what then? What could I say to McFly that would make him interested?"

At this Thunderlane couldn't help but smile mischievously. Lightning raised an eyebrow at that reaction.

"Well, now I have some suggestions in mind, but I only will be sure if we talk with him personally."

"Pfff, talk with General McFly?! Good luck finding where he lives." She replied, followed by a derisive snort. Thunderlane shrugged.

"He lives in Cloudsdale."

".... kay. Good luck knowing if he will be at his house when we get there."

"It so happens that McFly's niece is a Wonderbolt and a friend of mine, so I can ask her anytime." The stallion couldn't help the smug grin on his face, much to Lightning's flaring annoyance.

"Urgh, good luck thinking he will want to see you then!"

"Well, it happens I'm the son of his all time favorite cadet?" The stallion couldn't help the irony.

"Fuck! Fine, ya win! We will go see damn McFly! This better be good, I really don't want to waste free time being stuck hearing stories with an old feather." The mare crossed her hooves, looking extremely frustrated she couldn't win her way out of it.

"Hey, don't say it like that. I wouldn't mind if McFly wanted to tell stories of my dad, it would be nice to know more about him."

Lightning felt her cheeks flush from embarrassment. Thunderlane managed to make her look like the most ignorant pony in a single sentence.

The stallion didn't seem to realize how abashed he made the mare feel with his words, his eyes staring at something in the distance, outside of the current plane of reality.

'I really gotta stop being so self centered. This means way too much for him, even if he's trying to help me out. At least I think he is.'

The mare desperately searched for something to say, anything that would break the awkward mood she got themselves in.

"Hey, do ya want to hang out tomorrow?"

Thunderlane's trance was suddenly broken, he blinked few times, glancing her way with a dubious look on his face.

"Hang...out...? Huh... I... sure? But what are we doing?

'Crap, I should have thought of that first!' "Huh, ya know any good place we can go for some fun? It doesn't matter where, I will take care of the finances."

Thunderlane clearly didn't agree with that proposal, if the frown on his face was anything to go by. Yet, he hummed while thinking on something that could peak Lighting's interested.

But if she was going to pay...

Thunderlane wouldn't mind having a bit of fun.

"Oh, sure. There's this place you will love it." He replied coolly.

"For real? What is it like?

"Nice, warm and relaxing." Thunderlane responded somewhat enigmatically. Lightning chuckled.

"Really? That I gotta see. Anyways... wanna have a bit of fun tonight?'

Thunderlane felt the smirk on his face melt instantaneously. The room suddenly felt ten times hotter than usual.

"Huh, what exactly you mean with that?" He asked, hating himself for the noticeable fear on his voice.

"Seriously? Come on dude. Ya a guy and I'm a gal, what else could we be doing?" She asked humorously, but the blank expression from the stallion evaporated Dust's smile. "Wait... are ya telling me ya never..."

"I... huh.... probably not... "

"Huh, no wonder they thought ya were gay."

"Gee, thanks a lot, that really makes me feel better." The stallion replied bitterly. The mare winced at her choice of words.

"Huh, I mean... good you're not a molester?"

Thunderlane stared her in bewilderment, bitterness replaced by shock. The mare sighed in defeat.

"Yeah, shutting up now."

None of the two said anything for few minutes. The only sound coming from the occasional hoof tapping over a flat surface or the sounds of spoons pinging on the plates.

"Have you... ever done it before?" Thunderlane suddenly asked, such question taking a lot more courage than he thought it would be necessary.

"I.... yeah. With a... mare once." Dust replied hesitantly.

'Crap. I own Kicker thirty bits.'

The stallion, despite knowing he would lose money in a short future, couldn't help the strange sense of relief he felt for Lightning never being with another stallion before.

"Right, so you okay doing this? Like... I'm not sure what to do." Thunderlane's timidly asked.

"Really? Thought ya would have a Playpone or something layin-

"I know what a mare looks like Dust! I meant about doing things in a way you will like!" He quickly replied, flustered at her boldness.

Lightning chuckled. Yet, she had several internal debates in regards to such intimacy.

"Listen, if ya don't feel ready we can try this some other time. What's the hurry for? I'm sure ya won't blow if ya can't get some steam off or something like that."

All Thunderlane could do was give her a deadpanned look in return.

"So let me know when ya feel ready. And in the mean time we can try to learn more stuff about ourselves. Say, how about an early morning flight tomorrow? I miss doing some long runs, being a Washouts doesn't allow me to do soft flying anyways." She suggested, seemingly more empathetic with the stallion's insecurities.

Thunderlane nodded. Lightning's consideration for his lack of experience was somewhat surprising. He knew she wasn't as aggressive like some other mares or so self centered as he expected. It was hard for her to be disappointed or frustrated by things not working out.

"So, I guess I will see you tomorrow, morning then?" Thunderlane asked, getting on his hooves with the intent of following the mare outside.

Lightning rolled her eyes as soon she realized he was trying to be courteous in his goodbye. She jumped from her chair with a quick flap of wings before touching the floor smoothly.

"Sure, I will be here. Really early, think ya can take it?"

"Heh, if I didn't, I don't think they would take me as a Wonderbolt." Thunderlane joked.

Lightning shrugged before turning around and making her way to the entrance. Thunderlane was a bit taken aback by her sudden movement and quickly followed after.

The door wasn't far off, but the stallion couldn't help the feeling that the silence that followed both of them dragged time across for an eternity. He felt something was amiss and couldn't figure out what it was.

He wordlessly opened the door and moved so Lightning could leave, but he froze as soon his head turned around and she slammed her lips onto his.

The sudden kiss shocked him into an alternate plane of existence, for he had never experienced such before, the warmth and softness alienating his senses. His eyes, previously open wide due the contact, now slowly close as he grew herself comfortable with the event.

The moment felt like forever, yet his lungs soon started to scream in protest. With eyes half lid, he lightly tapped her chest as a way to request the separation. She attended his request, slowly pulling her head back, her eyes slowly opened revealing two glowing amber orbs, reflecting the brightness of the moon leaking through the open door.

Despite all the magic the stallion saw along the years, nothing ever came to compare to this moment, one that drove him into a sense of awe that nothing had ever done before.

"I kinda love you too."

A Day Off The Chart

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"I swear I'm going to kill ya later! Dammit Thunderlane!"

"Oh, just relax. That's why we are here after all."

"Ya lucky I'm feeling sore, otherwise I would whoop your fatass."

Thunderlane couldn't help but laugh. Lightning was sounding extremely flustered and she had a good reason for it.

Both pegasus spent the majority of the morning doing flying excercises. It was not exactly as the stallion expected, the mare was very insistent for both of them to do more than just casual flight.

Thunderlane had a strange suspicion that Lightning wanted to try him out on a race, but he knew better than waste his time trying to outrun her across the skies. He worked his way around a very likely embarrassing defeat by suggesting a more complex course for their race.

Dust was a bit puzzled by his suggestion, low flyby through the town seemed far from safe. Yet, Thunderlane knew his only chance at keeping up with her was by taking advantage of his weight while performing tight turns, Lightning's lighter physique would cause her to overextend her turns, giving the stallion some edge where in everything else he had none.

The race was planned as a single lap across the town, Lightning quickly got ahead, but she dropped speed right after she nearly collided with a roof on the first turn. Thunderlane couldn't help the anxiety he felt after she nearly crashed, but since the mare lost her primary strenght he decided to cast aside his worries and focused on his own flight pattern.

At first his idea of gaining on the turns worked, with Dust slowing on turns he managed to pair up near her. Yet, no matter how tight he turned, he was unable to overcome her at any point.

The stallion was confused. How was she able to keep up on a faster pace than him during such straining wing movements? Not to mention she was flying through unfamiliar ground while Thunderlane knew the town's layout in it's entirety.

The answer was immediately obvious, especially when she pulled the most narrow turn through two houses, flying the small gap in-between, reaching the other side and gaining a lot more ground over him. The amount of strength on her wings was fairly superior to his own, and that was something he knew ever since he met her back at the gym.

Thunderlane couldn't help the frustration and disappointment he felt. He simply wasn't good enough, no matter the strategy, there was no way of beating her and he had no idea if he would ever be able to.

Both ponies were already on the end of the lap, but Lightning suddenly broke out of the course. Thunderlane was about to fly after her, wondering what happened, but that wouldn't be necessary.

He wasn't counting on Rainbow Dash getting in the way of his flight path.

But instead of breaking off, he flew right into her.

The collision wasn't the prettiest sight, and didn't felt pleasant either. Both ponies spiralled out of control for few seconds, but managed to regain themselves before impacting with the ground a few inches below.

Rainbow Dash was shocked, pained and infuriated. She swore several words his way, at least until Cloud Chaser and Blossomforth, that were working nearby, came for his aid.

The three mares argued incessantly during minutes, but Thunderlane was too busy looking around for Lightning to care.

He found her moments later, hiding behind a very familiar apple stand.

Needless to say that Applejack was confused at having the captain of the Washouts hiding behind one of her sack of apples. Her confusion only grew after Thunderlane landed nearby and kindly requested for the other pegasus to stop covering herself with fruits.

Lightning coughed, clearly embarrassed by her actions, but she quickly shrugged the event from her consciousness.

Thunderlane realized that the race was pretty much done for, so he recommended for both of them to go at the place he suggested last night.

Lightning accepted the idea, somewhat curious and relieved for getting out of scene.

But regret and righteous fury hit the mare hard once she realized that Thunderlane had led both of them to Ponyville SPA.

Muttering several treats under her breath, the mare followed her companion inside, while considering going back to hiding behind a sack of apples. In her mind that idea was far less embarrassing.

So after a very awkward introduction to the pony twins, Aloe and Lotus, both Thunder and Lightning spent several minutes under the care of the sister's hooves.

It was only a matter of time until Lightning voiced her displeasure, but Thunderlane knew her heart wasn't really into it.

"I don't see why you're complaining. If anything you, and me, could use a time like this to recover. I can't even remember the last time I came here. Felt like ages ago." The stallion said, a grin on his face despite his companion's mood.

Lightning snorted. She wasn't even going to ask why he was here before, and true to be told, she knew Thunderlane meant well and her previously sore muscles did not complain once during the treatment.

"Ya win this one. I guess I can take this over dealing with Dash again. Can't believe she decided to pop up all of sudden." The mare lamented. It has been weeks since Lightning ever had to be in a real race, she had nearly forgotten how refreshing it was to fly at her limit without a defined course to follow. "Also great work back there. Ya sure gave me trouble." She added humorously.

But Thunderlane did not reply. The silence that followed only occasionally interrupted by one of the twins when repositioning themselves, both mares seemed oddly quiet as the conversation followed.

Lightning frowned at the lack of response. She couldn't exactly look at Thunderlane due both of them being on different beds and laying on opposite directions, but Lightning felt she had bothered him somehow. If anything, Lightning learned at this point that the stallion prefered the silence when upset, worried, or doubtful.

"Hey, you're not mad at me, right?" She asked.

"No, it's not you. Don't worry." He replied way too quickly.

"Thunder, don't say to me not to worry when ya worry all the time. We talked about this before. Don't hide stuff from me. Please."

The stallion sighed. Despite his clear reluctance on speaking his mind he had no way to argue against Lightning's concern.

"It's just... I suck."

Lightning blinked. She wanted to ask for clarification but waited for her partner to follow thorough the conversation.

"I couldn't take lead, even knowing the town's layout and being more stable while turning, it just wasn't enough." He explained, his voice dragging across the words with such despondency that really surprised her. "I guess this is what it feels like knowing you will never win, no matter what."

Lightning had no idea of what to say. She couldn't exactly pin him as being pessimistic on that regard, but she found herself too ashamed to admit that he was right. She would always be faster than him by default, no matter how much training the stallion submitted himself into, his heart was into flying, but not into winning.

Never before the mare ever thought she would feel bad at being so good at something, and a feeling caused by her partner being realistic and truthful about himself. This wasn't a bitter opponent she was dealing with, but her special somepony instead.

It was hard to find words to console her forlorn partner.

"Hey, it sucks. I know. How do ya think I felt when Rainbow got everything she wanted and I lost everything? Guess I'm a great flyer, but not great at kissing ass."

That earned her a chuckle from the stallion. Hearing that brought an immense sense of relief to the mare. At least she was onto a good start.

"I mean, ya shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I've been pulling nothing but crazy stunts for the past months. Being narrow, fast and sharp is all about my job. Wonderbolts are not so demanding like we are. I'm sure ya would do a lot better if ya had our kind of training."

The benefit of doubt never sound so welcoming as it did for the stallion. Lightning had a good point overall.

"I guess you make sense. I didn't think about that. Still, I wonder what else should I do. It's not like I will get at your level an-

"Ya want me to train ya?"

Thunderlane paused. While the idea seemed very interesting there was also the problems that would come along that whole training package.

Like how harsh she was going to drive his head across the mud, and how she would set every muscle in his body on fire for the sake of losing weight.

Thunderlane was well aware he needed to lose some of it.

"Tempting, but I don't think I would survive that kind of training." He replied, feebly attempting to sound humourous.

"What? I'm not gonna drill you senseless. The heck ya think I am? Spitfire? Pffff, chill. It will be fine." She replied, a mix of irony and confidence masking her words.

Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

"When you helped me back at the gym it wasn't really light work you made me go through." He sharply reminded her.

"Yeah, well. You were such a fatass back then, I needed to help ya burn out quicker. Ya still could use the extra effort. Besides, the training is way more than just losing weight and gaining muscles. Ya will see."

Thunderlane frowned. He wished to reply but Lotus, who was currently massaging his wing joints, stifled a laugh before giving her own opinion on the matter, much to the stallion's chagrin.

"She does have a point. You are much easier to reach around than it was few weeks back."

"Thanks, Lotus" Said Thunderlane through gritted teeth.

The stallion could've sworn he heard the other mares laugh at his expense. Lightning had a funny way of achieving payback. It was Thunderlane who dragged her into a spa after all.

"Anyways, think about before you start sweating. If anything ya will look a lot more impressive for your teammates." Lightning advised after calming down her laughs. "Don't ya have any Wonderbolt ya look up to?"

"A few." Thunderlane admitted. "Soarin, Silver, Rapidfire, Fire Streak, he retired though. Also Fleefoot and Misty Fly."

Lightning raised an eyebrow. The majority of the names were part of the main squads, but it was notable the absence of few important names on his personal list.

"No Spitfire, no Blaze, no Rainbow Dash?"

"Meh."

"That's doesn't sound like a very good explanation."

"Does it matter?" The stallion replied more hastily this time around. "Speaking of it, why did you ran off when Dash showed up? I thought you two talked the other day. Why you still avoiding her?"

"Urgh, don't get me wrong, I do tolerate her. It's just I prefer to avoid her muzzling her stupid face into my races. I had enough problems about that when she tagged along."

"Sounds like you really don't want to compete with her again." Thunderlane commented, understanding that Dust has a decent excuse playing at her hoof.

"Yeah, well, I guess I don't feel like arguing with somepony that doesn't know how to lose."

Thunderlane had no reply to that. It surprised him how well Dust knew about some of Rainbow's issues.

The rest of their session went quietly. After half an hour, of what the stallion usually would call 'stress relief', both pegasus were free to leave the premises of the spa.

Lightning seemed fairly satisfied, especially that now she no longer felt aches in places that always annoyed her.

"Alright, it was no a bad call, but gimme a heads up next time. I don't mind coming to a place like this, just doesn't mean I wanna risk certain folks knowing about it." Dust said as both pegasus reached the outside area. The sun was still high up in the sky, indicating both ponies still have a lot of time for further activities. "So, what ya wanna do now?"

"Well, I was thinking we c-

"Yo, Thunderlane! Finally found ya!"

The stallion jumped at the familiar voice calling his name. His eyes widened in shock as he turned around to face one of his Wonderbolt colleagues.

"Fleetfoot? What are you doing here?" Thunderlane asked, perplexed by the mare's sudden appearance.

Fleetfoot trotted towards them at reasonable pace, a signal that nothing really urgent was happening, also the fact that Fleetfoot wasn't using uniform was another give away.

"Wha ya mean what I'm doing here? You asked me to be here, did you forget already?" She asked with a smirk on her face. Her eyes detaining on Dust for few seconds before growing larger. "Wait! Wait, wait, wait, wait.... is this Lightning Dust?!"

Thunderlane felt a fair amount of apprehension at that question.

"Huh, you see, she h-

"Wow, I'm a big fan, girl! You a total badass!"

Thunderlane did a double take, staring in utter confusion towards his teammate.

"Come again? Fleet, you know who this is, right?" The stallion asked, bewildered by her reaction.

"Duh, who doesn't? She is a sensation back at my hometown."

Lightning could only smile awkwardly at the weird exchange. She was also surprised by Fleetfoot's sudden introduction, but it seemed that Thunderlane should be expecting this.

"Huh, thanks? So what brings you here?" Dust asked.

"Pfff, Thunderlane, of course. He wanted me to help him get in contact with my uncle." Fleetfoot explained, still looking far more excited than it should be normal.

"Your uncle?" Lightning eyed the other mare in confusion. While Rainbow Dash would be a pony that would pride herself about her knowledge of each member of the Wonderbolts, Lightning Dust never cared to know much about the current or previous members. "Who would that be?"

"Whispering McFly, who else?" Fleetfoot retorted humorously.

Lightning's eyebrows shot up in surprise at this revelation. She glanced at her partner, a worried look on her face as she thought about the implications of such encounter.

Thunderlane saw and felt her worry, but he couldn't really say much about it. This meeting was going to happen, no matter what.

"So, you two are actually friends?" Fleetfoot asked, looking particularly interested on Lightning's reaction.

"Uh, well, we kinda dating." Dust replied distractedly.

Fleetfoot seemed completely gobsmacked by that answer. She stood mouth agape for few seconds before adressing her teammates, expressing her confusion at the news.

"Wait, what?! But... ain't you gay Thunder?"

Lightning could not help but laugh. Thunderlane, in the other hoof, was clearly livid.

"No! That's some stupid rumour a friend of mine started long ago! Never been at any point whatsoever." He replied heatedly.

Fleetfoot nodded, looking troubled for some unknown reason. She eyed both ponies with mixed feelings.

"Okay... this might change things a bit." She said slowly. "Anyways, uncle Fly say he can receive you at his house in around two days, somewhat around the afternoon. He's dealing with some stuff with other senior members and won't have much free time during this weekend or next." Fleetfoot explained, her eyes going back and forth from the other mare to the stallion. "So midweek is your best chance, that if you don't have anything better to do of course."

"No, it's fine. Thanks a lot Fleet." Thunderlane replied, genuinely grateful for her help. "Not only for this, but... everything else."

"Hey now, I couldn't leave you hanging, I don't care what Spits says, even though she probably won't be so hard on you from now on."

Thunderlane frowned. Yes, Spitfire wasn't the most pleasant pony around him a couple weeks after the stallion joined the ranks, but Soarin and Fleetfoot were there to support him when he started doubting himself. There was nothing that would ever suggest that the captain would lay off from his back.

So why Fleetfoot thinks that will be the case?

He wanted to ask more, but Lightning was getting anxious at his side and it was very noticeable, the reason probably being the resonating sound of a sonic rainbow going off at distance.

"So she can use her special powers whenever now?" Lightning asked aloud, probably not expecting an answer from any of the other two.

"Huh? Oh, you mean Dash?" Fleetfoot said as she looked at the same rainbow trail in the sky that Lightning was glaring at. "Yeah, she does that whenever, although Spitfire got mad at her for doing that during one of our friendly races. Not only she got a cheap win but also knocked Wave and Misty sideways pretty hard due the air blast in the wake of her boost."

Lightning's ears perked in surprise, although her expression was one of disdain.

"I'm pretty sure I got kicked from the Academy for pretty much doing something like that a few times."

This time it was Fleetfoot who was taken aback by the new revelation.

"Oh! You're the... the cadet who she... oh, shit."

The seasoned Bolt seemed extremely uncomfortable all of sudden, her eyes darting towards Thunder in a desperate plea for help. But the stallion was unable to come for her rescue, he also wasn't keen on discussing that incident.

"So.... huh... Thunderlane, you do know about the form, right?" Fleetfoot asked slowly, looking extremely tense as the words came out her muzzle.

' The fo- oh, damn! I forgot! ' The stallion internally panicked for a second. Thankfully he kept his cool and remained stoic. Yet, the feeling of tightness on his chest wasn't making him feel any better. ' Yep, I'm definitely screwed. '

"Oh, huh. Yeah, yeah. I know about that." He played it off calmly as possible. "I will work on that eventually."

Fleetfoot was throughly unconvinced.

"Thunderlane, you really think so? It's pretty obvious you gonna take Lightning to the form. Especially since this is a...well, party and all of that." She pointed out. "Do you really wanna do this?"

"Look, I don't really think it matters. Besides she will be with me, nothing to complain about." The stallion retorted, sounding slightly distressed.

"Huh, what's going on? What's this form you two talking about?" Lightning asked, confused and upset for being left out of the conversation despite being right next to them.

"It's an informal event of graduation the Wonderbolts have each couple of years." Thunderlane quickly explained. "They mix seasoned members with cadets and reserves. It's a confraternity kind of thing they do. They usually allow us to bring company for the night. So... yeah."

Fleetfoot gave Thunderlane a questioning look. She wasn't sure why was the stallion referring to the Wonderbolts as them.

But before the lieutenant could say anything, Lightning finally understood what was the problem that Fleefoot was trying to get at.

"Look, I don't mind going wherever ya wanna go. But if there's Spitfire on the way, that's not a path I'm taking."

Thunderlane was clearly dissapointed by her reply, he remained pensive for few seconds before sighing in resignation.

"I guess I'm not going then."

"Why not? Sounds fun."

Thunderlane jolted in surprise, his eyes focusing back on Lightning Dust, he wasn't sure if she was being serious or not.

"Because... I'm not supposed to go alone." He replied hesitantly. Lightning scoffed.

"Ya just said that cause ya don't wanna be by yourself." She said with a coy smile on her face. "But I guess I can make a sacrifice and deal with it for ya. I expect a reward later though."

Thunderlane tensed for a second. Whatever idea Lightning would have in mind that would count as a 'reward' he had no clue.

"If you're so sure about it... I can think of something to keep us out of view. But..."

"But what?" Lightning asked, not understanding his constant hesitancy.

"Well, your cousin will be there too."

"...."

"Dusty?"

But the mare did not reply, seemingly conflicted all of sudden by hearing about her blood relative. Her eyes danced from Thunder to Fleet in a near panic state, the stallion was surprised by how intensely she was reacting to it.

"L-Look, I will go with you. But I don't want to see that fucker even a room next to me."

Fleetfoot was taken aback by how incredibly rude and aggressive the other mare sounded. Even Thunderlane, who had been through his fair share of listening Lightning's colorful words, seemed a bit shocked by Dust's response.

"Don't look at me like that! I told you what I think of him! Why you even surprised?!" Lightning questioned, clearly upset with Thunder's reaction.

"Sorry." The stallion quickly apologized. "I had a lot to think these days. A bit of that conversation we had kinda flew off my mind."

"Didn't peg ya for being a bird brain." Dust joked. Fleetfoot snorted while Thunderlane simply rolled his eyes at the childish insult.

"Ha ha, ain't we all laughing right now?" He asked as ironically as possible. Although his expression went from annoyance to seriousness in a matter of seconds. "But to get back on the matter. I really want you to go Dust, it would mean a lot, to both of us."

The Washout blew hot air through her nostrils, a clear display of impatience for anypony who witnessed such reaction. Lightning was very annoyed that Thunderlane was pulling a card on both of them, one card that could strengthen or weaken their relationship depending on her reply.

Going to this form meant dealing with ponies Lightning dislikes to all extents imaginable. Spitfire and her were at an impasse, both couldn't stand seeing the other face to face, Rainbow was a pony Dust would rather avoid if possible, and Sky Stinger was just somepony she wanted to see crash and burn.

But dealing with ponies she hates was part of following along with the pony she loves. As much she would be tempted to hit her hooves on faces she didn't like, she had to work her manners around the pony she wanted to cuddle with.

Not that she would ever admit that to anypony.

"Fine. I can deal with it, but don't expect me to bring flowers or wear a stupid dress." Lightning warned begrudgingly. "Hate that nonsense."

"I guess I better keep you away from Rarity then." Thunderlane humored himself outloud.

"Who's that?" Dust asked, unsure if the name was familiar or not.

"She has a shop here in Ponyville. Does clothing design and lots of other things." The stallion explained.

Before Lightning could reply Fleetfoot coughed into her own hoof to grab their attention.

"As interesting as this may be, I gotta bail. Ya have the address so good luck Thunder." Fleetfoot informed before saluting, something both Thunder and Lightning did in return.

Lightning realized they both were giving her intriguing looks right away.

"What?! Old habits die hard." She explained herself while being unable to contain the blood rush to her face.

Fleetfoot chuckled at her response.

"I don't know about ya Thunder, but I think our uniform would look good on her."

"Fleeet." Thunderlane warned, his glare preventing the mare from saying any further. "Besides, it looks good on anypony."

"Ain't that the true. Alrighty, nice seeing both of ya. Don't be a stranger Thunder, and keep it cool Dust!"

And just like that Fleetfoot shot into the air, a puffy trail of clouds following her departure.

Lightning stared, first at the mare disappearing into the horizon, and then back to her special somepony.

"What she even meant by that?" Lightning asked, confused by Fleetfoot's comment.

Thunderlane did not reply. Getting this favor out of Fleefoot came at a cost, a cost of telling her everything the stallion planned to discuss with her uncle.

He was surprised that she was on board with his ideas right away, perhaps he wasn't the only one being aggravated by the Wonderbolt system.

"I will tell you, but another time. By the way... aren't you supposed to be in a show right now?"

Lightning froze, her eyes widening considerably at the sudden reminder.

"Ah, fuck."

Outta Mind, Outta Sight

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"But I didn't do it on purpose!"

"Are we supposed to believe that? We saw you flying at him!"

"I thought he was going to stop!"

"Since when is that even a thing Rainbow?! You don't fly into a pegasus flight path and expects them to instantly stop midair! Do you even understand physics?!"

"Of course I do! I'm always on shape!"

Cloud Kicker stared at the cyan mare in utter disbelief. Her sanity and patience already being tested after being informed by Cloud Chaser of Rainbow's suicidal pull in front Thunderlane's flight path. Needless to say that Rainbow got into a heated argument right away, but the stallion vanished after the infuriated mare was confronted by other weather ponies.

Cloud Chaser and Blossomforth saw the event unfold, both were already watching Thunderlane as the stallion was racing through the town after Lightning Dust. The mares had no idea why both ponies were flying so low and so fast, but whatever confusion they had was replaced by shock and indignation as Rainbow decided to park herself right in front of the stallion.

"Look, I will pretend I didn't hear that, and you are explaining me why you even would do such thing." Kicker replied, her voice edging on a dangerous tone. "And you better don't lie to me."

"Like she wouldn't." Said Chaser all of sudden, sound bitter and exhausted. "Always the same Rainbow Dash, making trouble without thinking afterwards. I honestly don't know how Thunderlane manages to put up with you till this day."

"It's not my-

"What?! Not your fault?! Really? Again?! How many times we had to hear Twilight pull up excuses for all the damages you caused these last years?! You saved less ponies than you endangered them Rainbow Dash! And no, being an element doesn't count. You *helped* Twilight along others to save Equestria, not like you had much of a choice. Anypony in your place wouldn't. Because not helping them would've meant letting Equestria to be destroyed, and since you live here that's not a desirable option!"

"That's not fair Kicks..."

Cloud Kicker paused. She immediately recognized the strain in Rainbow's voice, a very familiar one that could be used as a sign that Rainbow Dash was about to break.

Kicker sighed. Despite all the headaches and misunderstandings she saw Rainbow Dash as some sort of younger sister. Sure, an incredibly naive and stubborn sister, who often went around blaming the world for the few occasions she committed mistakes or failed somehow. Yet, Cloud Kicker couldn't bring herself to ever dislike Dash, the cyan mare may have her head above the clouds but her heart was always in the right place.

"I don't wanna upset you or anything but, Rainbow Dash for the love of... well, whatever matters to you out there, you need to stop being the way you are. What I mean by that is.... well, it's about time you quit whining so much and behave more like an adult."

Rainbow's reaction was predictable, Kicker was already expecting Dash to become defensive almost immediately.

"But I am! Why do you say that?! What gives Kicker?! You never talked like this before!"

"I didn't because you were younger! That's why! Yet, after seven damn years you still behave like a filly!" Kicker snapped in return, her patience running thin. " You know what? I know what's going on with you and Thunderlane, but I can spare you the embarrassment, since we are still friends."

Rainbow flinched at her words, they sounded like a warning and that scared Dash a bit.

"Chaser, Blossom, leave. I gotta talk with Rainbow in private." Kicker said with a tone that left no room for argument.

Both mares left as they were told, fully aware that arguing with a moody Cloud Kicker was far from being a sane thing to do. Rainbow watched with a sense of dread as she found herself alone, standing on a particular small puffy cloud that she shared with her upset friend.

"Rainbow, do you know why I fired you from the Weather team?"

The sudden question caught the other mare by surprise. Rainbow Dash wouldn't forget the day that Cloud Kicker chased after her, yelled and complained spontaneously about Dash's lack of commitment and disregard for her colleagues, and above all, how dismayed she was from seeing Rainbow going for a teaching career that she had zero qualifications to perform.

Kicker spit painful truths that day and they still stung. Rainbow Dash knew the main reason Kicker got so upset was because they had this unspoken belief they would always watch over Ponyville together, something they harbored for almost a decade, but Rainbow simply abandoned the team without any reasonable explanation. The fact Kicker had no choice but to be the one to fire her best friend was just too much for her to keep a level head.

And Rainbow Dash knew it was her own fault.

"Since you have no answer I will start it for you." The blonde said, looking slightly less angry at this point. "As you know we have to do constant reports on the team's activities for each week, organize them properly and report to HQ as soon as possible. Naturally your lack of.... let's say, presence forced me to report your multiple absences to work. So imagine how Mayweather, who you know very well how uptight she is with those things, reacted to your monthly infractions."

Rainbow felt like she just got hoofed in the gut. Mayweather was the most organized and demanding Weather manager to ever take place since the creation of the very same. She has thin tolerance for mistakes and underperforming members. She was the main reason Dash herself freaked out when misplacing previous papers for dispatches and delivery incomes.

If Mayweather, who knew Rainbow Dash personally, thought she deserved to be dismissed, then Dash couldn't blame Cloud Kicker for following orders from the higher chain of command.

But only then Rainbow Dash realized how much Kicker was hurt by being forced to do this. To fire her best friend from a lifetime job that both of them cherished so much, simply because Rainbow overloaded herself with other jobs and projects that were completely unnecessary.

"Kicks, I..." Rainbow Dash didn't know what to say. Would an apology even matter at this point?

Kicker saw Rainbow's attempt of a meek apology, but she wasn't sure she would even care about that.

"Rainbow, I do not want your apologies. I want you to change! Even if it's just a bit. You have your insecurities, fine, whatever. Still it doesn't excuse you from doing the most absolutely stupid and insensitive things! I like you because you're tough and straight to the point, but sometimes you just don't seem to get the mood of things. Gilda and Lightning weren't the only ones you had a fallout with. Remember Clear Skies? Sunny Rays? Hefty Wind? Compass Star? Bright Leaf?"

"Bright was a jerk." Rainbow muttered under her breath.

"Oh, yeah? How funny is that?!" Kicker immediately replied with a touch of irony mixed with frustration. " You said the same thing every time you had a problem with somepony or, in Gilda's case, a griffon. Unless they are cool to you they are jerks otherwise! Is that how the world works for you?! Remember Quibble?"

Rainbow Dash was struggling to respond, the way Kicker was going out on her was digging deep into her head and her feelings, especially because it was hurting to admit that the blonde had a lot of truth going for her words.

"You told me the whole thing Rainbow! You thought Quibble was nice because you two love Daring Do, but as soon he disagrees with you on something you just decide he isn't worth your time! Grow the fuck up already!"

Rainbow flinched hard, mostly due the way Kicker raised her voice at the end than the colorful words she used.

The blonde was breathing heavily, lashing out on Rainbow Dash after so many years of frustrations was starting to get the worst of her. Kicker didn't mean for things to go like this, but she simply had no real reason to believe Rainbow Dash would ever become a better pony, especially by how bad Dash regressed on her behavior as of late.

Rainbow, whose head was downwards, her eyes boring holes through the cloud in utter shame, suddenly perked up as she heard a sniffle coming from her partner. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized that Cloud Kicker, for the first time she would always remember, was actually crying in despair.

Rainbow Dash felt as if her soul left her body at that very instant. She was fully aware this wouldn't be happing if not for her actions.

"I- I love you l-like a sister Dash... and... you just keep breaking my heart... you say awful things, to ponies I also care about... that you should care about... and you act like it's nothing..."

Rainbow Dash couldn't reply, she was just too scared to say anything at this point.

"And... you go and play hero, b-but then put us in danger for no good reason. You almost killed yourself during one winter. I-if not for..."

Cloud Kicker paused, closing her eyes forcefully, deep intakes of breath following her sudden stillness.

" I could forgive many things." Kicker said, her voice changing from the wavering to a cold and indifferent one. "But I won't ever forgive the way you treated a pony that saved you from drowning. The way you've been treating him to this day."

Rainbow Dash felt her face growing hot by the second, every word coming from Kicker hurting more than the other, and the fact she was bringing that particular incident into light again was just too much for Dash to bear with. Not soon after tears followed, gently caressing her fur as they made their way towards the world beneath.

Then Cloud Kicker, ignoring the mess on Rainbow's face, decided to say something that she wouldn't ever forget.

"Friendship isn't magic. The feeling of being friends and sharing experiences is what might make you think it's somewhat magical. Yet, the road to get that far is complicated, for some the roads might be short, for others it might be long, and for some it's not even a road but rather a busy street, in which several things go across, either good or bad. You can choose which side you wanna go, but you will never know what's at the end of it, that's why you need somepony at your side to help you to reach the end and go back if necessary. You might not get along with your companions, but if you give them the proper value you won't ever find yourself alone in your next journey. The roads and streets are filled with strangers and adventures, but they won't stay at your side if you ignore them, nor help you find your way to the end or back to the start. And the way I see your road Rainbow... the further you go, the more deserted it gets."

Kicker slowly raised on her fours, her wings slowly unfolding as she prepared to leave.

"Friendship is magic... " She uttered to herself slowly. " There's a bit of truth on that, but it isn't a proper definition, not that there is just one anyways. There are many forms of friendship, but they can viewed in different ways by different ponies or other creatures. I understand that the Elements of Harmony have some of its characteristics. Kindness, love, virtue, sympathy, empathy, honesty, altruism..." Kicker paused, giving Rainbow a sideways glance. "Loyalty, generosity, and perhaps one that I feel Twilight is more in common with, forgiveness. Which, if I had to be honest Rainbow, you would do well to understand more about empathy and forgiveness. You already failed a fair amount of times at your supposed loyalty."

Rainbow remained silent, incapable of forming any response or have the will to do so. Kicker sighed, she had nothing else to say and it would be up to Rainbow to decide what she wanted to do with her life.

The blonde slowly turned around, her eyes glancing towards the town below, she deeply hoped she was making the right call.

"Let me know when you've decided to change a bit. Until then... I'm no longer your friend."

Cloud Kicker flew off, not daring to look back and regret it immediately.

Leaving a completely heartbroken pony behind.

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"What the fuck did you do?! Why you didn't wait!? What were you thinking?!"

Lightning Dust was not having a good afternoon.

The day had a great start, she enjoyed her time with Thunderlane, despite Rainbow Dash getting in the way once, but everything else was just too good to deny. Thunderlane actually put good effort on giving her a good time and, despite her whining, seemed genuinely happy at how things turned out, although Lightning committed herself to train him more throughly.

But now?

Her time spent with Thunderlane made her forget about her final presentation of the season, and since Lightning was thirty minutes late Rolling and Shorty decided to start without her.

Which was a near fatal mistake.

Lightning Dust spent weeks redesigning the courses, not only for the sake of safety, but so each of her teammates could perform them accordingly to their limitations. Shorty has his own flight path and designed tasks that could be executed for somepony of his specific height, just as Rolling had hers. The size difference among the three, aside weight and speed, proved to be challenging for Lightning to adapt.

Under no circumstances they were allowed to do somepony's else job. Yet, Rolling, being more daring than Lightning Dust would ever dare, decided to perform the role of her captain for the sake of saving time.

Needless to say, Lightning's flight course was not designed for a taller pony than Lightning herself. That weight difference was a major factor that inflicted a nasty injury on one of Rolling's hind legs.

Rolling came out of the Crushinator by an inch, but one of the spikes caught on her leg on the way out, this happened due Rolling's legs being considerably longer than Lightning's. The wound was bleeding profusely by the time Lightning reached the barracks.

Rolling Thunder is lucky she still has her leg.

"Well, whadda ya know?! Finally gettin caught with us, eh? Missed quite the show cap." Rolling replied, completely ignoring Lightning's infuriated expression. " Ah can say we did pretty woosh for this last-

"Are you fucking drunk?" Lightning cut her abruptly. "What's this bullshit?! You wanted to die?! Is that what you want?!"

Both Shorty and Rolling stared in shock at their captain. They knew Lightning well enough to know well she was actually angry, but they slowly realized that some sort of line has been crossed.

A line they thought never existed.

"I told you both several times to not do this crap!! DO NOT DO OTHER'S JOB!! You think I was just being overdramatic or something?! I spent several days working my ass through these fucking death traps so you both fucking lunatics can fly through them without being torn into pieces!!! Or you think that seeing your guts all over the place would make for a good show?!"

Rolling's ears folded back, her gaze lowering towards the ground. She did not expect this kind of reaction. Sure, they hurted themselves before but they always brushed it off as part of the job. But seeing Lightning losing it like that made her realize that she wasn't taking her job as serious as she should. Rolling could tell that Shorty wasn't feeling great either, the fact that the tempered stallion was completely quiet spoke volumes about the severity of what they have done.

"I don't care how good of a flyer you are!! You can't just do whatever and think it will be fine!! I may do crazy shit Rolling, but I don't feel like getting myself killed for no fucking reason!! Spitfire has no idea how we do our job and yet she likes to talk shit to me about danger!! I'm well aware of what's gonna happen if something goes wrong, which is why I lose so much sleep the days before every fucking show!! I care more than any of you think!! Now do me a favor and don't waste my fucking time doing stupid shit like this again!!"

Lightning took a deep breath, her lungs were aching and her throat was starting to feel extremely sore. She couldn't recall ever yelling so much in her life before, it wasn't her thing to yell at others.

"I was late? Yes, I was, fucking me forgot about the show. Forgive me if I was spending some time with my special somepony. Yes, I call him that Shorty." Dust added as a response to the stallion's eyebrow raise. "But you couldn't wait forty fucking minutes!! Who cares if we start late?! It's not the first time we are late and won't be the last. We are meant to be fast, but going fast without a plan is nothing but stupid rushing!"

Dust wanted to yell more, but she couldn't. She had said enough. Her head was aching, she desperately needed to go away and cool off somewhere.

And only one place came to mind.

"I'm outta here. Don't bother going after me for anything! Show's over. Give their money back if you have to, I don't care. Get everything set and go home or whatever. Maybe you will realize how much you have to live for."

Lightning trotted towards the exit with a furious pace. She saw few ponies gathering around the barracks, probably wondering what happened with the wounded Washout.

"She will be fine. No, no more questions. The show's over. Dunno, ask the staff, it's not up to me to- JUST GET OUTTA MY WAY!!"

She didn't ever bothered to wait for a clearance, immediately taking off and shoving few ponies aside with surprising ease. Lightning ignored their shouts of protest, she had enough of dealing with crowds for this year.

It would be night soon in a few hours, she realized she hadn't planned a place to stay over the night. The barracks usually would accommodate the team but they would be long gone by the end of the day.

'Great, gotta ask Thunder a place to stay.'

She couldn't shake the terrible thoughts of what happened from her mind. If anything really bad happened, Lightning knew it would be her fault. Unlike what happened back at the Academy, she would have to take responsibility over whatever happens with her teammates. Still, nothing was stoping her from hating Rolling for not listening to her and Shorty for not saying anything on the matter.

'Is this how Thunderlane felt? But instead of anger and frustration he felt afraid and desperate? I just lashed out at them because of a nasty injury, but if something worse happened...'

Lightning felt guilty for thinking that Thunderlane overreacted on the first show. He feels so strongly for her, and after all the loss endured in his life, she couldn't just think of him as being oversensitive.

'Maybe he's got a point. This stuff won't last forever. I won't last forever doing this... I just hope this talk with McFly goes well. I don't think I will be able to go along with my team like this any longer.'

"Huh, excuse me?"

Lightning paused her wing flaps momentarily. A familiar voice caught her by surprise. Who actually followed her across the sky?

She craned her neck around, spotting a pegasus right nearby her. Except it quite wasn't.

"Princess Twilight? Why ya here?" Dust blurted out, astonished this particular mare followed after her.

Twilight smiled sheepishly, her wings adjusting to Lightning's more demanding speed. She was doing surprisingly well on her flight coordination, at least in Dust's opinion.

"Well, I just happened to be at the show, which was great! I might add. Even if one of your teammates got injured, I couldn't help but be concerned that you weren't present during the event. I decided to, huh, understand what was happening but I only got in time to see you flying off rather abruptly." Twilight explained, slowing her words towards the end, indicating she expected some answers.

Lightning sighed. Being interrogated by a princess wasn't on her 'to do' list. Not that Lightning even bothered with having lists.

"Look, I have rules when it comes to this job. They didn't follow it and they got hurt. I got really mad with them because of it. Now I just want to go somewhere to relax and work my head around it. I don't feel like talking for too long, if ya see where I'm getting at."

Twilight nodded thoughtfully. The silence that followed annoyed Dust. Why was Twilight still flying near her?

"Princess, don't ya have stuff to do? I will be heading to my, huh, special somepony's house, so..."

Twilight blinked, suddenly realizing she was indeed still following Lightning.

"Oh, right, right. Silly me, it's just...."

"What? Spit it out, I ain't gonna judge ya."

Twilight chuckled. Lightning reminded her of Rainbow Dash with that particular line.

"It's... I have been dealing with a lot in regards to Rainbow Dash."

Lightning groaned.

"Look, Prin- ah, screw it. Twilight, I really don't wanna talk about Rainbow Dash, my head is not in the right place right now." Dust complained, shutting her eyes as her headache intensified.

"I'm sorry. It's just... I don't know who to talk about this anymore. I was hopeful that you coul-

"Why me? Do you honestly think I would want to talk about a pony that backstabbed me? I don't hate her, but I don't wanna see her face either."

"I understand... do you know somepony else then?"

"Not a pony Twilight."

Another familiar voice entered the conversation, but Lightning didn't even bother to check, she kept her half lidded eyes looking towards the houses below. Dust just wanted to land, at least that sounded better than telling the princess to fuck off.

"Cloud Kicker? What you're doing here?" Twilight asked. Lightning noticed a strain on her voice that wasn't there before. Dust couldn't do nothing but smirk deviously.

'Damn Kicker, you tried to swoon the princess before?'

"Oh, just trying to get my mind outta trouble. The usual." Kicker replied, a forced smile on her face. "Fancy finding you two here."

'I would find fancy if you two crashed and left me alone.' Dust thought bitterly.

"What problem would that be?" Twilight asked in curiosity.

"If you really wanna know." Cloud Kicker saud rather dramatically. "It's Rainbow Dash."

"For fuck sake." Muttered Lightning. Twilight gasped.

"Lightning Dust! Language please!" She scolded the Washout captain, looking flustered all of sudden.

Lightning almost, almost, replied Twilight with a 'fuck you', but then Lightning had enough problems and making a princess angry wasn't one she wanted to add.

"Yeah, I rather spare Dust of trouble." Kicker replied, failing miserably at hidding her giggles. "How about we go somewhere else Twi? My treat."

Twilight gave Kicker an unimpressed look in return.

"Actually I need to talk with Thunderlane."

Lightning instantaneously halted on the air. What was this sudden crazy talk?

"May I ask why?" Lightning asked, tired and upset at this change of events.

Twilight bit her cheek, she glanced between Kicker and Dust, clearly apprehensive.

"I shouldn't say this to anypony at all, but you two are fairly close to him from what I heard."

"Huh, yeah. No doubt, but what is this all about?" Kicker asked, sounding agitated at whatever information Twilight was keeping guarded.

"Well, this might sound strange but... it's about his mother."

In and Out

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"How was school?"

"Okay, I guess."

"Anything interesting happened?"

"Not really."

"You got homework?"

"No."

"..."

Thunderlane sighed internally. It was so incredibly frustrating to start a conversation with his brother. It was no surprise though, Rumble has been like this for weeks. The stallion could understand if this was just a phase, but he couldn't explain what caused his brother to become so distant this past weeks.

It was late. Night had already fallen and Thunderlane couldn't help the sudden loneliness he felt as he stared through the window, contemplating the void darkness outside. Never he thought that such feeling would actually happen as long he was with his family. Even if it was only Rumble.

'Do I really miss having her around this much?'He couldn't help but ponder. 'Sure, she gave me a lot of attention, more than anypony else did, aside Cloud Kicker. Yet, this doesn't feel right. Rumble... does he resent me? Why? Why would he? Maybe I'm just getting too worked up for nothing. Still, this is hard. I wonder how long he will be like this. Maybe I c-

Thunderlane's train of thought was interrupted by the echoes of loud bangs coming from his front door. Both ponies, currently at the kitchen, raised their heads in both surprise and alarm. The strenght behind those bangs was far too intense to be just a casual visit.

Thunderlane signaled with wing gestures for his brother to evade to a different room. He complied immediately without a word. At least Rumble still took Thunder's safety protocols with the utmost seriousness. After the countless times Ponyville faced extremely dangerous monsters and whatnot, both brothers had to come in agreement with how their life routines would have to change to adapt to these strange events.

The stallion slowly made his way through the hallway, the door entrance on sight. He jumped slightly as more brutal bangs followed after a minute of silence. Whoever was banging at the door, they better had a really good reason to be acting like this. Thunderlane was prepared, several things flowing into his mind in case of dealing with a impersonator. He had his fair share of changelings trying to fool him in the past years.

His hoof slowly approached the door. He was tempted to ask the visitor's identity, but opening the door abruptly would give him the element of surprise.

As soon he landed a hoof in the doorknob, he rotated and swung it forcefully to the side.

Only to come face to face with Rainbow Dash.

"Wha-"

Before he could even process what was happening the mare launched herself at him, burying her head into his chest. Muffled screams of agony followed right after, her wings embracing around him with unholy strenght.

Thunderlane was too shocked to react. He stood there, his gaze locked on the mare currently crying a river over his fur. What happened?! Why was Rainbow like this?! And why she came to him of all ponies to vent her pain?!

He stood there, patiently waiting her sobbing to calm down, it surprised him how violently her body was shaking through the ordeal.

This was troubling. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. This was Rainbow Dash. He loathed her since a long time, he never had any sort of affinity for this particular mare. And she didn't see him under a better light either. Yet... she came to him, for whatever reason. To see her end in such a miserable state, he wished that to nopony.

"Rainbow." The stallion desperately wanted to set her over a chair, but she was glued to his chest like her life depended on it. "Rainbow, talk to me, I need you to calm down. Breath in and out slowly, okay? It will help, trust me."

After what seemed like an eternity Thunderlane felt as the mare's body trepidation ceased at a snail's pace. Her breath slowly coming to a steady rhythm. The iron grip of her wings loosening and presenting the stallion with some relief.

"I..I'm s-sorry."

"Sorry... for what?" Thunderlane asked, his eyes raising as he saw his brother appearing at the bedroom door, a puzzled look on his face as he saw who was their late visitor. Thunder used his wings to advise his brother to leave. This wasn't a problem for Rumble to get involved.

But before anything else could be said another set of bangs came from the front door Thunderlane closed moments ago.

"What is happening?*"

"Rumble, get the door, be careful." Thunderlane requested towards the colt that was about to leave. The stallion stood quiet, alert for any signs of trouble.

"Huh, bro? Twilight is here..."

'Twilight?! Huh, probably came after Rainbow Dash.' Thunderlane frowned. This was getting really strange. 'Why is s-

"Lightning is here too..."

"What?" Thunderlane couldn't help but blurt out. What in the heck was going on?

"And Cloud Kicker...."

At this mention Rainbow jolted, her panicked expression surprising him before the mare bolted towards the nearest door. She flung it open, rushed in, and closed without a care in the world.

Thunderlane just watched as things took place, barely registering that Rainbow choose his room to hide in for whatever resson.

"And...huh... what's your name?" He heard Rumble ask from the front door.

"Oh, I'm Starlight Glimmer! Nice to meet you, huh..."

"Rumble." Said the unmistakable voice of Cloud Kicker.

"Oh, that's nice. And, huh... interesting." Starlight replied hesitantly.

"How so?" Asked another voice that belonged to no other than Lightning Dust.

"Well, we are here to meet Thunder, and we came along with Lightning, and end up meeting Rumble along the way, so... it's quite a coincidence." Starlight replied awkwardly.

"Are ya making fun of us pegasi?" Lightning retorted, sounding upset all of sudden.

"No! No, no, no, of course not! I was just-

"Girl, I'm messing with ya. I think it's kinda funny too, but it ain't like tagging along Twilight and Starlight is any different." Lightning said with a touch of humour and irony.

"I'm not sure if I understand that." Twilight said slowly. " I don't see the correlation any of these names could have."

"That's cause you're such a nerd, Twilight." Cloud Kicker replied, the giggles of Starlight and Lightning followed right after.

"Let's not deviate from the task at hoof, shall we?" Twilight said, sounding slightly upset. "Is your broth... oh, huh, hello Thunderlane." Twilight was caught off guard by seeing the older brother already at the doorstep.

"This is sure a late time to have a party." Thunderlane joked, although without any trace of humour. "Why, aside Lightning, are you all doing here?"

"How come Lightning is an exception?" Starlight asked in bewilderment.

"That's cause she's his marefriend." Kicker replied while winking at the stallion. Thunderlane frowned.

"For some reason that does not surprise me."

"Are you all done? Rumble has school tomorrow and I have wor-

"Actually you're off this week." Kicker quickly pointed out.

"My point still stands." The stallion said unfazed.

"Of course. I'm sorry for this but something really important came out lately and it concerns you." Twilight informed. Her eyes held a degree of anxiety that the stallion did not expect.

"Can we get in? I'm freezing my tail out here." Dust complained.

"Lightning, that's not a prop-

But before Twilight could berate the mare any further Thunderlane gestured for them to come inside. The Magic bearer did not expect him to allow them in so easily.

Correction. Most of them

Before Twilight could set a hoof inside Thunderlane blocked her entrance with a raised wing.

"Sorry, but I need more than a vague information, that might concern me, to even think about letting you in."

Starlight glanced at the stallion in confusion, her eyes shifting from him to Twilight. Why would he deny Twilight Sparkle inside his house?

"But why? I'm sure you can trust me." Twilight replied, unsure of why he was reluctant about having her in. Thunderlane snorted.

"And what makes you think I trust you?" He asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. Twilight felt apprehensive with this unexpected development.

"Well, I'm the Princess of Friendship." Twilight replied with a nervous smile adorning her face. Thunderlane was unimpressed.

"First of all, I'm not your friend." Twilight flinched but it was barely noticeable. "Second of all, I don't care about your friendship title. Call yourself whatever you want. I saw enough from you the past years to know who you will stand up for. And that's enough for me to not bother about what you do."

Twilight stood perplexed at his response. Never she had encountered a pony that would openly disregard her royal position so blatantly. Whatever the stallion had against her clearly wasn't something from recent events.

"I'm not sure I understand t-

"Chill Twi, I will explain Thunder being a jerk here." Cloud Kicker interrupted, her eyes glaring daggers at the stallion as she stood nearby him. "Thunderlane hates your guts because you covered all the crap Rainbow Dash inflicted upon us for all the past years. I think he drew the line after the Winter incident. You know? The one that could've killed many ponies?"

"Wait? What's that again?" Lightning asked, perplexed at the news. "I'm not sure I heard this one before. Was this before Rainbow becoming a Wonderbolt?"

"After." Was Thunderlane dry reply. "I was going to report Dash but Kicker begged me not to. I shouldn't have listened. It's fucking bullcrap that Rainbow gets a pass on everything."

"Ponies make mistakes Thunderlane." Twilight retorted, frowning at his sudden aggressiveness. "I cannot condemn them into a miserable outcome if th-

"That's bullshit! Bullshit, Twilight!!" The stallion snapped. "Why don't you ask Lightning? Ask her what happened with her after she made a mistake!! How many times she screwed up if compared with Rainbow Dash?! And guess who's still a Wonderbolt to this day!"

"This is getting interesting." Starlight commented. Twilight quickly sent a glare her way. "I-I mean... wow, this is really awful."

"Why is Starlight here anyways?" Thunderlane asked. He didn't mind the unicorn. Starlight was a nice pony, despite her awkwardness, he always enjoyed the few times he spoke with her.

"Oh, I was bored." Was her response. Thunderlane couldn't help the chuckle.

"That sounds like you alright. Yet, I don't think my house can take that many ponies. At least one of you have to decide if there's any real reason to be here."

"What's Lightning's reason?" Kicker wondered outloud.

"I get to play with him on bed. What other reason ya need?" Lightning replied with such mischievous that Thunderlane couldn't help the blush on his face.

"Huh.... what's yours Kicker?" Starlight asked after an awkward moment of silence.

"I get to be spectator of said play."

"No, you don't!!" Thunderlane immediately replied.

"Yes, I do. I'm your sponsor after all."

"How does that even make any sense?!"

"In a sense that nopony else would've helped you as much as I did, Thunder!"

Thunderlane flinched. He did not spect her retort to come out with such sharpness, the way she reacted was a sign he struck a nerve on the blonde.

Even Cloud Kicker was surprised with herself. She did not meant to sound irritated all of sudden.

"Oh, hum... I... sorry. I think I got a bit carried away." She apologized. Bashful at her own behavior.

"Thunderlane. Can we please get in?" Begged Starlight. The mare was starting to feel the chill of night getting to her.

"Y-Yeah, sure." He said distractedly, moving aside for the other mares to come in.

"How come you changed your mind so quick?" Asked Twilight. The princess was extremely confused by his behavior. The stallion shrugged.

"You didn't say please."

All the mares, including a very irritated princess, followed the stallion back to his kitchen. The lack of a living room was something that Starlight found odd and quickly pointed out.

"Well, I had to pick a house I could afford. This was the best at the time. It's big enough for me and Rumble. It's not like we expected visits so often anyways." Thunderlane explained to her. Starlight nodded slowly, unsure of how to react to the clear financial difficulties they had.

"It looks like trash, but it's cozy." Lightning commented, much to Twilight's embarrassment.

"Lightning Dust! You cannot say such thin-

"Yeah, it's trash. Hopefully we will get a better one soon." Replied Thunderlane, cutting Twilight's reprimand instantaneously. The princess was flustered, annoyed and confused all at once. "Still, don't be so mean Dust. This house was home for us for too long. I'm thankful for it... and Cloud Kicker for helping me keep it." He added. Glancing at the blonde with a thankful smile on his face.

Surprisingly, Cloud Kicker's only reaction was the intense sudden flush on her cheeks, which she was thankful for her fur covering it up a bit.

"Can you explain why you all here? Well, at least you three. Dust doesn't have to explain anyways." Thunderlane said, feeling awkward on regards to his new relationship.

"Of course. Thunderlane, do you happen to have a medical file at Ponyville's H?" Twilight asked, thankful they were getting to the point. The stallion shrugged.

"Yeah, me and Rumble. Especially for bad Feather Flu ocassions or the usual winter spread. Why?"

"I'm not sure most ponies know this, but their files are shared across all H's of Equestria. That way if you're travelling into any of these locations the local services will have a better idea of how to help you in case of an emergency."

"That sounds pretty helpful. Don't have to waste time telling your sad life story to a stranger every time you bust your nuts." Lightning commented crudely.

Starlight and Kicker were in a fit of giggles, Thunderlane chuckled while Twilight glanced at the Washout with clear annoyance.

"It is quite so. Also it helps the system to locate relatives faster thanks to that info. Which is why I had to come here." The princess faced the stallion with the utmost seriousness.

Thunderlane felt something was off at that very moment. Well, aside the late night visit obviously.

"Normally I wouldn't be the one doing this, but given what happened with your family, Thunderlane..." Twilight paused, unsure if she should continue. The stallion nodded his permission to allow her through. "I knew I have be the one to inform you, even if you don't like me or what I'm going to tell you."

"Just a heads up." Lightning said, bringing the attention of everypony to her. "I already know what it is, so don't expect me to react to it or anything of the sort. Actually we all know." She said while gesturing to the other mares.

Thunderlane frowned. He did not like this one bit.

"So you opened your mouth and spilled it to them before you adressed me on the matter?" Thunderlane asked. He couldn't help the anger that swept into his words. "Guess whatever you wanna say doesn't really hold any great importance for me."

"It does, you should listen to her." Cloud Kicker suggested. The stallion snorted in disbelief.

"Then how come you all know before I do?! What bullshit is that?"

"Just tell him, Twi." Lightning groaned, getting tired of seeing Thunderlane wanting to vent at somepony.

Twilight wasn't expecting this kind of reaction, but she couldn't blame him for making a good point. This should've been adressed to him first.

"Well, it-

"Wait!" Thunder raised a hood to halt Twilight's explanation. "Since you all know, whatever it is, I want your thoughts on it."

Lightning scoffed.

"Really? If that's so... I think you're better off not knowing."

Lightning's answer surprised the stallion. They both needed to be open and trustworthy if they wanted their relationship to work. Yet, Lightning was more keen on keeping something from him, which made Thunderlane extremely apprehensive.

"Kicker?" He asked towards his long time friend. The blonde looked completely lost.

"I... don't know really. I feel like it shouldn't matter, but... it's up to you to decide."

For Thunderlane that wasn't very helpful. He scratched his chin thoughtfully,

"Okay, so... why you're here again?" He asked towards the anxious alicorn. Twilight did not understand his inquiry. "Why bother coming here to tell me? If you told Lightning, well, she can just tell me. You didn't have to be here."

Twilight nodeed slowly. It was another good point, but the sense of obligation to a pony that resides in her town led her actions through. Thunderlane, despite extremely bad mouthed by Rainbow Dash, was still a pony under her care, regardless of social status.

"It's on my duty to see thorough things like this, personally. We may not see each other in the eye, but I respect you that much."

'Oooh, nice one sparkle butt.' Kicker smiled to herself as she watched the stallion's surprised expression.

Thunderlane wasn't sure what to say in return. Twilight clearly was being extremely polite about the ordeal, he couldn't just ignore her efforts to display how she valued him as a citizen.

"I guess so. Urgh, this sucks." Thunder huffed, he felt awkward about the situation. "I wish you would listen to us more often Twilight. You spend too much time with the same ponies. I understand you have your circle of friends and whatnot, but if you really want to understand both sides you gotta go around more often."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, a sheepish smile on her face as she thought his words carefully.

"I imagine you're referring to my... huh... extreme obsession with learning and teaching, which results in a lack of social skills."

"Color me impressed. Twilight Sparkle has become self aware." Joked Kicker, winking her way. "Let me know when you want to hang out, I have a ton of 'socializing' to help you with."

Dust rolled her eyes at the exchange.

"Sure, if ya want to find yourself on a bathroom floor, laying on your own puke, suit yourself."

"That was oddly specific Lightning. Regretting past decisions?" Countered the blonde with a devious smirk.

"I'm regretting meeting your stupid face."

"Alright, alright." Thunderlane raised a wing in between both mares, even if he was completely sure nothing was going to happen. "Look, Twilight. I... appreciate you came here this late for whatever reason, and-

"This isn't whatever reason Thunderlane! It's about your mother!"

Lightning's eyes widened at Twilight's boldness. Starlight and Kicker also stood perplexed at how she blurted out so quickly.

Twilight might aswell have struck him with a lightning bolt. He had few seconds to process what she just said before something inside of him snapped.

"OUT! OUT OF MY HOUSE! ALL OF YOU! NOW!"

All the mares jumped in shock at his sudden shouting. Lightning only jumped due how unexpectedly loud he actually can be, she anticipated some negative reaction. She trotted out of view while Starlight and Twilight couldn't help but stare in disbelief. Cloud Kicker, as soon she understood how things would get ugly, immediately made her way to the front door.

"But I d-

"GET OUT OF MY FUCKING HOUSE NOW SPARKLE!!!I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR FUCKING BULLSHIT! OUT!!"

His shouting was ear deafening, the mares backed away. Twilight slowly turned around, she was so sure he wasn't going to overreact, now she could only feel regret for not thinking this more throughly. She may have underestimated the stallion's feelings on the matter.

"L-Let's go Starlight."

The unicorn glanced towards Thunderlane, trying her best to express an apology of sort. But the stallion was too enraged to care.

They left without a single word uttered. Thunderlane only watched as they dissapeared, his anger slowly fading away as he felt the despair overtake him.

He felt he was losing it again. His emotions flaring so intensely from inside, it was impossible for him to contain them this time around. The pain was unbearable. He knew it was his own fault for letting this happen, but he couldn't help it.

He wanted to scream more, at the top of his lungs until all that flood of emotion left him for good. Vent out a lot he bottled inside for so many years. Yet, he knew he couldn't.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew better than letting it out. Rumble was there, and hearing his only family member going crazy wasn't going to do any good.

No to mention...

He was currently supporting his head on the nearest wall, his mohawk bending backwards, he remained hunched and seemingly hopeless.

His mother.

How dare she.

How dare Twilight threaten to taint the great memories he has from the one who gave him nothing but love and affection. The one that taught him valuable lessons of morality, who cherished him above anything else on the world.

Lightning was right. Kicker was right. He was better off not knowing. It did not matter anymore. She was gone and all his memories of their few years together were all that mattered.

'Dust knows.' Thought the stallion, sadness and apprehension filling his every being. 'What if she slips up by accident? Would she be able to keep it for herself for so long?'

And how long would that be? He couldn't tell if this relationship would go further than any of the two expected.

He wanted it to work. He so desperately needed this to work. He realized, after few weeks together, how terrified he was of losing her. The unknown that would follow if he lost her frightened him to an unspoken level.

He needed her so badly, not only because he was lonely and needed somepony to fill his social needs. Lightning understood him in a way nopony else bothered to try. Despite bold and seemingly uncaring at times, he knew it was her way of displaying her faith on him. It was weird and counterproductive for anypony that didn't known her as well as Thunderlane does.

He just couldn't understand her obsession with putting herself in danger so often, independently if this was her line of work.

Tomorrow was the day. They would visit McFly and try to work their way into a lot of topics, he was hopeful the retired flyer would be willing to listen to his crazy ideas. So much depended on tomorrow's meeting working out.

He breathed in and out slowly, an effort to bring some stillness to the surge of adrenaline shaking his body. He felt Lightning's gaze on his back, the mare keeping a safe distance for his own sake.

Minutes went by quietly. The racing thoughts in his head finally coming to a bearable clarity. He couldn't help the shame he felt for acting so out of himself, to a bunch of mares no less.

"Sorry." He whispered. His apology not really aimed at anypony in particular. The sounds of hooves ringed into his flattened ears, he remained still as Lightning approached him at a steady pace.

He felt smooth feathers reaching his back, moving up and down slowly, comforting him with timid movements as the mare remained at his side.

She didn't say anything. Lightning felt like she didn't have to. She was there, by his side, and that's all he needed to know. That's what this relationship of theirs was about, to be together no matter what.

"You want to eat anything?" She asked after what felt like hours.

Thunderlane was about to say no, but he thought better of it. Besides, he never would've guessed Lightning could actually cook.

"Sounds good. I... guess I will take a shower real quick." He replied morosely.

"Aww, really? I was hoping I could help ya out with that." She complained humorously.

Thunderlane couldn't help the sad chuckle that came in response.

"Maybe next time. I will just take a few minutes."

"Fiiiine. Take your time. It's not like I'm a chef or anything. Don't blame me if something gets grilled pretty bad."

Thunderlane shook his head in amusement. He slowly stood up, Lightning's wing leaving his back on the process. The fact he missed her touch right away didn't surprise him in the slightest. This mare knew how to keep him together.

He watched for few seconds as Lightning carefully went over to analyze the mess his kitchen was, apprehensive about opening any lockers whatsoever.

He just shook his head and made his way to his room. Lightning was perfectly capable of working her way around a kitchen.

At least he hoped so.

After checking the front door was closed, and locking it, the stallion tried to make a mental list of things for tomorrow's trip to Cloudsdale. He wasn't really expecting to be out all day, but better be safe than sorry. He also couldn't help the nagging feeling that he was forgetting something, whatever it was.

'It's probably nothing. Whatever it is I will remember by morning.' He decided after few moments of intense mental research. 'I think I left my towels on my bed.'

He reached for his door and opened without hesitation, only to found himself face to face with a very surprised Rainbow Dash.

It took seconds for his brain register what was happening, but the moment it did he felt like hitting himself for actually forgetting Rainbow Dash was hiding in his room!

"Oh, huh, I-I-I can explain.."

Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

"Explain wha-

The stallion cut himself short. His eyes focusing on the things laying over his bed, which happened to be very specific magazines he forgot to lock away in a safe area.

His heart stopped for few seconds, Rainbow's extremely red face finally making sense to him. The worst of all was the obnoxious mag with a very specific Wonderbolt on a very suggestive pose.

"Fuck."

Dawn of Acceptance

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"Soooo... ya wanna talk about it?"

"No! Why do you even want to talk about this!? You shouldn't be here! Leave!"

"But... I need to talk with ya... about... other stuff..."

"This isn't a good time. If Lightning finds you here I'm dead!"

"Just five minutes? Pleeeeaseee?"

Thunderlane flared his nostrils in contempt. He couldn't believe his terrible luck. Rainbow Dash, after the initial shock of her findings, and Thunderlane's heart returning to a healthy rhythm, revealed herself persistent about wanting a conversation.

He wanted to curse her outta his house, but he reminded himself they were trying to start things over. She needed help and kicking her out wasn't really going to make any amends towards their strained relationship.

"Fiiine. Just cause we talked about going better in regards to each other. So... what happened?"

Rainbow Dash wasn't expecting him to actually comply, her eyes widened at his change of mind, but she was thankful nevertheless.

"Well, Kicker and I had a big fight." She started, only to frown as the stallion snorted derisively.

"So? You two fight a lot. The amount you two bicker would have anypony think you're a couple or something."

"Well, we are not!" Rainbow Dash snapped. Thunderlane glared her way, irritated by how loud she replied. Rainbow realized the mistake right away, whispering as she continued. "Sorry, I just... this was pretty bad. She actually got so mad that she broke our friendship."

The stallion nodded. It explained how oddly stressful Cloud Cloud Kicker was behaving during her visit moments ago. Yet, such a thing shouldn't have evoked such a reaction from Rainbow.

"Are you sure you don't have feelings for her? You took it pretty bad." Thunderlane asked sincerely. Rainbow shook her head.

"That's because she is my best friend." Thunderlane raised an eyebrow. Rainbow, who raised her eyes after the silence that followed, noticed the skepticism. "What?"

"I thought Gilda was your best friend."

Rainbow winced. She didn't like talking about this particular issue.

"Gilda... well, she kinda is. But... I don't know."

"Are you still hurting because of what she did that long ago Dash? Even after you two finally went over your bullshit?"

Thunderlane couldn't help but smile in satisfaction as the mare produced a cute pout. Her body tensed at the way the stallion treated her disappointment with Gilda as something stupid.

"She was extremely rude and-

"She regretted immediately."

"W-What?!"

Rainbow Dash stared in shock, her eyes locked onto the stallion who had a sorrowful look on him. He sighed before laying his back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling hesitantly.

"I found her after the party. I was minding my own business. Laying off on a cloud, resting a bit after pulling through my shift."

Rainbow Dash eyed him in confusion.

"Wait, why weren't you at the party?"

"Because I wasn't invited, what else?" He retorted, clearly annoyed at her obliviousness.

"...huh."

"As I was saying, she landed on a cloud near me. I honestly was caught off guard by seeing a ghryphon on a place this far inland. I don't usually see them much, thankfully. I barely saw any in my life, but I could tell she was really pretty."

Rainbow's eyes narrowed at him, but she remained silent.

"She was an absolute wreck. Crying a lot, but it looked like she didn't want to. She tried really hard to fight her feelings on whatever had her so upset. I was worried for her, but afraid of getting close. I didn't feel like dying to a moody gryphoness." He paused as Rainbow chuckled.

"Yeah, Gilda was one of a kind, I know she wouldn't hurt you. More like scare you off or something."

"I kissed her."

"WHAT THE FUCK!?"

Thunderlane immediately regretted saying this. Rainbow's shriek was so loud that resonated across the entire house.

Not too long after Lightning Dust busted through the door, looking extremely worried and irritated.

She glared at both of them, yet Thunderlane was sure he was getting the most of her attention. Unfortunately.

"What the fuck you're doing here?!" She asked, pointing an accusatory feather tip towards Rainbow. "Trying to steal my stallion?!"

Rainbow was completely gobsmacked by Lightning's immediate mindset. Thunderlane wished he could laugh at everything, if only he could know that he was going to live through this night.

"I-I can explain!" Rainbow raised her hooves, suddenly terrified of the other mare. Lightning huffed.

"You better, otherwise we're having rainbow soup for dinner."

Thunderlane felt genuinely concerned about that threat. Lightning spoke way too seriously.

"Wait!! I'm not trying to steal anything! I just came to talk!" Rainbow desperately spoke. Lightning was clearly unconvinced.

"Hard to believe so. Yet, Thunderlane here is trustworthy enough. I know for a fact he wouldn't do anything with ya." Lightning's eyes focused at the mags laying over the bed in between them. "Gotta admit I wasn't expecting him to do stuff like that."

The stallion did his best to look away. He was sure this awful occasion would still bring him particularly embarrassing moments in future events.

"Well, huh, yeah. I was kinda hiding here cause I wasn't very sure if I wanted for Cloud Kicker to find me so soon." Rainbow replied nervously.

"Kicker broke her friendship with her." Thunderlane explained as he felt Lightning's predictable questioning glance on him.

"Pff, another friend ya lost? Why I'm not surprised? Also, why did ya yell earlier? That wasn't going to help ya hide in the slightest."

Rainbow paused, as she suddenly reminded the reason she yelled in the first place. She returned her attention back to the stallion with a seething glare.

"You kissed her?! How?! Why?! How you even alive?!" Rainbow couldn't picture how such even would've happened in the first place. Gilda wasn't not one you just walk to up to and kiss. Lightning eyed them both with confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Dust asked, perplexed at why the rainbow mare was so worked up.

"He kissed my best friend!" Rainbow replied, an accusatory hoof pointed towards Thunderlane. Lightning was struggling on how seriously she was supposed to take this kind of reply.

"Huh, who's your best friend again?"

"Gilda!"

"Yeah, but... who's Gilda?" Lightning asked again, frowning at Rainbow's lack of details. Thunderlane only rolled his eyes at the dramatization taking place.

"Oh, right. You never met her." Dash realized, feeling silly for not explaining it previously. "She's a griffon I knew ever since when I was at Flight Camp. Even before that actually. Best flying partner I ever had." She added with a bolt of pride filling her being.

"Really? A griffon? Wow, she must be something else if she can keep up with ya." Lighting replied, genuinely interested all of sudden. "Say, if she's so good, why she ain't a Wonderbolt?"

That question caught Rainbow off guard. The mare couldn't really think of a reason on why Gilda never tried to follow a flying career. Thunderlane huffed while grabbing the magazines that were sprawled over his bed.

"Since when the Wolderbolts had any kind of flyer that wasn't a pony? I know, the answer is never. Why? Because they couldn't care to think other creature to be a good flyer as Pegasi. Also, before we drift too far from the real problem here, the reason I said I kissed her Rainbow is simply because I wanted to offer her some comfort. Yeah, I thought it was a dumb move, I half expected her to beat me up or worse, but... she didn't really say much other than thank me for 'giving a crap'. Shortly afterwards she just left. I haven't seen her since."

Rainbow didn't say anything at first. The shock of learning of how bad Gilda took what happened years ago was much of a surprise and made the mare feel even worse about the event. Lightning shook her head once she understood what was going on.

"Hey, I gotta give it to ya. Kissing a griffon that you don't even know? Talk about stupidly brave. Heh, if she didn't mind it at the time it must mean she thought you worth of something, which is saying a lot coming from a griffon." Dust said, looking strangely pleased about hearing of this particular occasion. "Huh, so that was your first kiss?"

"Eh? No, not at all. She didn't really kissed back. It was just a cheeky kiss." Thunderlane replied quickly, looking at Lightning with a smirk. "Don't you worry. You will always be number one for me."

Lightning felt her face lighting up like a fireworks display and quickly looked away.

'Damn you and your corny words Thunder.'

"Well, since that's out of the way can we go back to discussing what are you doing here?" Thunderlane said as he shifted his eyes towards the mare at his side. Rainbow, still lost in thoughts, took few seconds to realize she was being addressed.

"Huh? Oh, right...I...I..."

Thunderlane sighed as she watched the poor display of stuttering. Rainbow was reaching on the verge of another breakdown. He didn't particularly like her, but this mental stress she is going through was somewhat relatable.

"Say, Rainbow, Lightning. Can we stop for a second and get a real talk here before anything?"

Both mares eyed him with genuine surprise and curiosity. They shared a quick glance before nodding in acceptance. Thunderlane breathed in deeply.

"Right. Let's try to make of this encounter something actually meaningful, other than just an awkward event." He said, pretending the ignore the funny look coming from the turquoise mare. "Rainbow, me and you have a lot of bad blood in between us, just as you and Lightning are not on best of terms. To that... how about we put all of that behind us? You know? No more hating on anypony for what they did months or years ago."

"Wait! So... you're forgiving me for what happened at that winter and all the other stuff?" Rainbow asked, incredulously to hear that such a thing would even be possible. She was well aware at this point on how much the stallion resented her for the problems she caused , not to mention the dismissive and disrespectful way she treated him ever since Flight Camp.

"Forgiving? Yes. Forgetting? No. I can't really. Neither should you. We only can become better by learning from our past mistakes. Say, Rainbow Dash, would you forgive Lightning Dust for what happened back at the Academy?"

Rainbow blinked as he inquired this. Her eyes found the expectant and apprehensive expression of Lightning, almost as if she was worried of what kind of reply Rainbow would offer.

Rainbow wasn't sure of what to say. What happened at Wonderbolt Academy still stung to this day, Lightning was a pony that gave Rainbow hope of finally having found somewhat she could truly relate, but the falling of said mare was something that Rainbow struggled to this day to get over with. If the mere possibility of getting that hope again was present, would she hesitate to take it? To finally find that wingpony she often dreamed about?

Although, Lightning is now a Washout and her special pony, which happens to be Thunderlane, is just somepony of a much higher importance than being Dash's wingpony. Why would Lightning care about flying with her again?

"The same I ask you Lightning. Would you be willing to forgive Rainbow Dash and start over? And by this I mean more than just an apology, I say this in a way the three of us can actually be somewhat friends again, at least when it comes to Rainbow." Thunderlane said, looking at Dust with something akin to pleading. "Of course I don't expect it to be right away, but there's some ground open for that feeling to grow. I just... I'm tired of this awkward relationship we have. We are all on the same side here. It's about time we stop bickering and feeling resentful of each other. It's... not really a nice thing to feel."

Lightning and Rainbow shared a look of awkwardness. They both could understand why the stallion wanted them to get over their silly rivalry. In Thunder's case, his strained relationship with the rainbow mare. None of them actually were even sure of how to start getting over such issues. Thunderlane, realizing what had them so hesitant, decided to offer a way to start over.

"Say, how about you stay for dinner? It's late and I don't mind having giving this a start. At least not anymore. Just behave, ok?" The stallion offered with a chuckle. Dust was about to make a complaint but he was having none of it. "I invited her Lightning, she stays for dinner and that's it."

"Huh, thanks?" Rainbow said, unsure of how to take upon such unexpected invite. Thunderlane never wished to have her around for anything before. This probably meant he was being serious on getting over the past. "So, what ya guys eating?"

"I don't know, Lightning was the one in charge of dinner this night." Thunderlane glanced at his marefriend with expectancy. "Say, what were you doing again?"

Lightning huffed before replying. She wasn't very thrilled about having Rainbow joining them all of sudden, but she had to go with it, otherwise Thunderlane would be upset with her.

"Carrot soup, also fried eggs if ya'll want something to feel more fulfilling. I just gotta rearrange cause I wasn't expecting another pony anyways. Get to the table and I'll be getting ya two set." She replied as she made her way towards the kitchen. "Just stop being loud, I think Rumble is already asleep." Thunderlane snorted.

"No, he isn't. I know him better than that. At this age he most likely is just playing around or readings mags. No, Rainbow, not that kind of mag." The stallion added quickly as he noticed the other mare immediately opening her mouth with a devious smirk on her face.

"How do you know that? You said yourself he's at that age of... well, being a pain. Just like Scoots." Rainbow frowned as she reminded herself of her current situation with the young filly. "I almost forgot how mad Scoots is with me. I wish I could understand her better. She feels so different."

Thunderlane could only smile empathetically. He was no stranger to dealing with teenagers, even if he wasn't really sure how to deal with Rumble.

"Trust me, I know how you feel. I'm not having a better time with my brother. I miss the days he still looked at me as if I meant something to him." The stallion replied, a tone of sadness that he couldn't conceal. Lightning glanced his way while working at the stove.

"Hey, maybe you're just taking it too personally? I had those kind of swings when I was younger. Didn't ya?"

"When I was a teen I was struggling to raise a foal and starving. I had no time to be a moody teen." Was Thunderlane's crispy reply. Dust winced at the tone he used, she should've know better.

Rainbow poked with her wing at a spoon distractedly. Every time Thunderlane talked about the things he endured few years back it always made her uncomfortable and out of place. It often happened for Rainbow to forget that not everypony had a good and easy life while growing up, she had been so alienated to the concept of misery that whenever it was brought up she had a hard time believing it to be true. She never asked Thunderlane what it was like to be on his own at such young age, carrying a foal around no less. Rainbow always imagined that a relative of Thunder was around to help him, but that never had been the case, he had no relatives aside his mother and father. When those passed away he trusted no one to look after him or his brother. Stubborn as he was, he always insisted that he could take care of Rumble on his own.

It was surprising that both pegasi survived for so long without any adults to support them, although Thunderlane had to come with terms that he wasn't going to last much further without any kind of help. Ponyville was the first town in which he had to stop by to reach for any kind of help. Which led to his first meeting with Cloud Kicker and Helia. Both families of said mares were more than welcoming to the young stallion and his little brother, helping him to settle in and find a place he could call home after months of wandering across Equestria. Even so the stallion had to work hard to earn enough keeps to raise the foal, for despite the insistence of many, Thunderlane wasn't trusting anypony else to take care of Rumble.

Rainbow hated to admit, but she envied the stallion. Despite how awesome, and often fast, Dash presented herself to be to anypony that dared to look at the sky, Thunderlane was always the pony to steal the attention whenever he did something even remotely impressive. He was nowhere near as fast as she was, nor the second fastest flyer, but regardless of talent, everypony liked him. No matter where or when, Thunderlane always made good friends with whoever cared to talk with him, and he never had any disagreements or arguments with anypony. He was in good terms with every stallion in town and almost all mares would swoon his way whenever he showed up. It made her upset simply because he was popular and not even a great flyer as she was.

She hated on him because she thought he had it easy while she worked hard to achieve perfection, but looking back at what happened these past years, Rainbow had to admit she wronged him. Thunderlane had it much worse than she had, she still has her parents, she never starved or feared sleeping under the stars, she didn't had a young sibling to raise on her own, she never went countless nights of sleep because of a crying foal, she never worked extra time to earn enough to keep her house or her family feed.

She never had anypony that hated on her for being popular. Sure, some townsfolk found the often praises she received rather questionable at times, but Rainbow did save few lives to earn their respect. Although she threw most of that respect out the window after several dangerous stunts she pulled recently.

Rainbow remembered how much in disbelief she was when she came to know that Thunder was accepted into the Wonderbolt Academy. She never thought him to be all of that, but Spitfire saw something on him, and whatever she saw actually graduated him and earned him a spot in their ranks a couple of years later. A spot that once would've been of Lightning Dust. Thunderlane becoming a Wonderbolt skyrocketed his popularity into unimaginable levels. Rainbow never thought she would see so many ponies at his show debut, in Ponyville no less. The amount of townsfolk, even from other towns, that came to see his first presentation was so abnormally massive that they had to perform twice that day so everypony could have a chance to see it happen, Ponyville wasn't prepared to receive so many ponies in their arena at that time. Even Spitfire said herself surprised at so many ponies at a member debut.

Rainbow Dash realized that she may have misjudged her popularity with expectations. Being an Harmony Bearer, the most promising cadet in decades, her undeniable success at the Equestrian Games, and numerous victories during her youth, gave Dash the impression that she would have a gigantic mass after her wherever she went to perform a show.

Yet, that only happened among her younger fans, most of her older admirers lost interest on her activities after quite some time. Cloud Kicker even commented on this fact once, but Rainbow didn't pay it any mind.

"Well, what did you expect Rainbow? You always win, you're always at the top. Things usually go your way no matter what. For kids you are a hero, for anypony else you became predictable. Nopony really cares much for a pony that faces no challenges. A pony that has a high chance of failing is way more interesting to follow than somepony that always succeed. They grew bored of you."

Those words that Rainbow ignored came to haunt her only few months later. It was only then, when she realized how often Thunderlane was approached by admirers after his debut, that Dash had to accept that Cloud Kicker was right on how she perceived the situation. To make matters worse, even most kids no longer followed her whenever Rainbow was in a Wonderbolt suit. Thunderlane had been the center of their attention for these last few months, something that bothered Rainbow immensely. Yet, she always had Scootaloo as a faithful supporter. Which made the situation of Scoots sudden Washout worshiping even more painful to accept.

Now in hindsight, Rainbow realized how stupid she was for acting up against Thunderlane because of such silly envy. He earned all he got as much as she did, but he struggled way more to get where she is now. She had no right to hate him for it.

"You okay? You look super depressed right now." Came the voice of the stallion Rainbow dreaded so much about for the past five years. It surprised her of how caring he sounded at that moment. No matter how poorly she treated him ever since they meet, he never stopped helping her whenever she needed. "Rainbow?... are you crying?"

"F-Fuck you. I-I'm not! I'm just sweating my eyes here because of the onions Lightning is cutting!" Dust glanced her way, wondering if she should even bother replying. Thunderlane eyed the other mare before looking back at Dash.

"But those ain't onions. Those are potatoes."

"Well, fuck! I'm guess I'm allergic to them!" Was Dash's quick reply, her face reddening as she looked away. Thunderlane wasn't sure what was going on, but he smiled nonetheless.

"Whatever you say Dash. Whatever you say."

Author's Notes:

I think I must address this much later update. Hum, I ... had some real issues with my life and things stale. Not to mention that I searched after another franchise after MLP ended. Fortunately I found Beastars after a couple of months. I'm back at FanFiction net for the moment, but I still can only update whenever I have time. Time is something I struggle the most. I try to do some pre writting but I always end up having to change several things to make sense of the pacing at some points. Also I'm looking to get back at writing other stories unfinished. This happens to be one of them.

I'm not sure how often I can update this, but I do have some chapters already written, I just need to read the whole thing again to get my bearings of the story back. I'm sorry. I wish I could deliver more often, I still love writing. It's just working like a long distance relationship at the moment. Also, I realized I needed to write something else other than MLP, for I had been in this franchise for a few decent years. Now I feel more refreshed to work on this again. Thank you all for being along this far. It means a lot.

I wanted to make this chapter longer, but getting the point across certain things is better than dragging on Slice of Life moments so often. I will get to the more objective stuff soon. Meanwhile... had jokes here and there. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTZ2JRrUK7Q

Tempting Offer

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"Can't we just get something on the way? I don't see the point of using saddlebags just to carry food."

"Are you willing to risk getting nauseous during flight? I rather not show up at McFly's house looking sick."

"Yeah, well. It's not like my fur isn't slightly green already."

"Just... please? We have to make sure this goes perfectly."

"I still don't think we getting anything out of this."

Thunderlane sighed heavily. It has been quite a pain to convince Lightning that they should carry supplies for the flight to Cloudsdale. The stallion was well aware that this particular event was going to be extremely time consuming and he had no reason to believe they would be back to Ponyville on the same day.

It just so happens that Cloudsdale wasn't exactly a stationary location and the usual route cycle had it placed on a very lengthy distance. Thunderlane tried to reason that they could just rent a place for the night without needing to buy food. He's well aware of how pricey the stuff on Cloudsdale usually is. Not to mention that he didn't really want to visit McFly with an empty stomach.

The only problem was trying to argue that point with a pony that has an income six times higher than his.

Lightning was understandably upset. She insisted on paying for everything, but be dammed if Thunderlane's pride would allow it. He knew she could afford it but he wouldn't be able to bear the guilt of not helping somewhat with the finances. He felt he had enough charity for this life.

The mare glanced at him worriedly. Lightning, despite not being on the best of spirits due the unexpected encounter with Rainbow Dash last night, took notice of how small Thunderlane's room was if compared with any other place of the house. Also the fact that his room has nothing but a bed and a couple of shelves surprised her immensely. What exactly Thunderlane managed to earn during all this time he's been in the Wonderbolts?

She wanted to ask him about his income more thoroughly, but whenever they talked about anything regarding bits it always ended up on an argument somehow.

"What's eating ya up?" Asked the very familiar voice of a pony that Lightning grew wary of.

The mare frowned in return. Her attention focusing on the bowl of cereal that Rainbow Dash was eating rather viciously.

"Why are ya still here? I thought Thunder had it clear that ya should leave by morning." Dust asked, confused and annoyed by Rainbow's erratic behavior. "Also, ain't ya a bit old for cereal?"

Rainbow paused the spoon that was making its way toward her muzzle, her eyes widened in surprise at the words Lightning uttered.

"What?! Since when? Cereals are a must for my diet!"

"Diet? What diet? You get any thinner ya might just disappear into thin air. I guess that's why you're so fast, no mass to generate any air resistance to drag ya." Lightning joked. Rainbow scoffed.

"Yeah, whatever. You probably would be even faster if you didn't keep adding so much muscle." Rainbow indicated with a wingtip at the clear muscular lines all over Lightning's body.

"For real?!" Lightning laughed, feeling a bit exasperated by Rainbow's dullness. "Does the word 'endurance' means anything to ya?"

"Sure it does. I just don't need it cause I get to where I want to be before I get tired."

Lightning felt her jaw tightening after hearing such ridiculous response.

"Fucking whatever Dash. Also, that's Rumble cereal. I don't think he will be happy if you're eating his breakfast."

"I'm sure Rumble won't mind it." Rainbow replied confidently. Lightning raised an eyebrow.

"It's not Rumble that I would be wor-

"WHAT THE FUCK RAINBOW!! GET YOUR OWN FUCKING FOOD! DON'T TOUCH RUMBLE'S STUFF!"

Rainbow jumped off her seat as she was shouted at by a very infuriated stallion. He made his way to the table while glaring menacingly towards the frightened mare.

"I-I-I was just..."

"I did not invite you for breakfast! Why are you even eating cereal?! That's kid's cereal! It's not meant for you!" Thunderlane admonished her as he took the box away from the mare's grasp. "And you wonder why other ponies think you're an oversize filly!"

Lightning bursted out laughing as Rainbow became increasingly red from both shame and indignation.

The stallion huffed as he placed the cereal box back on the shell it belonged. His mood, which was already bad thanks to Rainbow, didn't improve at the sudden kicks the front door received. All ponies in the kitchen paused, sharing confused glances at whoever could be bothering to visit Thunderlane this early in the morning.

"Great, more unexpected visits, as if last night wasn't enough." Thunderlane muttered under his breath. "I'll be right back."

"Sure thing. Want me to get Rumble up? He's probably still passed out in his room." Lightning offered.

Thunderlane paused, turning back at her with a look of complete surprise.

"Huh, yeah. That would be nice, thanks Lightning."

A smile tugged at the corners of his muzzle, a sudden look of profound appreciation that had the turquoise mare blushing.

Rainbow glanced at them, confused and uncertain of how to react to the way these two interacted. It is a mystery for her as to why Thunderlane, from the dozens of mares out there, chose Lightning Dust to be his special somepony.

Both mares watched as the stallion trotted away towards the main door, Rainbow did notice that Lightning's eyes were particularly fixated on the stallion's muscular backside. Dash felt a small pang of jealousy that Lightning got such a wholesome stallion to herself, and she regretted for not giving Thunderlane a single chance in that particular kind of relationship.

"Hey, Dust." Rainbow found herself asking all of sudden."You and Thunder are actually going long in this relationship stuff?"

Lightning glanced back at the other mare with a confident grin.

"Of course. Why wouldn't we? We already declared to each other anyways."

Rainbow stared agape.

"You actually said the 'L' word?!"

Dust laughed at how foalish her question sounded.

"For real? Come on Dash, surely the idea of dating and feeling that way about somepony else shouldn't scare ya off."

"It didn't scare you?" Rainbow said with clear disbelief. Lightning frowned before replying slowly.

"Well, at first... I wasn't sure it was what I wanted. Damn, I wasn't even sure if I was into stallions. Yeah, laugh it up." Dust added at Rainbow's audible snort. "Bet there's a lot of ponies out there betting in the first mare you're getting hooked up with."

Much to Lightning's surprise Rainbow's face became a deep shade of purple. She stared in bewilderment at the reveal.

"Wait! Really?! I mean... wow, I'm not really one to judge. If ya can find somepony that makes ya happy it shouldn't matter what they look like. Still unexpected though, I was just talking out of my ass there." Lightning admitted as she glanced around awkwardly. "So, huh.... who's the lucky mare?"

Rainbow Dash grumbled at first, looking very uncomfortable and hesitant. She let out a sigh of resignation, aware that there was no point avoiding this conversation.

"Yeah, well. She ain't exactly a pony..."

"Oh... oh! You mean... so, who is it?" Lightning asked, looking genuinely curious. She could understand Rainbow's hesitation on that regard. Sure, dating the same gender could be a bit awkward to talk about, but also outside of species? That was the kind of relationship that would attract some unwanted attention.

Rainbow frowned, looking upset and disgruntled all of sudden.

"It's Gilda. I mean, yeah. She did some big screw ups in the past, but... so did I. We've been in touch since Flight Camp. She... well, we grew a bit distant once I got a job on Ponyville. We saw each other occasionally. Griffinstone is pretty far and quite exhausting to make that kind of travel every week."

Lightning nodded quietly, realizing now why Rainbow got so worked up about Thunderlane kissing the griffon.

"Gilda is... how do I explain? I mean... awesome as a flyer? Hell yeah! But as a griffon? Don't get me wrong, she looks badass and all, is just... her attitude got so bad from the time we meet during our first years, I didn't know why. We ended up fighting during one of her visits. Which explains how she end up meeting Thunderlane." The mare said with clear distaste. Lightning raised an eyebrow at her tone.

"Hey, chill Dash. Thunder wasn't really trying anything but help her out. Don't hate on him for being caring of somepo- err... griffon in distress. Also, judging from what I heard, you weren't exactly the most fair pony to her in that particular occasion."

Rainbow huffed angrily. Throwing her hooves up in the air with indignation.

"Why everypony keeps reminding me of that?! As if it wasn't bad enough hearing it from Twilight several times after that week! Some bullshit friendship lesson that one was. I lost my best friend, maybe more, and she just came to understand that when it was too late! I was feeling like trash for weeks!"

"Soooo... have you two made up?"

"I didn't even tell her how I feel yet!" Lightning chuckled.

"I said 'made up' not 'make up'."

"Oh... huh, yeah. We did get our relationship amended after a couple of years." Dash replied, feeling embarrassed by the slip.

"Well, that's g- years?!" Dust stared in disbelief at the other mare. "You spent years without talking with her?!"

Rainbow Dash felt her face going hotter as she tried to explain herself on the matter.

"It's just that I, with this whole Bearer of Element stuff and, ya know, the Wonderbolts, The Equestrian Games and so on. I kinda ended up forgetting about her."

Rainbow Dash felt herself lowering into the seat as she felt Lightning's eyes pierce at her soul.

"Holy shit Dash. I can understand you and me not seeing eye to eye for a really long time, but Gilda? How can you claim you love somep- griffon, whatever! How can you say such and admit you forgot their existence? Rainbow, that's.... messed up is putting it lightly."

"I... didn't think I really liked her that way. Not until very recently." Rainbow replied meekly. Lightning regarded her with confusion.

"So... was there something else that gave you that idea?"

Rainbow Dash was visibly biting the inside of her cheek. Her body expression was one of complete tension, the movements extremely hesitant in all aspects. Her eyes looking at anywhere or anything but Lightning.

"I... did have feelings.... for a stallion... few years back."

Lightning had a strange feeling that she wasn't going to like talking about it any further.

"Was it-

"Dash, Dust! Go get your uniforms! We need to head to HQ right now!" Thunderlane warned urgently and he stopped by the kitchen door.

"Say what?! Why?" Rainbow questioned, a wave of relief washed over her, but also the feeling that all her plans for the day were going down the drain. Thunderlane only frowned at her.

"Orders, Dash. Get moving! Fleetfoot is waiting for us at the door. Dust, can yo-

"No."

Thunderlane paused, blinking at her abrupt reply, his mind trying to understand her behavior.

"Huh, why not?" The stallion asked, torn between being upset or passive. Lightning glanced at him, her face betrayed no emotion, quite a feat for a pony.

"Because I do not take orders from Wonderbolts. Whatever is happening is none of my business. Have fun."

Thunderlane was really tempted to scream at her, but all those years taking care of foal taught him better.

"Lightning, this is very important. Fleetfoot came all the way from HQ to pick us up. Us. Not just me or Dash. You too."

The mare frowned, confused by the strange abnormal event.

"Just me? What about Rolling Thunder and-

"No, just the three of us. Actually you are being called by McFly more specifically. " Thunderlane added, a hint of nervousness in his voice that Dust didn't miss. "I can only imagine why the general is at HQ today, his visits are very.... unique."

Dust perked an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued by whatever reason a Wonderbolt veteran would be looking after her.

"Well, I guess I can make an exception. We would be looking after him anyways. Just don't get annoyed if I get in trouble with Spitfire."

"Sure, don't get me involved and you can do whatever you want." The stallion replied with a smile. Lightning chuckled at his response.

"Damn coward. Fiiiine, I will get my uniform. What about Rumble? Ya leaving him by himself?"

"Nah, Cloud Chaser is coming by to look after him. She is like a second uncle to him. Or third, if you count Cloud Kicker, I don't really know." Thunderlane shrugged. "Depends on if you count all the mares that offered to look after him."

Lightning stared at him with a smirk on her face that intrigued the stallion.

"What?" He asked, curious about what she was humored about.

"Oh, I'm sure a bunch of mares offering to look after the little brother of such an striking stallion is nothing to be suspicious about." Lightning said with a tone of sarcasm.

Thunderlane laughed at her insinuation.

"Really?! Come on Dust. It's not always like that."

"Chaser offered to foalsit Rumble mostly cause she had a crush on ya actually. " Dash said, surprising the other two.

"Wha... I mean, I guess she might have." Thunderlane replied unsure. The cyan daredevil snorted at him.

"Ya joking? She only had eyes for your sorry ass. I'm surprised she never made a move on.... oh." Dash stopped, realizing the reason why Chaser never advanced on the stallion. "I guess she kinda gave up once the rumors started to spread that.... hum... yeah, I better go get my uniform."

"Yeah, you better." Thunderlane added dryly. Rainbow glided past them, avoiding eye contact with the stallion. Lightning was struggling to not laugh at the awkwardness. "Something funny Dust?"

"H-Hey! Don't be mad at me! It's not my fault. No reason to be mad though, that helped us getting together, didn't it?"

Thunderlane couldn't argue with that, not that he would even. Lightning was only giving him reasons for him to believe how truthful she was to their relationship.

"I love you, you know that." He said, which earned him a profuse blush from the mare.

"Gosh, you're so fucking sappy at times. But... yeah, I know it. I love ya too. Now get your ass dressed before Fleetfoot comes after it. I can only guess how antsy she's getting out t-

"DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M IN THE MOOD FOR CHATTING?! GO GET YOUR DAMN UNIFORM RAINBOW DASH!"

"Hum.... I take that was her screaming from the outside?" Lightning guessed with an awkward smile. Thunderlane was visibly tense after hearing the shout.

"Whatever it is, to get Fleetfoot this worked up, it gotta be very serious. You coming, right?"

"Hey, if it's dangerous stuff I ain't leaving ya with these idiots. Of course I'm coming with ya."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Why the fuck did I come? This gotta be the most stupid overreact bullcrap ever."

"Lightning..."

"What? Look at this, they all bunched up like scared foals. It's just McFly sitting in the office reading a bunch of paper! Where's the emergency that I've been yelled at by fucking Fleetfoot?"

"Just behave. Everypony is already giving us looks since you're the Washout's captain. We don't need to get on anypony's bad side, especially the general."

Lightning merely huffed, incapable of finding an argument on her favor. Thunderlane sighed, feeling the weight of anxiety building up as they all waited for McFly to call them for whatever reason he requested their presence.

Most senior officers were present, a mix of fear and concern spread among the group. Nopony was able to tell what was happening, but whatever it was it could only mean great changes were soon to take place in the corporation. Though the ones that saw Lightning did a double take. Some couldn't mask the absolute looks of astonishment at her arrival and stared at Thunderlane for the longest time.

Spitfire was at the office alongside Fleetfoot, Rapidfire and Soarin. The captain of the Wonderbolts remained stoic as she waited for McFly to inspect her work. The general wasn't alone, alongside him were other old veterans, ranking from commander to major. The most notable one was no other than Stormy Flare herself, Spitfire's mother.

McFly, ever since his arrival at the office uttered no words. His eyes, filled with the weight of years of hardship and experience, roamed freely across vast amounts of documents and reports. What he was looking for, nopony knows.

Whatever trance the atmosphere in the office set upon everypony was broken once Fleetfoot announced her arrival. McFly thanked her, but did not order or requested for Lightning to show up after few minutes of continuous search. The long wait was driving Lightning impatient and the other pegasus even more anxious.

"I think... " McFly spoke, his voice smooth but firm. "... I have seen all I needed. If so kindly captain Lightning Dust would join us for this reunion."

Whatever stoic expression Spitfire had on her face instantly shattered once McFly mentioned that specific name outloud. The absolute look of incredulity on her face as Lightning Dust entered the office alongside Thunderlane was nothing short of impressive.

The general seized up the newcomers, his eyes detaining a bit longer on the dark coated stallion, a expression of recognition on his face before he spoke to the duo.

"Forgive me the sudden call. There were matters that needed to be addressed rather thoroughly and this is a very fitting occasion for such. If you two wouldn't mind to take a seat." He offered. Lightning shrugged.

"Nah, I'm fine here. The air doesn't feel so heated." Dust replied, glancing quickly at Spitfire. The Wonderbolt captain was clearly fuming as she glared at the turquoise mare.

"Suit yourself." McFly replied with a frown. "Thunderlane, isn't it?" He asked as he shifted his attention to the stallion. "Storm was your father, wasn't he? Yeah, I remember.... good friend of mine. Ain't one day gone by that I don't miss him. I knew your mother too, of course. Quite something they were. I'm glad to see their son is doing fine."

Thunderlane was at loss of what to say. It caught him so off guard and he struggled to keep composed.

"I-... T-thank you, sir."

Lightning grasped a wing over his shoulder, hoping it would offer him some distraction from such thoughts. A gesture that didn't go unnoticed.

"I imagine you two have some sort of relationship?" The general inquired, suddenly intrigued.

"He is my special somepony." Lightning replied, not caring about the looks of incredulity being sent her way. "So what?"

McFly chuckled at her defiant tone. Noticing that Spitfire was about to reprimand Lightning for the attitude the general quickly replied.

"So nothing. I just find it curious that a Wonderbolt and a Washout would be getting along so particularly well, especially considering I've been getting reports that suggested the complete opposite." At this the general shifted his attention to Spitfire. The golden mare flinched under his scrutinizing gaze. "Speaking of it, if anything I've been getting during these years of retirement is nothing but reports. I may say that I find these reports to be rather... insufficient."

The general shifted the stack of papers. His eyes laying on a pile of reports from several previous batches of recruits that went through trials.

"Now this specific amount of paperwork has some interesting information. Especially because it includes personal staff reports that you, for whatever reason, considered unnecessary to be analyzed. Yet, I had the time to read through every single one of them."

McFly's soothing and leveled voice changed swiftly. A tone of anger clouded his words, his eyes hardening as steel as his attention went towards all the senior Wonderbolts.

"The amount of discrepancies I found from certain events regarding a particular mare in this office only solidified my suspicions. I remembered reading the report at that time, Lightning Dust was a pegasus we have been keeping track for years, especially considering who her grandfather was. I remember wondering after the incident; how could such incredibly amount of talent be wasted by the Wonderbolts?"

"Sir, she violated sev-

"I did not grant you permission to speak captain!" McFly immediately shut Spitfire, looking at her with severity. "In all those years, this institution was a major part of your life, daresay your second home, I would've expected for you to understand better than anypony here what it means to be a Wonderbolt!"

His words cut through Spitfire like glass, the mare winced as she understood what was about to come.

"But alas, what did I find? Outdated flying protocols, relaxed discipline, lack of proper equipment and a shortage of training sessions. Like it or not, our recruitment staff protocols are absolute trash. No memos, no scouts, no nothing. Do you think talent is simply gonna drop into your comfy cloud? I went through the lists of approvals for inscriptions you had for the last four years. All these batches were extremely reduced from what my own personal managed to gather. Several dozens of great flyers would never have their chance to blossom their talents, and do you know why captain?"

At this point McFly was looking extremely infuriated. Even Stormy Flare was looking at him with worry, but she dared not to intervene in aid of her daughter.

"For whatever reason, that it was never discussed with any of your superiors officers, you decided that one drill instructor was enough to take care of the income of pegasus per season. Normally I would say it's quite a task you carry upon yourself due the sheer amount it involves on its own. Yet, under no circumstance you should be doing this on your own. I knew it was only a matter of time until mistakes started happening. You overloaded yourself with too much and it's burning away the very important part of any flyer; their heart."

The puzzled look on Spitfire's face was clear just as of everypony else. Lightning Dust, who seemed that she couldn't care less, was more than eager to explain on her own crude manner.

"Basically you spent so long stuffing your face doing boring paper management, staff management and yelling at others and some other shit that it turned you into a cold, insensitive bitch."

Fleetfoot faked a cough to mask the bolt of laughter that nearly escaped from her. Soarin exchanged a glance with some of his colleagues, seemingly unsure of how to react. McFly raised an eyebrow towards the Washout captain.

"That's a bit too straight to the point. I was hoping for a more eloquent manner to say it, but... I think that is the best we will get." He admitted with a sigh. His look now weary as he returned his attention towards the livid Wonderbolt captain.

"I've been mostly interested in knowing why we lost so many potential flyers, not to mention that some of those flyers went out and made a team that's surpassing the very same Wonderbolts." McFly said, a mix of disdain and admiration as he looked back at Lightning Dust. "I'm not happy to see the Wonderbolts losing on something they are supposed to be the best at. Although I'm glad to see another team rising the bar after so many years of dominance we had on the skies. It was about time for the Wonderbolts to have a challenge."

McFly sighed deeply, crossing hooves over his chest as he looked back at Lightning with the utmost seriousness.

"That being said, I want to make a proposal to you."

Lightning's perked with curiosity, same could be said for everypony else in the room. They awaited as McFly calmly glanced around the room, as if he was trying to guess their reactions.

"Considering everything that happened in this Academy the last few years, I think it's about time we made some changes on how we do things. That being said, there were things that were done that do not represented or portray what Wonderbolts truly are. As of today, I'm assuming command of HQ until I see fit to leave to a designated amount of selected senior officers. Fire Streak is to be reinstated in the corporation as a instructor, even if he's still fit be flying. Some policies will change regarding retirement, and also our recruitment process will have to be renewed to accommodate other flying species. I'm aware that we are having financial issues, but I think that's easy to fix. It will all depend on you."

Lightning stared, disbelief written all over her face as McFly pointed a hoof her way.

"Me? What do I have to do with this?" She retorted, a chuckle following her words as she glanced back in confusion. McFly shrugged.

"Nothing, if you don't want to. Yet, the Wonderbolts might not be for long. Unless you're okay with Thunderlane losing his job." He added with a smirk.

Lightning glared, unimpressed with his comment.

"Cheap shot old feather, you still didn't explain how do you expect me to help, nor if I will want to."

"That's simple." McFly replied, a smile on his muzzle as he scattered more reports across the desk, his hooves landing on a particular file that had the photo of a very familiar mare.

Lightning watched, unsure of where he was going with this. She recognized the file as the one she had written on about herself. It contained all the information of her bio, even such things as blood type. A file Lightning wished she could erase forever.

"This particular file of yours has, aside the basic requirements, also memos and reports regarding your behavior and performance. It was, heh, dusting in the archive." Lightning rolled her eyes while Thunderlane snorted. "Last I checked, Spitfire made very sure to imprint on your file that you were 'relieved' from service. Now, as far as I'm concerned..."

McFly tore one page off, the one containing the expelled print, and tore it into pieces with his wings.

"Now would you look at that." He said with a mischievous glee. "It seems your file looks absolutely normal, which makes me question one thing..."

Lightning stared, not daring to believe on what was happening. Spitfire's face was drained from all color, she seemed to have witnessed a brutal murder.

"So, Lightning Dust.... would you like to join the Wonderbolts?"

Rolling the Dice

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"So, if I get this right, ya just wanna me to give up my team, my time, and to make it very obvious, my fucking hatred for this fucking bitch? To join your bunch of elite pussycats? How about you go fuck yourself?"

Thunderlane stared. His eyes not really focusing on anything in particular, a strange feeling taking over his body. It was almost of a part of him was floating away from inside of his chest, it took him few seconds to realize that he might have just died on the spot and didn't notice. He swore under his breath, unsure on what he was cursing about. He felt sick, wouldn't surprise him if his face was on a shade of light grey at that very moment. He could hear the shocked gasps resonating all around the room, some even muttering offenses in return. The atmosphere around suddenly lit up into a ball of fire about to explode.

"What the actual fuck you just said?!" Spitfire raised from her seat, looking ready to pounce on Lightning at any second. The sight of the very same triggered something in Thunderlane, before he even registered on his mind, he was already standing on his hooves facing Spitfire with a combat stance. "Thunderlane, get out of my way!"

The stallion didn't budge, Lightning scoffed at seeing the captain of the Wonderbolts ready to assault her, but it surprised Dust to see Thunderlane blocking her way.

McFly stared at the display, seemingly amused for whatever reason. Stormy rolled her eyes as she addressed the general with a touch of disdain.

"You knew this would happen, and yet you dared to ask her such anyways. Are you done having fun?"

"Maybe." He replied evasively. "But I've got an idea of what is their standing overall. So.... Spitfire! Enough! Take your seat, same for you Thunderlane. That's an order for both of you!"

Spitfire glanced at him with incredulity, all her bravado died down as she reluctantly went back to her seat. She stared back at the stallion with confusion. Thunderlane took a bit longer to move, he wasn't keen on going back to his seat until Spitfire was at a safe distance.

"Of course, I wouldn't expect any other kind of reply from you Lightning. Stubborn and bold, just like your grandfather." McFly replied with something akin to appraisal. Lightning frowned, the mention of her old feather wasn't something she knew how to react. "Your loyalty to your team is something we both have in common. That being said, I have a more decent proposal to make, one that you won't have to worry about giving up on anything."

"Is that so? Well, let's hear it them, not like we have anything better to do." Dust replied with a chuckle. Spitfire grunted, shooting daggers at her fellow members that were snickering in the back. McFly nodded thoughtfully, his hooves slowly moving papers left and right, looking for something in particular.

"Say, a few questions first... I believe you're the one that designs the courses for your team?" He asked with mild interest. Lightning nodded. "Is there a specific way you make those designs?"

"Well, most the stuff we do is meant to look as difficult as it goes. Yet, we're not really on a rush to make excellent timing or looking insanely fast, just sharp and precise enough to go through without problems." Dust replied slowly, thinking her words carefully as she explained the idea behind her projects. "I don't really care much if it takes ten seconds longer to do something or not. Every track, or obstacle, is carefully placed to accommodate my team's individual flight style."

"Individually?" Soarin asked, seemingly perplexed. "But that's such a hassle, we wouldn't be able to do that with the numbers we have."

"Of course ya wouldn't." Lighting replied, looking back at him with mirth. "But then it's not like it would really be an issue, since ya'll fly pretty much the same."

"Excuse me?" Fleetfoot replied, looking slightly offended. "How do we fly the same? I'm sure as Tartarus that I do not fly like Spitfire, Soarin, Rapidfire, Misty, Blaze or any other for that matter. We have our own flying techniques."

"Really now?" Dust mocked, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow. "When was the last time any of you performed in a show by doing whatever the hell ya wanted? Without being told to fly in formation with somepony else?"

"Huh..." Fleetfoot glanced around her, looking at her teammates in hopes of finding an example of sorts. The amount of clueless faces returning her attention was enough of an answer. Lightning snorted.

"Rolling and Shorty don't follow me wherever I tell them to, they have their own thing going and I mostly just fly on my own. The few times we do collabs is for the grand finale, when you see us three going full in there no one is keeping track of the other, we have our own presentations printed in our memories. We train several times a week, with that training I modify the set to accommodate the three of us to avoid collision mid flight. Everyone has their own individual route to follow and a different way to go at it, I make the adjustments that they request as to improve their safety." Lightning paused as she threw a glare back at Spitfire. "We started slow but quickly got the hang of it. I always tell my teammates what I will be doing, so they will be aware of where to expect me to be, or come through, during a sprint, a halt or a loop. We don't hide what we do from each other, that way we don't need to be stupidly shouting as to avoid incidents, nor waste time looking around in fear of a possible collision."

McFly nodded, the raise of eyebrow indicating he was slightly impressed with their tactics. Even Spitfire, begrudgingly, seemed to be surprised by such take on their performances. Mutterers followed Lightning's words, as other Wonderbolts started to express their excitement at the idea of showing off without being held back by a routinely tight formation.

"Say, you guys never repeat any of your stunts?" Rapidfire asked, looking genuinely curious. Lightning shook her head.

"Nah, that ain't our thing to do, every show is a different stuff, which is why we always make a full crowd. They will never see whatever we do in a show ever again, it's a one time thing. Shorty and Rolling don't like repeating courses, neither do I. We already do plenty enough from spending weeks to perfect our timing, not to say it gets boring quick. We are always looking for a different challenge."

"Damn, Spits, that's so cool!" Fleetfoot was clearly enthusiastic by the different approach. "Our fans decorated all our choreographs at this point, no wonder is getting so hard to impress them." Spitfire wasn't looking nearly as excited as her team member, but she had to agree that a different approach was a must at this point.

"Ain't that the truth? Which is why I propose we do something in a way we all can benefit from this exchange." McFly said, looking pensive before returning his attention back to Dust. "Equestria has been going thorough some cultural changes. I assume you've heard of the School of Friendship?"

Despite the seriousness in his voice, the general couldn't help the touch of disdain as he mentioned such facility. Even most of the other Wonderbolts were rolling their eyes at the notion of a school to educate ponies on how to make friends. Although Rainbow Dash has been quite insistent for the members to understand the need to be more sympathetic to each other, something that Soarin and Fleetfoot learned fairly quick, especially when the rainbow mare was picking on Thunderlane.

"Yeah, I know of Twilight's school." Dust replied with a shrug.

"Princess Twilight." McFly corrected with a raised eyebrow. Lightning didn't even bother to reply. "Anyways, I've been wondering... what do you think of the idea of including members from different species in your group?"

"I really don't care as long they are great flyers. Even if they're not, we can arrange something for them to do from the ground, but they have to be impressive stuff. I've been looking for a Gryphon actually, say... Dash? Do you know any good Gryphon flyers I can pick?" Dust asked, turned her head around to face the cyan pegasus sitting near the entrance of the office.

"Huh? Eh, not really? I know of some from the Equestrian games actually. Giselle and Natalya, I think were their names." Rainbow replied, looking bewildered that Lightning would ask her right away. Thunderlane was quick to address Rainbow's negligence of one specific Gryphon.

"What about Gilda, Rainbow? Isn't she a really good flyer too?" The stallion asked, curious as how would Dash overlook such obvious fact. Rainbow frowned, looking very uncomfortable all of sudden.

"I don't know. I mean, Gilda has her own thing going with her bakery career."

"Pfff! For real?! Life couldn't be more boring than that." Lightning replied, looking thoroughly amused. "As soon she learns that she can do crazy on the air, and make good bits out of it, she will drop that lame job real quick."

Rainbow was about to retort, angry that Dust made such demeaning comment about Gilda's choice of work. Yet, Thunderlane beat her to it.

"There is nothing wrong with baking, or cooking for that matter." The stallion replied, looking slightly offended. "Perhaps I look lame to you every time I'm home making something for launch or dinner." Lightning stared back at him with incredulity.

"For real? I don't say what you do is useless but, if that's all you do for a living, when you have talent to do so much more, do you really wanna throw the sympathy card for Gilda?" Thunderlane grunted, fully aware that Dust already won the argument. "She can fly as good as Rainbow, if what you told me is true, then why the fuck waste yourself with only doing pastries when she has potential to earn herself so much more and buy a fucking pie store with it?! Fuck off you and Rainbow, cause I know Dash will just say some bullshit about Gilda living her dream or some other crap."

"Ain't you living your dream, though? Of being a flyer?" McFly asked, looking slightly curious and amused at the exchange. Rainbow was looking particularly pissed off, and Thunderlane exasperated.

Lightning bit the inside of her cheek. Her eyes darting around, her expression forlorn as she hesitated to answer to that. Thunderlane was well aware of why she was cautious of her response.

"My dream was to become a Wonderbolt."

A silence hang over the room. Few ponies exchanging glances here and there, Fleetfoot gave Spitfire a sidelong glance, which in turn made the Wonderbolt captain feel very self aware. Soarin winced, feeling somewhat guilty for not being at the Academy during that time, for he was the one that usually stayed at the sidelines during recruitment, aiding Spitfire when she was overloaded. He actually was the one who appointed Lightning to be accepted into recruitment by his captain.

Lightning looked impassive, but McFly could tell how much the mare still resents that incident. He hoped that he can deal with that problem by finding a solution that would get Lightning some recognition and help the Wonderbolts to stay afloat. Yet, he needs to make sure that this bad blood in between her and Spitfire will end.

"Dreams may not come true, but it's never late to achieve them." McFly said, his eyes landing on Lightning's file. "Say, perhaps I cannot grant you to be a Wonderbolt again, not even sure that's what you still want." He paused, looking at her with mild curiosity, but Dust only shrugged. She had no reason to believe in becoming a Wonderbolt. "Yet, in light of current circumstances, we could use of some changes, not to mention expanding our branches."

"Sir?" Spitfire asked, looking perplexed at what was being said, but the general ignored her. Lightning and the other Wonderbolts regarded him with confusion, except the senior officers. "We've been discussing in regards to our... policies. We came to a conclusion that we should keep old members in the corporation for the sake of their experience, not to mention that, well, Princess Celestia has personally requested for us to develop a new branch, something about Equestria being in dire need of a specific set of flyers during trying times."

At this the McFly paused, it was clear that Celestia's lack of faith in their skills regarding combat stung, but he could not deny the logic in her words. The Wonderbolts failed far too many times when it came about keeping Equestria safe from significant threats.

"What if I told you... that you can have your own elites? Funded by the Kingdom? You design the uniforms, the courses, the squads and schedules. Recruit whoever you wish and get a say on whatever event you want to participate? No setbacks, no drawlines, no nonsensical rules, just commitment."

Lightning shared a suspicious glance with Thunderlane, the stallion was also finding that offer to be a bit strange.

"Huh, and what's the catch?" She asked, not looking very impressed. McFly hesitated, wondering how to phrase his answer without making it sound frightening somewhat.

"You can have that, but only if you can commit as a secondary military branch. Celestia wants flyers that have more... daredevil in their wings, more than it would be considered sane. In other words, flyers that can take risks and succeed by performing the most dangerous tasks."

"That's it?" Lightning replied, looking fairly excited all of sudden. The idea of being an active military elite was rather surprising, but the challenge on it sparked her interest, not to mention it would boost her reputation tremendously. "Sounds great!"

"No, it doesn't."

Lightning blinked, her eyes quickly found Thunderlane's irritated expression staring right back at her.

"What?! Why not?" She asked, bewildered that he's not fond of that offer. McFly was giving her all she could ever hope for, and even allowing her enough of a rank to rub on Spitfire's face. How could she say no? Thunderlane looked even more upset with her answer.

"Are you joking?" He asked, sounding perplexed while maintaining the frown on his face. "You're being offered a job that will put you against things that will actively try to kill you." He nearly hissed those last words, such was his frustration with the lack of perception she displayed. "What's the point of going from a job that can get yourself killed, to another that will end up killing you regardless?!"

Lightning, for the first time that day, had no idea how to rebuke his words. He wasn't wrong, not at all. Lightning saw the dangerous things that Equestria went through, it was well know how many times they would be doomed if not for Twilight and her friends using Harmony to save their lands. She couldn't blame him for being so angry, Thunderlane was looking after her after all, and this deal was far from ideal in regards to her safety.

The office was fairly silent during their discussion, to which Lightning was thankful, having a bunch of smooth feathers trying to talk her into this idea would've made the moment a lot worse. McFly's silence during the exchange was a huge giveaway of how right Thunderlane's opinion is. Dust couldn't help but feel unsure of what to do, the idea of having her own elites surpassing the Wonderbolts is very tempting, but Thunderlane's care meant so much more to her than anything else at this point, definitely way more than some petty revenge against Spitfire.

"I... well, yeah, ya right. But... what we do then?" She asked, looking lost as all the previous excitement left her. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that he wouldn't support her on something that genuinely caught her interest. Thunderlane remained stoic, his eyes shifting back towards the general. McFly was motionless, awaiting for them to come to an agreement on their choice but, for his unexpected surprise, Thunderlane had other ideas.

"I don't think being a military branch is anywhere near of what we need to improve the situation. Sure, I suppose Celestia-

"Princess Celestia." Spitfire corrected. Thunderlane glanced at her briefly, his shift of attention enough of a warning for those who wished to interrupt him further.

"As I was saying." The stallion continued, pointedly ignoring his captain's remark. "Celestia is absolutely right on thinking we need to improve the way we do things when it comes to a combat perspective, but we will never get there if we cannot improve how we present ourselves to the public. The Washouts blew us out of the sky for months now, or is there anypony who begs to differ?"

He paused, awaiting for somepony to contradict his statement, but the room remained silent. He sighed, as the amount of information that he would provide started to overflow his thoughts.

"I've been thinking on how to settle this issue between us." He said as he also addressed Lightning into the conversation. "I don't think joining ranks is going to do any good. Even with a specific division, just as General McFly said, a different branch, or team for that matter. One that can expand from the Wonderbolts, but also work on coalition. It's too much to hope that it will last, this is merely a testing idea."

"So... you think that we should have the Wonderbolts and the Washouts work along temporarily?" McFly questioned, still unsure of what was being proposed. Thunderlane nodded briefly.

"We can share knowledge, tactics, resources or whatever to help each other improve. The Washouts have the public attention cause they are far more daring and creative than we are, but we still have far larger numbers and resources, even if their income is surpassing us at the moment. We can learn from each other, instead of just being bitter and resentful. I don't say we should be friends." He quickly added, as Lightning opened her mouth to protest, which was imitated by Spitfire. "No, but at least try to be professional, that much you can do. We will never get anywhere if we insist on never changing, it's time to try something new."

"That sounds great and all, but what about that need of a better air military branch?" Fleetfoot asked, not really disregarding Thunder's reasoning. He merely shrugged.

"I'm no military expert, but... maybe it's time we start looking at magic users more often, cause there's not really much we can do in regards to strong magicians. Like Tirek or Chrysalis."

"Urgh, don't remind me." Soarin said, looking mildly disturbed by the memories of these awful encounters with the powerful vile entities. "I don't think we will ever live down that Canterlot incident."

"Magic is a real issue, and has been our downfall far too many times." McFly said, as he looked around to see his fellow seniors nodding in agreement. "Expanding our recruitment to also include unicorns may become more of a necessity than we could've anticipated. That being said, as our society is expanding our relations with other nations, we've been thinking on looking after the griffons. We've been very impressed the few times we saw their teams at the Equestrian Games, not to mention they seem to have a better resistance to magic than we do, for whatever reason." He added, frowning at the advantage the winged cats have over them. His attention returned back to the black coated stallion. "You are suggesting for us to form an alliance of sorts with the Washouts, and we will exchange with each other as a way to benefit and better ourselves as time goes. I can see that idea has its merits, and also it's good thinking on the magic issue." He turned his attention back to Dust. "Say, do you wish to include any of our members to your team?"

Lightning blinked, stupefied as the General addressed her with a question she never would've expect.

"Say what?! Are you offering me to pick Wonderbolts to my team?"

"Sir?!" Spitfire looked absolutely infuriated and spooked. "What could you possibly achieve with such?"

"Anypony interested on joining Lightning's team?" The General asked, once again ignoring the captain. Spitfire was about to unleash her fury, but a stern look from Stormy Flare set her silent.

There were moments of muttering following his words, not all Wonderbolts found that idea of siding with the Washouts so amazing, but the very few who could see the benefits of such incorporation were more than ready to jump at the chance.

Especially the pony that meant to Lightning a lot more than her career does.

"I'm in."

Several heads turned, astonished that Thunderlane did not hesitate on the offer. Lightning was baffled, she really didn't expect him to join at all, she was perfectly fine with him staying a Wonderbolt.

"Thunder, are you sure? But..." Dust paused, unsure if she has the liberty of bringing his parents into the conversation. "What about that promise of being a Wonderbolt?" The stallion merely shrugged, a smile forming on his muzzle that surprised her.

"I did carry that promise, didn't I? I am a Wonderbolt, so that's done. Now? Well, I can move on to something else, honestly I was getting bored. I guess that's what happens when you do nothing but training every time you come here." He added with a bit of spite.

"Well, we have one candidate already. Anypony else?" McFly asked, not surprised but sad that Thunder choose to leave their ranks so soon. Something that his father would've been deeply disappointed about, but he couldn't be blamed for wanting to leave.

"Me!" Several gasps followed this exclamation, to which Spitfire joined while adding her words of utter disbelief.

"Fleetfoot?!! What!? What the fuck?! Why?!"

Much to Spitfire's shock, and dismay, the mare merely shoved her tongue back at her captain, looking like she couldn't care less.

"I was getting this far," Fleetfoot said, raising a hoof way above her own head. "With all the pointless stuff we kept doing, it was obvious we were lagging behind and you were too proud to admit. I want to do new things, Spit! No more repeated training that will add nothing to my flying! It's cool and all to be a Lieutenant or whatever, but I don't want to waste my life getting nowhere. I joined the bolts cause I wanted to be the best flyer I could make myself to be, but it's been stale for years!"

"Urgh, I can't believe you! Are you for real!? It's not like we can't improve!"

"I don't doubt that, but I rather not wait that many extra months for an actual change. Don't worry, we still will get to see each other often." Fleetfoot joked, much to Spitfire's chagrin. Lightning and Thunderlane watched as the argument kept going, especially as few other bolts started to express they desire to switch teams.

"So, how are you going to tell this to Rolling Thunder and Shorty?"

"Pfff, don't worry about them. I can talk their minds into this crazy stuff later on. Still, this will be a lot of extra work, can I count on you?" She asked, worried that the decision to change away from the Wonderbolts would weight on his consciousness, she didn't want him doing it only for her sake.

Thunderlane chuckled, looking relatively at ease for the first time that day.

"Hey, we're more than partners now. You can always count on me, no matter what."

Inflaming Resolve

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"Well, that went pretty nicely."

"Ya joking? That was awful! Now I gotta deal with Shorty and Rolling's attitude about this shit. Also, the whole thing about being their new course designer wasn't my idea! The heck they expect me to do? Everything?!"

Thunderlane could understand her frustration a bit. Sure, McFly and the other seniors talked about Lightning being in charge of setting the new designs, event schedules and training routines. She will have complete access to all the installations of the Academy, not to mention staff at her disposal. Although this would mean that the Washouts and Wonderbolts would be now practicing together, or far closer than anypony would've expected. Spitfire was muted through the entire talk, but the stallion could tell she looked absolutely devastated by the ordeal. Had it been any other pony he would've felt bad for her, but Spitfire hadn't done much to gain his sympathies.

"Dusty, they know... well, McFly and most of the Wonderbolts, they do know they can trust on you to help them out of this situation. There's finally something for us to look forward, don't think you will be doing all of this by yourself, we will help you."

"Urgh, there you go being all mellow and whatnot with me. Fiiiiine, I will do their tracks, if only cause I will get a good pay out of it, but it's going to be a pain to set so many individual courses, there's just way more Wonderbolts than I thought, that and the ones who joined my team."

"You mean, our team?"

Lightning blinked, her attention wandering back to the stallion trotting at her side as both made their way towards the recreation room. She had actually forgotten for a moment that Thunderlane dropped the Wonderbolts to join her cause, to which she was very surprised and extremely flustered about. She wasn't sure why he did it though, the stallion was often worried about her getting hurt by her intense stunts career, but it seems he decided to leave that worry aside for the moment.

"Look, let's just get out of here. I don't want t-

"Hey! Dusty!" A excited voice called from not very far away, one that Thunderlane had no problem recognizing. Also, judging by the way Lightning's face contorted in pure anger, he could tell she is also very familiar with that voice.

Lightning turned around reluctantly to face the stallion trotting their way, followed by a timid mare at his side. Both of them displaying completely different expressions as they made their way towards the other duo.

"Should've know I would find your sorry ass around this parts, what do you want?" Dust asked coolly. Sky Stinger scrunched his muzzle, looking mildly disappointed at the reception he's receiving.

"Awww, Dusty! That's no way to greet your cousin like that! You were always my favorite one of the family!" He replied, looking somewhat anxious for whatever reason. An unusual sight in Thunderlane's opinion. Sky Stinger was one of these stallions who thought very highly of himself, even after the embarrassment he went through during the Academy trials. Vapor Trail stood quietly at his side, looking nowhere to be comfortable with Lightning's presence. "Say, haven't seen you in quite some time."

"Yeah, ever since you rejected my offer of joining my team. Apparently you were decent enough to join the Wonderbolts." Lightning replied, looking extremely pissed off with that particular past event. "You were an absolute garbage flyer, yet I was willing to give you a chance and you just tossed it in my face. Enjoy the shithole Spitfire will keep putting you into, not like I care anymore."

"Wow, wow, wow, easy there!" Sky said, waving a hoof her way, looking torn between guilt and indignation. "I wasn't a 'garbage flyer' as you put! I'm a great flyer! And... well, I really was glad you asked me, but... I wanted to try the Wonderbolts, it was something I dreamed of since I-we were little foals." He replied sheepishly. Dust merely snorted.

"You mean your dream, you were almost a young colt already. I was barely getting my first flaps. Don't give me the sentimental crap. I wanted to join the Wonderbolts later on cause it was the greatest challenge I could face, where I knew I would find the best of the best. A place where I could find flying partners that weren't as pitiful as you were." Lightning narrowed her eyes towards the muted Vapor Trail. "Or you think I never noticed what she was doing behind your back? Only you could be such a dumbass to not realize it."

"Leave her out of this Dust." Sky quickly replied, looking annoyed for once. Lightning raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, getting defensive? I guess you two finally decided to get mushy with each other. Congrats, now piss off."

"Lightning, is this your cousin?" Thunderlane interrupted, looking at the mare with disapproval. Dust returned the attention back at him with a deadpanned expression. "I remember you mentioning him few days ago."

"So what if he is? I don't really care! I asked him one fucking favor during all the time I known him and he simply turned me down!"

"What does that matter?"

"W-what?!"

Lightning stared at the dark coated stallion with incredulity, noticing for the first time that Thunderlane wasn't really siding with her in this particular affair. Even Sky Stinger seemed somewhat surprised that the other stallion was confronting his cousin.

"I asked, what does it matter? He's your family." Thunderlane replied, looking slightly annoyed with Dust's disregard on that obvious fact. "You shouldn't throw away the very few of what family you have, you won't know how difficult it is until you have nopony left."

"I have plenty of folks in my family tree, don't you worry about it." Lightning retorted, glaring at Thunderlane before shifting her attention back at her cousin. "I don't need you for anything, go play Wonderbolt cadet somewhere else. I don't give a fuck about anything you have to say Stinger. I needed you and you turned your back on me, get the fuck out of my life!"

With that the turquoise mare merely turned around and trotted away from the group, her hooves hitting the ground with unnecessary strength. Thunderlane sighed, looking back the due apologetically.

"Sorry, I don't think I will get her to look past whatever happened between you two."

"It's alright." Sky replied, although the defeated expression on his face told otherwise. "I understand why she's upset, I just didn't think that me not joining would've hurt her so much. Lightning was never the kind of pony to show any appreciation for anypony else in the family. Well... not that I blame her, her parents were-

Sky Stinger cut himself short, seemingly upset at himself for getting into something that was not his business to talk about. Thunderlane took notice of his slip, but he preferred to ignore it.

"I better get going, see you around Lane, let's go Vapor." The azure stallion called towards the silent mare. Vapor quickly followed after him, looking too frightened to even look at Thunderlane.

Thunderlane sighed heavily, fully aware that he was now in Lightning's bad side after trying to speak in Sky's defense. He trotted back to the entrance, knowing that Lightning would be waiting for him to say his goodbyes to the cousin she despises.

His eyes narrowed as he went by the exit, the glare of the sun was intense and rather bothersome. As soon he felt the contact of sunlight on his fur he felt his body temperature rise at a rapid pace, a rather annoying outcome due his coat color. He indeed found Lightning waiting for him outside, her eyes following a pair of Wonderbolt members that were practicing over a field nearby. She watched the pair fly around, her attention unwavering even as Thunderlane came to her side, following the same pair with slight curiosity.

"It's kinda weird, ya know..."

Thunderlane glanced at his side, Lightning was sounding unlike herself and the stallion could tell she was about to get into one of these moments when she would say something she normally wouldn't. A very rare occurrence.

"I always thought about becoming a Wonderbolt, yeah, perhaps I even got a bit obsessed with it. But I don't think I would ever call it a dream. Maybe because I knew I could do it. It wasn't just something that was possible but unlikely to happen, I knew I would get there." At this a sad smile grew on her face, her eyes finding Thunder's. "And I didn't. I... I know I screwed up, but... I now know things could've been different if I had somepony I could trust. Somepony that wouldn't betray me like they did."

Unsure of how to reply, Thunderlane decided to dig in a bit further.

"They?" Lightning sighed heavily, looking tired all of sudden.

"Sky, Rainbow, Spitfire, my... 'family'." She strained the last word like it was a curse. "I believed in them, and all I got was a knife on the back, although with the family thing it was quite literal." She commented a bit too calmly. Thunderlane's eyes widened at that last part.

"What?!"

"Don't worry, just things in the past. Besides, not that it matters, they're both long and gone, good riddance."

Thunderlane stood speechless, looking at Lightning with extreme amounts of concern. What could have possibly her family done to her for Dust to be uncaring of their demise?

"So, as I was saying." Dust continued, feeling a bit uncomfortable with the way Thunderlane was looking at her. "I guess I wanted to be a Wonderbolt, but it was never a matter of accomplishing something, just felt like it was something I would do eventually. Now? Heh, I don't know anymore what I really want, well... aside you."

A cheeky smile played on her face, which made the stallion grow very hot in a matter of seconds.

"Oh, hmm, yeah. I... say... is there anything else you want to do for the day?" He replied while trying his best to not fumble over his own words. Dust merely chuckled at seeing how easily flustered the stallion became.

"Actually, yes. But something we could do at night." She replied, growing also a few shades of red on her face. Thunderlane immediately caught onto what was being implied.

"Huuuuuuuuuh. A-Already?" He asked, looking very unsure.

"What? Ya want to wait until we get married or something?" She replied back humorously. Although something in her voice sounded a bit like a warning.

"No, no, no. Not at all. I just... wasn't expecting it to be... today."

"Yeah, but not at your house. I'm well aware that Rumble still sleeps there." She continued, not looking slightly hesitant about the ordeal. "So, is there anything else ya have to do here? I'm ready to fly off. I don't feel like coming back here until the new season starts. Besides, winter is just around the corner, I wouldn't mind getting to travel somewhere that didn't involve business."

Thunderlane nodded, still too perplexed to think properly. His mind was racing all over the place at the perspective of getting that close with the mare. It was hard to believe somepony like her would be willing to do such with him, he was nowhere as well built as many other Wonderbolts, or even that much of a popular name around Equestria. Sure, they have been dating very shortly, but they weren't exactly that young to be worried about screwing things up for themselves. Lightning has a bit of a temper at times, but she usually would remain cool with him despite certain events that frustrated her to no end. He could only guess that the amount of stress was finally getting to her and she needed to let out some steam for once.

"Speaking of traveling," Thunderlane started distractedly. "You might wanna look after that whole griffon deal you were talking about again. Th-

"You mean, the one you were talking about? I wasn't really thinking about it that much." Lightning interrupted with a raise of an eyebrow. "Also, I rather not do anything until after Hearts Warming. I'm spent from this season, I need a break, and so do ya."

Thunderlane couldn't help but nod sheepishly. Lightning was entirely right, the season was over and now it was time to get ready for the peak of winter and the festivities. Still, it wouldn't hurt to let Dust know better beforehoof.

"True, that's what we will do from now on, but it doesn't mean you couldn't do without some info. I heard there's some really good flyers at Griffonstone, but if you want to get any hopes of them joining the team you will have to talk with them personally. When it's about work and stuff I don't think griffons really like receiving a bunch of letters trying to win them over. At least that's much I know of from what Rainbow has been saying the few times she mentioned Gilda."

"Speaking of that, how often does Rainbow visit Gilda? I guess they must be close friends." Lightning asked, looking slightly curious. Thunderlane sighed despondently.

"Not much at all, or barely even. Not that it's any of their fault. It's just that they live really far away from each other."

"How far is Griffonstone?" Lightning immediately asked, to which Thunderlane could feel the apprehension on her voice.

"About two days on train, few hours of direct travel. If you're okay with flying over the Celestial Sea for that amount of time."

Lightning swore under her breath, the idea of being stuck on a train for two days was nowhere inviting for her. Yet, she wasn't sure if it would take hours on direct travel.

"Hours? Maybe if whoever timed that was a real slowpoke. I bet I can do it in one or two." She said rather smugly. Thunderlane frowned at her.

"I don't doubt you can do it quick, but if anything goes wrong it's nothing but a fall to your death. There's nothing but dangerous waters in between Equestria and the other continent. You get a cramp or anything you might find yourself into some serious trouble getting anywhere."

Lightning, for once, seemed to easily acknowledge his concern for her safety. She had to admit he has good points, she wasn't really fond of the idea of risking falling into the ocean.

"Fine, train fucking ride it is. Crap, that will be boring. Are you coming with me though?" She quickly asked much to his surprise.

"Do I have to?"

"Of course, I need something to distract myself with." Her teasingly reply earned her an eye roll. "Oh, come on! It will be a lot better than going alone." Dust pleaded this time, to which he couldn't really say no.

"Okay, I'm going with you." Thunderlane said passively, before adding with a smirk. "If I get to be the lazy bum this night."

"Oh, fuck you! It's our first time!" She immediately complained much to Thunderlane's enjoyment.

"Okay, okay, I'm joking! Don't get so worked up!" He quickly tried to placate her between laughs. Dust huffed in annoyance, before her eyes shifted towards something coming their way.

"Well, fuck. Guess who's coming this way."

Thunderlane didn't bother guessing. There was only two ponies he knew that could make Lightning scrunch her face like the way she did. One was Stinger, which was very unlikely to dare approaching Dust again after the recent argument they had, which left only the most logical possibility left.

"So, huh, what brings you here Ca- huh, Spitfire?" The stallion asked, quickly correcting himself from an old habit.

Spitfire stood still a few paces away, her face completely devoid from any emotion, but she wasn't alone. At her sides were Soarin and Fleetfoot. Each of them carrying guarded expressions, although it was noticeable that Fleetfoot wasn't looking very happy to be there.

"What do you want? I'm pretty sure McFly already said what we needed to know." Lightning asked without looking at them directly, her words reminding of McFly's warning about the future need of both captains to be able to collaborate with each other, all grudges aside.

"That he did, but that's not why I'm here." Spitfire replied after a moment of hesitation. Her eyes shifted between Lightning and Thunder. "So... why did you refuse?"

Lightning frowned, unsure at what Spitfire was asking about. Feeling her confusion the mare clarified.

"The Wonderbolts. Why you refused his offer to join?" She asked. Soarin, who's attention had been slipping away for few seconds, looked at the duo more attentively. The stallion was very confused with all the events of the day and wished nothing more than end his shift and go home. Same could be said for Fleetfoot, although the mare was adamant about looking like she couldn't care less.

Dust wasn't sure she would even dignify the other mare with a response, but she could feel Thunder's glance on the back of her neck, he too was curious as the real reason for Lightning's refusal. It was his intention of helping Lightning to revive her chances on getting back into the bolts that brought them here in the first place.

"I refused because I had no reason to go back to a group of backstabbing a-holes."

Spitfire finally expressed something, and it was incredulity.

"How did I betray you? I was the drill instructor Dust, nothing else." She asked, sounding slightly exasperated. Lightning's reply caught her off guard completely.

"I looked up to you... a lot. And... I thought you were better than a pony that plays favorites."

Soarin winced, looking away for once. Fleetfoot only shrugged, not looking slightly surprised by what she just heard. Spitfire was left completely gobsmacked.

"I- what? When did I-

"Rainbow Dash?" This time Dust looked directly to face the other mare. Her eyes narrowed and a scowl on her muzzle that was impossible to miss. "And not just one, or two, but three times!" She accused.

"Oh, Oh! Tell us about each one!" Fleetfoot suggested eagerly, much to Spitfire's shock. The Wonderbolt captain looked at her friend with a mix of sadness and confusion.

"Fleet, don't make it worse." Soarin pleaded, sounding like he was struggling to remain at ease. Fleetfoot flipped him with one of her wings.

"Piss, I can say whatever I want, because it's fucking true. You were there Soarin, and you know exactly how that feels."

"Oh, right. The Rainbow Falls incident." Lightning said with a vengeful smirk on her face. To which Spitfire immediately understood what the mare was getting at. A cold shiver ran up her spine once she realized where Lightning would be taking the conversation through.

"Who told you that?"

"Thunderlane, who else? He was there too." Dust explained as if it was obvious. "But it's not like you would even bother with that, not since you had Rainbow Dash to snoop over and win, isn't that right? Now who's the fucking hypocrite?"

Spitfire remained silent, not really having anything to argue in her favor, knowing full well how bad things really went that day. A day that Soarin was still a bit sore about.

"I'm partially to blame too, since I helped to convince Dash to join the team." Fleetfoot admitted, looking very regretful about the ordeal. "We acted like complete jerks towards Soarin and it wasn't right. But... Rainbow kinda called us out on our bullshit. Honestly, I hadn't know about the Academy incident involving you Dusty, wish I had. Probably would've made me less of a prick later on. Well, most of the Wonderbolts are like that. So when we kick somepony cause they acted like a prick isn't really fair now, is it?" At this Fleetfoot looked at Spitfire, the mare returned the attention with a troubled expression. "Yeah, but it wasn't really the case with Rolling Thunder, she just didn't find us challenging enough. But Shorty? That was messed up Spitfire, it isn't his fault he has a condition. Dude is a pretty good flyer, you just couldn't have somepony yelling louder than you. I dunno what's your deal with yelling so much, but it's really annoying, especially when you yell at me and Soarin. He doesn't deserve the crap you give him."

Soarin closed his eyes, looking torn between agreeing and trying to justify Spitfire's behavior. Fleetfoot huffed once she realized that Soarin wasn't going to add anything to the conversation.

"Whatever, what's done is done and there's nothing to go back at now. Spitfire won't say it but we did fuck up big time. Yeah, she did play favorites with Rainbow Dash, a few more times than that Dash deserves to be fair. I guess the main reason we kept her is that she could, at times, get her head out of her own ass when things start to get out of hoof. Oh, and Thunderlane?"

"Huh, yeah?" The stallion asked, looking slightly scared by being mentioned. It was rare to see Fleetfoot this upset, and it was never a pleasant experience.

"Spitfire didn't pick you for shows cause she was always saving the newbie spot for Rainbow Dash."

Spitfire did look away this time, looking completely ashamed. She could feel the burning gaze of Thunderlane on her, not to mention Fleetfoot aswell.

"By the rules, and contract, all full members need to be in every show, but there's always a free spot for introducing new additions. Keep in mind that to be considered a full member you need to be in the active team for over two years. That being said, the choice for the vacant spot is always optional for any show. So she could've chosen you multiple times, but then..." Fleetfoot glared at Spitfire this time, looking very disappointed with her best friend. "... it's not like Spitfire would ever pick you over Rainbow Dash."

Lightning, surprisingly enough, burst out in full laughter. The others stared at her with surprise and incredulity. Thunderlane frowned even harder.

"And that's funny because?" He asked, feeling his temper rising quickly. Dust struggled to contain herself, a huge smile on her face that made no sense to anypony.

"I fucking knew it!" She exclaimed jubilant.

"Huh, knew what?" Fleetfoot asked, not sure if she understood the mare's triumphant behavior.

"Oh, what else? I got screwed up from the Academy because of Rainbow. A long time later I then learn many stories about other ponies, and even a griffon, that got screwed over by Rainbow. Now, I had to wonder, what was the reason that Thunderlane was getting screwed over with the Wonderbolts? Considering that he already has a past of getting screwed over by the same pony while he worked alongside said pony in the Weather Control team?" Lightning guessed aloud mockingly. "Well, who would've guessed that it had something to do with Rainbow fucking Dash?!"

"Lightning!" Thunderlane suddenly reprimanded, to which the mare quickly looked his way. "We talked. No more of this Rainbow stuff, you promised!"

Dust's sneer was all he got as a response before she turned away and took flight, leaving the stallion staring at the vacant spot she stood seconds ago.

Soarin, Fleetfoot and Spitfire looked at him with mixed expressions, unsure of what to say. Thunderlane sighed heavily, perhaps he shouldn't have called her out like that. This day was far from over.

"I better get going, take care. Oh, and..." Thunderlane looked at Spitfire, his eyes growing cold as he addressed his former captain. "...my father would've been disappointed with you. That much I'm sure of."

Daredevil

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"Then I said that she was not carrying on her promises, to which she just left!"

"Interesting."

"I know she wasn't happy with me siding with her cousin, but I wasn't really trying to talk her out of it. Nor I was taking Spitfire's side! I don't understand how could she even think I would do that! I literally left them to join her team!"

"It really is strange."

"I tried to explain it to her, but she was so upset. I couldn't get a word in, she just flew back to her house. I followed after her but she just banged the door on my face."

"Tough luck."

"Urgh! Do you have any useful input to offer at all?"

"Yeah, stop talking. I'm trying to check your teeth and your incessant tongue is getting in the way."

Thunderlane merely frowned before complying with Minuette's request/order. It has been only a few hours since Dust left him hanging at her doorstep.The stallion struggled to understand what he did wrong, and with nopony else left to talk (Cloud Chaser was off town and Star Hunter went on a trip to Las Pegasus with few friends) he found himself talking with no other than his appointed (and only available) dentist.

Sure, he could've looked for Cloud Kicker, but the mare, according to reliable sources, was spending her 'quality time' somewhere else. Thunderlane, with nopony else to look for and vent off, decided that Minuette was the only pony he would be able to share the situation without having to worry about unnecessary gossip. Yet, the consult proved the be rather one sided in terms of dialogue, to which the stallion was starting to feel a bit upset about.

Not the he could really argue much, it was hard to understand what the mare was saying while she was using a mask.

"Now, you look as good as always, keep it up. Kinda wondering why you even decided to come, doesn't seem there's anything wrong with your teeth." She pondered while using her horn to produce a magical ball of light to provide a better look into the inside of the stallion's mouth. "You came here just to have a talk, didn't you?"

Thunderlane moaned in agreement, not sure if he could speak or not. The mare merely rolled her eyes before lowering the mask off her face.

"Alright, you're clear. What do you expect me to say? I'm not really seeing anypony, I'm not exactly an expert on relationships or anything of the sort."

"I know... that." Thunderlane slowly replied, he caressed the side of his head, feeling a bit sore after having his mouth open for so long. "I just feel lost at times when it comes about the way Lightning react to things. I still don't think she's been truthful about lots of things, especially her issues with Rainbow Dash. I get that feeling she still resents Dash in some way, but I cannot really bring it up without her getting annoyed and just evading the problem. Even after the talk we had while Rainbow was at my house didn't really feel enough."

"Well, I know it's hard to let go of certain things. From what I know, I too would be upset if a pony ended up ruining my chances at doing something I wanted for so long." Minuette started, her hooves busy as she starting organizing her tools back into place. "I cannot say why Lightning avoids being honest about her feelings on the matter, but I think that's just something you won't be able to help with at all. That's between her and Rainbow Dash."

Thunderlane nodded slowly, although it wasn't a comforting idea to let Dust deal with Rainbow on her own. It could end up badly for both of them, especially Lightning.

"I guess, but I rather help her if I can, we are together, I just don't want her to make a mistake that will cost her so much again."

Minuette chuckled, looking somewhat pleased as she made her way around a table, gathering several papers on her way before looking back at the stallion.

"You know, I'm really glad you finally found somepony. All the rumors about you were starting to get irritating, especially whenever I had one of the loud mouths in my clinic just spouting nonsense about you. I known you well enough to know every little stupid thing that they said wasn't true, but it's not like I can prove it or that they would listen anyway." She said, looking exasperated at the memory of those encounters. "I swear the worst of them was Blossomforth, she wouldn't stop whinnying about you not being... pfff, straight as she expected."

Thunderlane grinned, looking somewhat pleased by the news.

"Well, I guess not everypony can get what they want. Besides, I really wasn't fond of the idea of dating anypony around here. It's just... I don't know. I've known every one of them for so long. It would've been odd. At least that's how I feel about it." Minuette snorted.

"Oh my Celestia, you're not one of those types that romanticize about love at first sight, are you?" Thunderlane's face reddened considerably.

"It wasn't first sight!" He replied quickly, feeling quite annoyed and slightly embarrassed. "I knew her since flight camp, I just didn't see her for a long time. She... didn't change much from what I remember, but..." The stallion paused, his mind suddenly racing through a chain of thoughts he hadn't crossed before.

"What?" Minuette asked, noticing the strange pause. Thunderlane shook his head slowly.

"I...back then... she was very much the competitive type as she is now. At the Academy... she looked just as those days back then, but now that I think of it... she doesn't seem to have that spark of joy as she did before. Whenever I see her fly, she just looks so serious, nowhere as excitable or happy as she used to. It's... it's like she just flies with a purpose, but there's no thrill behind the mere feeling of flying." Minuette stared at him, looking very confused.

"I'm... not really sure what that's supposed to mean." Thunderlane nodded slowly.

"Yes, because you're an unicorn, I can't really expect you to get it right away." He replied to which the mare got slightly annoyed.

"Care to explain then, Mr. Pegasus?" She retorted with a touch of mockery. Thunderlane chuckled as he realized that the mare took a bit of offense at his words.

"Alright, alright, I don't mean to offend anypony." He said gently enough. Minuette nodded. "Well, as hard as it is to describe, do you like using magic?"

"Uh, yeah, of course. What unicorn doesn't?" The mare replied, puzzled at such question.

"Well, do you enjoy using magic?"

"Yes, I do. I makes my life way easier, and it's fun to use it at times." Minuette let out a chuckle as memories came by. "Ahn, the first magic spells I did, those were truly amazing days. I don't think I would ever get tired of it."

"Hmm, how would you feel if suddenly you only used magic cause you needed? Not for just the sake of having joy of using it?"

"Errr, I think... okay? I don't really go around doing spells in my free time for fun." She replied, looking uncertain. Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

"Why not? Don't you enjoy doing it?"

"Well, yeah, but... it's... been a while since I thought of it." She admitted, only just realizing that the stallion was onto something. "I don't remember using them aside work or cooking, and the occasional weight lifting. "I don't really remember when was the last time I tried new spells or just used ones with great visual effects. Perhaps last time was Heart's Warming a few years back..."

Minuette frowned. It never came to her that her life have gotten so dull in regards to the use of her own magic. She was always obsessing with making creative things with her spells, but she couldn't recall the last time she took time off to play around with them.

"I think I'm getting to understand what you're trying to say, but how is that affecting Lightning? I don't see how being a Washout would make her life dull in regards to flying." Thunderlane chuckled, but there wasn't much humor on it.

"Well, I remember she was always the competitive type, desperate to prove herself in all crazy possible ways, no challenge was ever too great that she wouldn't take it, even as a filly. She was very much the same at the Academy, but far more direct with how she wanted to dictate her flying style, to the point that Rainbow's hesitation went unnoticed. Yet, ever since we've been around each other, I just don't see that spark of challenge anymore. She just looks content with being a Washout, but there's barely any trace of that mare that would always compete to get ahead of everypony else. She just... don't seem to care about competing anymore. The Washouts, yeah, they are giving the Wonderbolts a really good run for their money, but Dust doesn't seem to take that as a personal challenge either, for her it's just a consequence of working with individuals that have a different approach in regards to how they face danger itself."

"Okayyyyy, and is that a bad thing because...? For me it sounds like you're just describing Rainbow Dash, but a Rainbow that doesn't crash everywhere and ruins somepony's house."

"But Rainbow didn't change." The stallion replied with a touch of frustration. "Rainbow still goes about being daring and hyper about anything that regards flying, her ego has no limits. Lightning... doesn't seem to have an ego at all, it just... vanished."

"Again, is that bad?"

"That's the thing, Minuette. I don't know. Something doesn't feel right about it."

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"Fancy seeing you here Lightning, I don't think I have any spots open for anypony on the team right now, but feel free to apply whenever you can, I will keep you posted when we get a vacant-

"Yeah, yeah, nice joke and all Kicker. Where's Thunderlane?"

"Huh, not here? Well, I shouldn't really be here either, I just came back from a rather.... eventful date."

"Was it worthy?"

"Somewhat, I'm really unsure about... well, it's the same issue you had with Thunderlane."

Lightning raised an eyebrow, looking back at the purple mare with a touch of humor. She just came back at Ponyville after a much needed cool down. Meeting Spitfire would always be taxing on her nerves, but the morning had been particularly demanding for her, especially with the unhappy meeting with her cousin. She was already on the verge of losing her head after having to deal with both Spitfire and Thunderlane getting on her case, but she felt she didn't act fairly towards the stallion, even more so when he chased her all the way back to her house, only for her to slam the door on his face. She was hopeful she would find Thunder still at work, but it clearly wasn't the case.

"Well, damn. I was hoping I could find him, I kinda went a bit overboard back at the Wonderbolt HQ. Spitfire was stressing the Tartarus out of me."

"Hmm, I hear you. Thunderlane is probably at his house, I heard he was looking for me earlier, dunno why. You should find him there quickly enough." Lightning nodded in agreement, she couldn't think of anywhere else the stallion would be at.

"Thanks, catch up wit-

"Hey, what you're doing here?"

Dust groaned in despair, of all times, this wasn't the one she wanted to be facing Rainbow Dash. She looked back at the newcomer with disdain. Rainbow was still wearing her Wonderbolt suit, something that made Dust even more annoyed.

"Asking stuff around, see ya later." Lightning quickly replied, but as soon she made her way to the door Rainbow stood on her way, blocking the exit effectively. "Hey, what gives?! Screw off Dash!"

Cloud Kicker, whose attention was slipping back to her own matters at the office desk, quickly raised her eyes towards the duo, looking rather concerned about what was happening. Rainbow stood defiantly while looking back at Lightning, her eyes betrayed no emotion.

"Why did you refuse to join back to the Wonderbolts?" She asked, sounding somewhat angry and slightly disappointed. "It was your chance! There won't be another at all, why?! It isn't what you wanted? I know you did!"

"Again, you don't know shit about me, what does it matter to you? I made it clear where I stand regarding them." Dust replied, anger rising on her voice aswell, she was not having any of this right now. "I'm a... well, we might have to change the name, but... whatever I am now, it doesn't have anything to do with the Wonderbolts."

Rainbow looked perplexed for a moment, as if she couldn't really believe Lightning's words at all.

"But... we will be working side by side from now on, why it matters so much what colors we will be wearing, you still could do the same things you do, but as a Wonderbolt! You... can't just give that up."

Lightning felt something inside of her snap all of sudden. The fact that Rainbow Dash, of all ponies, has the audacity to say something like that to her.

"YOU ARE NOPONY TO SAY WHAT I SHOULD DO OR NOT, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL ME SUCH THINGS!"

Rainbow immediately flinched back as she was shouted at indiscriminately. Cloud Kicker raised from her seat, trotting slowly towards them with extreme worry. Lighting just looked so incredibly mad at this point, it made the cyan mare fearful for a moment.

"YOU." Lightning pointed a hoof her way, nothing but venom on her voice. "YOU RUINED THE ONLY CHANCE I HAD, CAUSE YOU ARE A FUCKING LYING BACKSTABBING BITCH!"

Rainbow, despite the slightly scare, wouldn't let that one slide so easily.

"What?! I did what it was right to do! You're the one who was getting everypony in danger! How I lied to you?! You simply didn't seem to care that you put my friends in danger!"

"You mean, US!?" Lightning quipped with a sneer. "Cause last I checked I wouldn't have done half the harm that was made without your help, or should I say, my fucking wingpony."

"I knew it was wrong! But you didn't seem to care, despite me tellin y-

"When?! When did you ever, once in that FUCKING time, told me it was wrong?! When it was already too late?! When all the fucking field was a goner!? We've been a duo for two days! You had PLENTY of time to tell me what you thought of it! At the time I would've been upset or disappointed with you, yes!" Dusty admitted, taking a deep breath before continuing. "But... I would've listened anyways, because if it meant us keeping being friends.... I wanted that as much as I wanted to be a Wonderbolt."

Rainbow opened her mouth to argue, but she couldn't really think of a way to paint that argument on her favor without sounding completely selfish. Dust looked genuinely sad, despondent even. Yet, that appearance quickly faded away, replaced by renewed hatred.

"I kept telling myself for years that what happened wasn't really your fault but Spitfire's lack of competence in regards to how she dealt with that event, but YOU never fucking cared to see me gone either! All this time went by and it never went through that empty head of yours what could've been of me. I could be dead on a dark pitch somewhere and you wouldn't even care to know, because ponies like me don't get the same privileges somepony like you does."

Cloud Kicker, who was patiently observing the heated argument, immediately perked her ears as she realized where Lightning was taking this conversation.

"Lightning, don't." Kicker warned severely. Dust glanced at her with disdain.

"What?! She could use some truths, may help her realize how ungrateful she is to what she has and deserves none of it!"

"What?" Rainbow wasn't sure what was going on, but she could feel that Lightning was about to get onto something really personal, especially if it made Kicker this worried.

"Let me ask you Rainbow Dash, do you really think you would've made it this far in life if it wasn't for the likes of Princess Twilight and you Bearer status? You think you would be important enough for somepony to care for your well being and happiness? Your family surely, they are crazy but they look after you. Yet, I don't think I've heard many nice things of ponies in this town regarding you at all. Fuck, looks likes you have been setting Academy incidents on a constant basis around here. Not to mention a certain incident with a Weather Factory..."

Rainbow froze, her eyes widening in shock as Dust reminded her of that shameful incident. Even Kicker looked surprised that the mare found out about it.

"Now that wouldn't do any good for your career, isn't that right?" Lightning said with a touch of sarcasm. "Imagine that, Worderbolt newbie sets an entire factory into disarray and ends up gravely injuring several ponies. Lucky nopony died though, how terrible it would've been if that made the news that day."

A silence fell over the room at those words, Rainbow was looking terrified while Kicker anxious. Lightning eyed both of them warily. Dust scratched a hoof under her chin, looking very uninterested but sounding intrigued at the same time.

"Now how that didn't happen? I know something like an entire town being buried under a ton of snow and ponies injured would've been a hit all across Equestria. Yet, it's almost like it didn't happen. Makes you think, how is that possible? It would take some serious power and influence to keep the news quiet, isn't that right?"

"Dusty." Kicker pleaded, already aware of what was going to be said. Lightning ignored her.

"Now tell me, Dash, where would you be if not for your precious friends, friends that tend to sit on rather high places in this world, what would you do without them? Oh, right. A dungeon is most likely. Out of a job, for sure. Marked as somepony dangerous, untrustworthy, to be avoided. Yeah, that would've sucked, isn't that right? Imagine spending the rest of your life as an outcast, what a tragic tale and terrible way to end."

Dust chuckled bitterly, her eyes finding Rainbow's, who stood speechless at she looked back at the other mare with fright.

"But, hey. It's not like it would matter if I told anypony, pretty sure Twilight would make sure I kept silent on the matter, cause... well, you're a good friend of hers after all. I can only imagine how many fuck ups you had and she swept under the rug. Talk about being ruled by such a biased pony, and I thought Spitfire was just an off mark. Pfff, you're all the same, bunch of hypocrites. I knew I should've went to New Mareland, at least the folks there seem the more reasonable kind."

Rainbow couldn't really think of anything to say at that point. Is that what Lightning really thought of her? A pony that was graced cause she has privileges due her status as a Bearer and being close friends with Twilight? It hurt to admit that Dust was right in regards to Twilight covering up for her several times, even when Rainbow felt she didn't deserve it, but nopony never went on about how one sided those decisions were, except for Thunderlane perhaps.

"You always have everything a pony could dream of, at least a pegasus." Dust continued, not really caring to spare them any thought. "A great house, great friends, great jobs, and quite gifted at what you like to do best. Yet, that wasn't enough, you always wanted to be a the top of everything, even at the expense of others. I've learned a fair share of things not only from Thunderlane, but the likes of Chaser, Hunter, Helia, a few of your Wonderbolt colleagues, and Kicker over here."

Rainbow stared back at Cloud Kicker, feeling hurt and regret clouding her face. Yet, Kicker seemed unashamed at being appointed as one of the ponies to talk about it behind her back.

"Yes, I'm afraid I did. Cause... it's true. It's one of the reasons me and Rainbow are not really talking right now." The mare said, looking away from Rainbow in an effort to ignore her presence. Dash felt smaller and smaller as time went by.

"As that may be, I really don't understand what you're trying to accomplish here, when will it ever be enough for you?! Until you have no friends left but those that need you because of the Element of Loyalty? Did it ever went by your big head that NOPONY would give a shit about you if not for what you represent? Equestria would be fucked without the Elements, that much anypony can agree with. Is not like there's any belief that Celestia is worth any hope at this point in regards to keeping us safe."

"Lightning, limits." Kicker advised angrily. Dust shrugged.

"Fine, no touching your Royal Brightness. You get the point anyway. As for me not wanting to be a Wonderbolt? Why would I want to be? Thunder gave up on them to join my team. Where he goes, I go. So I really have zero reason to think about changing sides at this point. What were you expecting, that we would be tagging along and become friends again?" Dust asked, a smirk on her face due the ridiculousness of the idea.

Yet, much to her surprise and frustration, Rainbow Dash nodded meekly.

"You cannot be fucking serious, what makes you think I would EVER forgive you for what you've done to me?! Or should I say... what you didn't."

"I thought that, after that talk with Thunder..." Lightning scoffed.

"I made no promises that day, that much I made clear to Thunderlane. I could try to tolerate you, but forgive you? Fuck that. I'm done with thinking we will ever get over what happened. You clearly don't regret it, why should I?"

"You were wrong, I was just doing the ri-

"Would you please just SHUT THE FUCK UP?" Dust imploded. Rainbow again winced, her ears ringing at this point due the shouting.

Nothing was said for some time, a really heavy silence fell on them. Nopony daring to break it for minutes, at least until another pony entered the office moments later.

"Hey! Kicks, I was thinking if you want to go...

Blossomforth paused, taking in on the scene of Kicker, Dust and Rainbow all facing at each other with morbid expressions. She glanced at them briefly, unsure of what was happening before addressing the purple mare again.

"Hum... I will.... come back later... I think... see ya..." She said before flapping his wings and bolting back through the door she came.

Kicker sighed, looking at the other mares with something akin to dismay, before trotting back to her seat.

"Do me a favor, both of you... get the fuck out of my office... and don't come back."

Frailty

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"So.... what do you want to talk about?"

"Look, some shit happened. I... I just don't feel good right now. I rather we didn't talk, but..."

"But?"

"I know I was kinda of an ass to ya back at the Wonderbolt's field. Sorry about that, I've been dealing with too much and I don't really feel like dealing with that crap anymore. I want to take vacations, and after that... figure out what the fuck I'm supposed to do with what's left of the team."

"Huh, understandable, but what do you mean with 'what's left of the team'?"

"Thunder... fuck. I... I kinda talked with the others about the project of joining up with the Bolts and.... well, they quit."

"What?!"

Lightning trotted by him, making her way to the stallion's room without looking back. Thunderlane stared, puzzled at what he's been told and the mare's decision of heading towards his room without a second thought. He closed the front door and went after her, few seconds of hesitation before entering the room, worried about her current state of mind. Dust was sprayed over his bed, head buried into his sheets, making very clear she wasn't really in the mood to talk.

He silently made his way near the bed, giving her despondent form a brief look before slowly climbing over to join her. There's not much for him to do if not show support by being at her side, not all the times words would be needed for her to understand that he would be there for her. Lightning barely reacted as the stallion laid down at her side, feeling the warmth of his fur on her own. Few quiet minutes went by, in which Thunderlane patiently awaited for her to speak up.

But she didn't. Silence was all the reward he got for his patience. With a sigh, the stallion slowly brought his head near hears, nibbling at one of her ears as a way to get her attention. The reaction he got was the muffled chuckles from the mare.

"Alright, alright, ya win." She said with a laugh, finally turning her head around to face the stallion. Despite the smile on her face it was clear she was still struggling to get her head around on whatever happened. "Since when you're this touchy?" She asked with a teasing voice. Thunderlane raised an eyebrow.

"I hope you don't mind? I mean, since we are a thing I imagine we have liberties towards each other." He pondered with a smirk. "Besides, in a way, this is enjoyable."

Lightning chuckled, looking somewhat pleased as she rolled around until she was laying on her back. She fixated her gaze on the roof with a pensive stare.

"Rolling and Shorty... well, they did not like at all about the idea of the joint effort. To put it lightly, Rolling got so upset she actually spoke a full sentence I could understand clearly. Which also made me realize she was messing with me all this time by talking like a weirdo. Anyway, they made clear they did not want to take part with anything involving Wonderbolts, and..."

Her sudden hesitation made the stallion slightly worried, aware they were getting around the problem that had her in such a despondent mood.

"Come on Dusty, talk to me. If there's somepony you can always count to help you with something, that will be me. No matter what." Thunderlane encouraged. Lightning huffed, unsure if she could actually take that as a genuine promise or the stallion just saying it for her sake.

"There's a lot on my head right now. Trust me, I will say it anyway. It's just... not now. I wanna take the day off and relax for a change. Speaking of it..." She eyed him with a scrutinizing gaze that took Thunder aback. "When we ever gonna get laid?"

Thunderlane blinked. His jaw opening slightly but no sound came from. His mind going blank as he felt the temperature in the room skyrocket all of sudden.

"Huh... I... don't... if you want... I mean..." Thunderlane mumbled, struggling to think of a proper sentence. Dust rolled her eyes at his incoherent talk.

"We are here, on your bed. Pretty sure Rumble ain't here either. So... why not?" She asked more heatedly this time around. Thunderlane sighed heavily, seeing no way to avoid this particular endeavor any further.

"Yeah, yeah. I guess so." He replied morosely. Lightning raised an eyebrow at the stallion's mood shift.

"Woah, I mean, I don't think I'm the hottest mare out there, but at least I hoped you would be somewhat excited. " She half joked, but with a touch of disappointment.

"That's not what I meant!" Thunderlane quickly replied, coming short of panicking. "You're gorgeous! I'm just... a bit scared. That's all!" He admitted while blushing profusely. Lightning nodded slowly, her eyes studying the stallion's expression of guilt.

"You don't need to worry. I told ya before I will take the lead on this sort of stuff. Just don't expect me to be very... err, aware of what a stallion really likes." She added with a smirk. "Now, come here." She said as her forelegs clutched his neck and dragged him closer to her. "Let's start with something simple and see where to go from there."

Thunderlane couldn't help the nervous smile on his face. He forced himself to look down at the mare under him, her gaze setting on him with the intent of a predator. He sighed internally as he accepted his fate, his eyes closing as his muzzle approached hers and he-

"YO, THUNDER, YOU THERE?!"

"You gotta be fucking kidding me..." Lightning muttered, looking beyond pissed at the interruption. "Is that Rainbow Dash? I will kill her for good this time."

"Calm down." Thunder said as he kept the mare from raising of the bed. "I will just tell her off and be right back. Stay here, okay?" He asked gently enough. Dust huffed.

"You're lucky you're so damn adorable, fiiiine. I will wait." She relented with a frown. "Get something for us to drink on the way back."

Thunderlane rolled his eyes before he let go of the mare, rolling on himself to land on all fours on the wooden floor. Despite feeling somewhat grateful for the distraction, he couldn't help but understand Dust's frustration with another interruption as both were having a time of their own. This sort of thing has to stop happening so often, otherwise it could start damaging their relationship.

'Maybe we should go take vacations somewhere.' The stallion thought hopefully, but immediately squished that idea. There was no way for him to go off anywhere for too long and have somepony else look after Rumble. It was challenging enough to get anypony to do it so while he's been away with the Wonderbolts for this last season. Which was another reason for him to not regret dropping out. Being with Lightning's team would not demand from him to set hoof anywhere else for too long.

He came by the front door wearily, his mind racing to understand what the hay could Rainbow want now from him.

"Look, Rainbow, whatever yo-

Thunderlane paused as he opened the door fully, his eyes finding the unexpected purple irises of Fleetfoot instead of Rainbow's.

"Fleet? What you're doing here?" He asked dubiously. The mare grinned somewhat apologetically.

"It's kind of a odd one, I know. Huh, my uncle asked me to drop by and ask you if you're okay to talk with him at a later time, at his house of course. Whenever you feel like it just hit me up and I will let him know." She said slowly, seemingly uncomfortable with something. "Say, is everything alright? Dusty looked very pissed before leaving."

"Yeah, yeah. She was in a bad mood after encountering her cousin at the Academy." Thunderlane replied distractedly, his mind wondering what could the General possibly want to talk with him. "You know, Stinger?"

"Oh! No way!" Fleetfoot shouted, shock etched across her face. "They're cousins?! Shit... no wonder she's pissed. Stinger is nowhere near her level, that much I'm sure of. Not that I think he's bad!" She quickly added, looking slightly embarrassed. "Is just... quite obvious if you saw both of them out there."

"I guess so. Is... there anything else you wanted to talk?" Thunderlane desperately hoped this talk wouldn't take too long. Fleetfoot raised an eyebrow.

"Huh, yeah? You busy or something?" She asked dubiously. The stallion sighed in defeat.

"Dusty is in here, and she is kinda waiting, sooo..." He said while making a empty gesture with his hoof. Fleefoot's eyes widened considerably before narrowing on a coy look.

"Ooooh, I seeeee. Heheh, wanna buck her silly, don't ya?" She said mirthfully. Thunderlane's reaction being a very intense glare in return. "What? I'm just teasing. Hey, good for you both! That helps a lot with stress, I sure as Tartarus could use somepony to give me a better time. At least I'm not a dry desert like Spitfire, one of these days she's going to pop a vein. All because she can't convince herself to replace that stick up her arse with Soarin instead."

"..."

"What?! Everypony knows he's got it bad for her." The mare justified indignantly. He rolled his eyes, not in the mood for talking about anypony else at the moment.

"Sure, we do. Yet, that's between them. One day Soarin will find a way to get her to do something else than work." He replied without actually believing it. As much Thunderlane liked Soarin, the guy was just too friendly around the Captain, he was clueless about dropping anyt hints or how to break through her shell of constant seriousness.

"Say, how come you've been single this far? A hotshot like you would've found a partner long ago." She asked, much to his chagrin.

"Why don't you ask Cloud Kicker? I'm pretty sure she would give you all the details needed." He replied somewhat testily, still feeling a bit annoyed with the way the blonde mare went behind his back to make sure he remained safe from pretenders.

"Cloud Kicker? Sounds familiar... where do I find her?"

"Eh, check around the Ponyville's Weather Office. She is usually there most part of the day. She leads the Weather Team around here, shouldn't be too hard to see her around."

"Sounds like a plan." Fleetfoot said but, as she started turning around, she came to a sudden stop, looking back a him briefly with a conflicted expression on her face. The stallion raised an eyebrow at the strange behavior.

"What is it?" He asked, feeling slightly curious, the mare shrugged sheepishly.

"Nothing. Is just... I kinda remember... you know, seeing your dad few times when I was little."

Thunderlane didn't say anything at first, caught off guard by the sudden mention of his father. Hearing it from Fleetfoot was completely unexpected. He nodded silently, unsure of what to think. Despite his silence she kept on talking.

"Yeah, I don't remember seeing you. Yet I saw him around with few other officers from that time. A couple of mares too." She added with a smirk. "He sure was the type to swoon mares around, if what I heard from before is true. "

"Huh, guess I wouldn't notice being that young. I do remember him being very playful with mom. I... he was really cool." Thunderlane acquiesced with the mare's reminiscence. "He... I miss him... everyday. Mom too."

"...I didn't want to bring that up like this. I'm sorry... I just... thought you should know I saw him before. I had no idea he was your father. Nopony had. Not sure why he kept it hidden for so long." Fleetfoot quickly said, worried that she made him upset. Thunderlane nodded slowly.

"I... it's okay. I don't really know either. If I had to guess... he probably just wanted us to grow away from that kind of life, being famous and all of that. It worked."

Fleetfoot looked unsure, internally wondering if she should say something else, but decided against it.

"Alright, I better get back. Last I saw Spitfire she was getting a call onto the office from my uncle. I can only guess how well that will go. Say hi to Dusty for me?"

"Sure thing, see you around? I guess you will all take leave now?" He asked with a faint smile. Fleetfoot chuckled.

"I sure hope so! I'm wasted! Of course we can't let shape drop, but I'm looking forward to what we will be doing next season. I'm sure Dusty will have plenty of new stuff for us to try." She said excitedly. "For once I don't have to worry about getting into a routine that will kill me right of the start. And best of yet, no more yelling." She added with a smirk. "No disrespect to the Captain, but it was getting insufferable."

Thunderlane nodded in agreement, before tilting his head slightly as a thought occurred to him.

'What exactly would McFly be telling Spitfire though?'

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"Please, take a seat, this might take long."

"No need sir, I'm fine as it is."

"Well, starting with attitude, aren't we?... take a seat. Order."

Spitfire didn't say anything. She moved slowly towards the vacant chair at the front of her own office desk. McFly was sitting on the other side, distracted as he's checking over countless paperwork, his tone betrayed no emotion, which made it extremely difficult for the mare to predict what she's getting into.

"Now, since we are somewhat mitigating the issue we had regarding the Washouts with this joint effort, there's still things to be addressed regarding our side. Primarily, just what in Celestia's name were you thinking with your recruiting methods?" He asked severely, attention shifting towards the mare with a narrow glance. "I've spent hours reading reports from ever since you became a Captain, I've come in contact with Fire Streak aswell. He gave me very interesting details regarding what happened in the past few years. How about we start with our recruiting rate? I don't even feel like asking why, under your command, the Wonderbolts have the lowest amount of recruits in their whole history. One of each TWO HUNDRED recruits ever make into the cadet program!" McFly slammed a hoof on the desk, his frustration finally showing. "Are you fucking kidding me?! Do you have any idea what you're doing with this institution?! Barbarizing these potential flyers with your methods that are enough to drive even a healthy Earth pony to their limit?! You're not making them better flyers by breaking them apart Spitfire! Why can't you understand that?! There's a lot more to being a Wonderbolt than speed or strength, but it seems you don't get that at all!" He huffed, scattering papers left and right, his jaw tightening as he came across even more grim numbers. "We've lost a lot of interest from the public lately, which explains our struggles for getting income, not to mention the number of Academy applications has dropped to nearly a dozen per season, what in the actual Tartarus is this crap?! We had HUNDREDS of ponies applying each MONTH! Where did they all go?!"

Spitfire remained still, suddenly feeling lost as to how even respond to these statistics. She knew things were bad, but she hadn't realize that it might have something to do with her directly. She has been so focused on getting things done her way, that the idea of being at fault for everything was not something that ever crossed her mind. Spitifire never had any reason to believe that her way of doing things was not working but, seeing the General openly seething over the stacks of papers that she signed and stored into the archives, it gave Spitfire a very uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I've had countless reports of previous cadets openly complaining about you specifically, do you have any idea how many ponies you turned away from the Wonderbolts, made them actually not wanting to ever see us again?" McFly asked, his dry tone was the only warning Spitfire had to not open her mouth at any circumstance. "It only gets worse, is not just cadets and recruits, but your colleagues too. Now, you've known Fleetfoot for many years, and she always spoke highly of you. Which is one of the main reasons I relented about even allowing somepony as young as you to be a captain. I expected mistakes to happen, they eventually will happen. Yet, Fleet made it very clear that she did not like the pony you've become along the years, and she absolutely loathes your training methods. Any other day I would've said she's just whining about doing work, but when even fucking Silver Lining comes to me, concerned about the amount you're stressing the team, I cannot turn a blind eye to what's going on. Now, before we move on about administration issues, let's talk about why the Washouts exist."

Spitfire tensed. Aware that this conversation was about to shift into a direction she had no way of escaping from, not that she has been even remotely safe anyway.

"It all comes to few factors, but I will narrow it down." He said, reclining back onto the sit with a tired look. "I want you to tell me why did you expel Lightning Dust from the Academy. I want the truth, not excuses."

"I... Lightning displayed disregard for the safety of her fello-

"What was the display?" Spitfire paused at the abrupt interrupt, it seems that McFly was not gonna let her build any terrain to defend herself on this one.

"She caused a tornado to run wild across Academy grounds, endangering a group of ponies that were on a balloon."

"Why there were ponies on a balloon nearby?" He asked curtly. Spitfire frowned lightly, that incident was on several reports that the General surely has read on, why was he asking about this again?

"They were visitors, som-

"I was not aware you were allowing visitors within few days of training." He pointed out with a dry chuckle. Spitfire felt a bolt of irritation at the insinuation she was being lax about regulation.

"I did not!" She replied quickly. McFly raised an eyebrow. "Sir. They were not cleared for entering grounds, nor had informed anypony about their visit."

"Therefore, it's not exactly anypony's fault if some civilians got into trouble for trespassing military airspace."

"Well, no. It is not." Spitfire relented, feeling that dread in her stomach growing bigger. "Yet, Dust had committed other offenses before that day."

"And why didn't you reprehend her for doing it so? Didn't you see her doing it?" He asked more calmly this time around, which made Spitfire even more wary.

"I... did... I just..."

"Spitfire.... I want the truth. Nothing else."

"I was... busy." McFly narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening considerably.

"Busy doing what?"

"I was... signing... autographs."

There, she said it. The thing she worked so hard to avoid anypony finding out, but she finally came to a dead end. At the time of Rainbow's and Lightining's first Academy days, she was overloaded with paperwork and, to make matters worse, a demand from their sponsor regarding fan material. She didn't think it would be a problem to sign some photos, figuring that her instructors could take care a dozen recruits while she was away a couple of hours.

"So let me get this straight. You, the fucking drill instructor, decided to take some time away for your fanbase, when instead you should be monitoring your recruits and making sure they got the basics right away." McFly pondered every word he said with a touch of incredulity. "And this happened few other times the following days. Yet, I got reports saying you were present at the training grounds during the incident with Rainbow's wing. Tell me, why you said nothing on that event?"

"I... wasn't aware she was actually hurt. She seemed hesitant, which had me confused for a moment, but I was not sure why."

"Then why you didn't ask?!" McFly retorted, frustration showing again. He could hardly believe the negligence being revealed right now. Spitfire frowned, looking annoyed all of sudden.

"Why?! They get cramps, scratches, and even some cuts here and there. It's normal, why I have to hold their hoof for everything?"

"Because you're the FUCKING LEADER" McFly raised from his seat, incensed beyond belief. He trotted towards the window, a hoof pulling his face as he tried his best to not go into a rant. "Do not keep deluding yourself into thinking we are military, WE ARE NOT! Those times are centuries behind us! You may think Equestria needs us to be back into a frontline, but nothing that came these past years was something we would've been able to fight back. Or should I remind you that time you, Soarin and Fleet were outdone by a Unicorn falling from the sky while screaming frantically?"

Spitfire huffed, that memory was one of the worst humiliations she suffered in her career.

"Or perhaps your absence on Nightmare's return? The failure of dealing with Chrysalis? Tirek? When Spike turned into a giant monster? I could go on for more if I wanted to, there's not a single occasion the Wonderbolts saved Equestria from ANYTHING. Because it is NOT our job!" He chastised, shaking his head at how misguided Spitfire's intentions to the corporation led them astray. "I heard enough. This joint operation may actually give us a better grasp of minor problems, but we are simply not made to deal with such major magical menaces."

"But we cannot just ignore those threats! Even if we don't do much, we still have to do something." Spitfire said, feeling disheartened at everything that's being said regarding her and the Wonderbolts. McFly turned around to look at her, his expression solemn.

"I get you want to be like the heroes you looked up when you were a filly? Wanting that is not a problem, but the way you go about it has helped nopony. If you think you got what it takes to be a leader, well, you don't. Wanna learn it? Simple, you can start by talking with Dust and apologizing for your immense fuck up. After that, you have a few dozen more to apologize towards. Humbling thing to do, isn't it? You want to be a good leader? You can start by admitting you were wrong. I don't care if they forgive you or not, just get it done. You're dismissed."

Cutting The Ties That Bind

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"Wait, you want to do what?!"

"Wasn't I clear enough? I want to talk with her. I... look, we gonna have this job and I can't just do it with this weirdness going on."

"That is surprising, considering how much you're always at odds with her, to the point it gets heated up really quick. What's next? Going to talk with your cousin too?"

"Don't push it! This is a totally different thing!"

"How so? He's a Wonderbolt.... well, cadet, but still. You can't just look the other way for the rest of your life."

"Nothing is stopping me from trying."

"Dustyyyyy."

"One thing at a time, okay? I already have enough of a headache with Spitfire."

Thunderlane chuckled, shaking his head as he watched the mare poke her waffles with a lazy hoof, a thoughtful expression on her face. Last night had been very eventful for the both of them, the stallion still in a bit of a daze from what transpired. He hasn't felt this light, and considerably sore, in ages. Suddenly his perception of everything felt different, in a way he wasn't sure to describe yet. Dusty, despite sounding annoyed while talking about getting her relationship regarding Spitfire on a more stable ground, seemed fairly cheerful, smiling very often ever since they awoke about an hour ago.

Thunderlane could only tell he was feeling rather elated at that moment, something he hasn't felt in a long time. It surprised him how something like 'physical bounding' could get the mood up so spontaneously. He chuckled while messing with a rather rusty frying pan, his pancake went airborne for a couple seconds before landing back into it with a flat splat.

"Say, why you learned to cook?" Lightning asked as she watched him enjoying himself near the stove.

"Oh, back at the Wonderbolts. They tend to rotate whoever cooks in the team for the week. I wasn't really a fan of it, but my first time went really well. So much that it was pretty much the only time I can remember Spitfire giving me a compliment of sorts. The others were just so glad they actually got to eat something that was edible for once, although I may have surpassed expectations by a huge margin." He replied with a sizable smile on his face, brightening at one of the few good memories he had as a Wonderbolt. "They begged me to keep on it for the rest of my career... come to think of it. I guess the ones who stayed are not looking forward for the next chef, heh."

"Well, they shouldn't have treated you like crap, at least not Spitfire. Say, are you sure about leaving the Wonderbolts? That kinda seemed like a big deal for you."

"Again this? Kind of late for having second thoughts, no? I made my mind about it. Besides... the only reason I joined the Wonderbolts was to... was because of my father." He finished on a less joyful mood. Lightning winced when she realized where the conversation entered. "I always looked up to him when I was a kid, I dreamed of doing the same as he did, make him proud of... yeah. That kind of stuff."

The kitchen went quiet, only the sound of Thunderlane cooking his breakfast broke the awkward silence. Dusty stared at the stallion with uncertainty. She was wondering for how long they would keep dancing around that devastating topic about his parents, she was unsure if him opening up about it would ever happen, unless Thunder felt compelled to do it somehow. She had an idea of what to do, but it would require her talking about things she loathed the mere thought of.

"Say, I never talked with you about my... family."

"Besides your cousin?" He quipped with some humor, although she could tell he sounded a bit troubled. Thunderlane was more than aware that Lightning didn't have the best of parents, but he never was able to tell how bad it went. "Not really, why you say so?"

Dust took a deep breath. As much she wanted to keep the good mood up, it would never bring them any peace of mind to not address their personal problems. She had been running away from her past for a long time, but now being in a relationship of this kind would link them closer to such issues than anything else could. She's at a dead end with another pony that is struggling to look back. It was about time she came clean about it.

"Well, there's a reason I hate him, especially after being raised alongside his stupid face for so many years." She started with a forced smile. "Him and his brothers, I... kinda felt bad for him at first. His mom and dad never really gave him any credit or attention as much they did for, well, me." At that point Dust couldn't help but feel a little guilty. "Not like I wanted the attention, but I was younger and more on the need of it. He was the oldest one and was on the empty end of things. At least he got Vapor to cheer him up, so I didn't feel too bad about it. Besides, his parents were not exactly the greatest ever, but decent enough to not let me starve to death or something."

Thunderlane returned to the table with his pancakes, he took a seat across the mare, watching as her attention deviated elsewhere. He wasn't sure why she was looking far off, perhaps it made easier for her to describe those events without distractions of any sort.

"So I guess I should get to the point of why I ended up with my cousins." She said, her face darkening considerably. "Needless to say, I was very young when it happened, and got lucky that I was not at home when it did happen."

Thunderlane felt a terrible sense of familiarity as Dust described the next event. His body went rigid as many horrible scenarios played on his mind. Lightning sighed heavily, looking very hesitant to continue her tale.

"I mean... sometimes I wonder how upset I should feel about it. I... barely remember her face. Or how she sounded. Thunder... am I a horrible pony for not feeling devasted about that kind of loss?" She asked, looking seriously concerned.

"What?!" Thunderlane was stunned she would even think such of herself. "Of course not! You cannot be blamed for barely remembering anything about them." Dust scoffed.

"Yeah, I mean, not them. Just her, because fuck that motherfucker."

Thunderlane blinked not once, twice, but several times.

"...huh?" Lightning's expression was one of pure grimace, she looked back at him with a tired look.

"My... father... he killed my mother."

Thunderlane didn't say anything. He didn't think. He barely took a breath. He merely stared, looking into her soul as if begging for it to be a misunderstanding. Those words did not make sense to him, how could they even be real? What was even happening? His brain refused to work, because there was nothing even slightly rational about what he just heard.

"What... what are you saying?" Thunder barely recognized his own voice, it sounded raspy and like he was about to choke. Dust shrugged uncomfortably, and that kind of reaction finally got him to get his act together. "Dusty, you can't just shrug that off! He killed her?! What?! Why?!!"

"How the fuck do I know, Thunder?!" She immediately snapped back, which made him shut up right away. Yet, the incredulity on his face never melted away. She let out a snarl of frustration, hating herself for not acting more serious on that matter. She should've know that Thunderlane would get upset about it, pretending to not make a big deal out of it wouldn't fly with him at all.

The stallion shook his head. There were so many things he wanted to say but, considering that hardly anything said about it would even matter at this point, he wasn't sure how to proceed. He said whatever came to mind first, even if there was not much to it.

"So... that's why you lived with your aunts." He concluded with a depressive sigh. Dust nodded, clearly looking very uneasy and it was no wonder why. "Before... all of that. How was y-

"It was good when my mom was around, but when she wasn't..." Dust paused again, she bit the inside of her cheek while thinking how to put into words the events of her fillyhood. "He was never the best example of parenting, if that's what you're wondering. I got beat up a few times, especially when he got his face full of cider."

Thunderlane wondered if his jaw already made contact with the floor. Never, in his entire life, he would think of a pony doing such things with any of his own kind. A grow stallion beating up a filly sounded beyond absurd, it made no sense and he wasn't sure how that even came to be. This wasn't a thing that should ever happen in Equestria.

It seemed some of his skepticism must've reached his expression, Dust's frown deepened as she glanced at him briefly.

"Yeah, I know that face. Oh, my! How could such horrible thing even happen in this perfect Celestial land! " Lightning mocked with a rather awful whinny voice. "Because it fucking happens, rarely but it does. It's not like anypony would ever want to publish or talk about that shit for the the whole fucking land to learn of it anyway. I would be surprised if Celestia even knew any of that happens, she would probably throw a fit." Dust snorted.

Thunderlane didn't think any of it was even remotely funny, but he refrained from chastising her attitude, it is not his place to judge how she addresses her own past.

"But why are we event talking about this shit again? Oh, right. Cause I wanted to come clear about this before asking you. Say, I hope ya don't mind."

The stallion blinked, caught by surprise that the topic turned around into him instead.

"What... do you want to know?" He asked hesitantly. Dust raised an eyebrow, wondering if he was trying to stall the conversation.

"What else? About your family, silly. Yeah, I get it is a fucking sad thing to talk about!" She immediately cut off any attempts of deflection of the topic, she was going to be crude about it because she had enough of him running away from saying anything whenever she asked. "I fucking get it, okay? Thunder... fuck, we love each other, right?"

That got his attention for sure, he found enough courage to look her in the eyes. He nodded meekly, finally accepting that there was nowhere to run. It was time he came clean about his own past.

"We do." He replied quietly, which made Lightning slightly concerned.

"Well, then trust me about it. I care so much about you that I just told you something that I rather take with me to my grave. You said this was about trust, no secrets or any other crap. You said we have to be honest with each other. Then, please, tell me what happened." She pleaded to him, which only made the stallion's conscience weight ten times more.

"Well, it happened a few years after we first met, remember? Junior Speedsters and all of that." He started slowly, to which the mare nodded quickly. "Yeah, we used to live on a house at the ground, not a cloud like most Pegasus, sort of like you said your aunts do. Dad... he was a hotshot for the Wonderbolts at the time, he met my mother a few years after he graduated the academy. She worked on Weather Control at Canterlot, like, she was the head of Weather Management. How did they meet? Well, I don't really remember how, that part of the story was always vague when I asked. Something about a gala, then talking with each other on pure coincidence, then something about an hotel later on."

"Oh, wow. Your dad was kind of a player in all senses then." She couldn't help but say it out loud. Thunderlane smiled for a moment before returning to his stoic expression.

"I wish that was the case. They just got overworked with cider." He said, to which Lightning frowned at immediately. Thunder sighed heavily. He was never a stallion of cider as most around his age, the stuff never really draw him at all, he wasn't sure why most adult ponies made such a big deal out of it. "So they slept and... whatever happened then, they decided to start meeting each other, but under secrecy."

"Why? I don't see the point of hiding a relationship." Dust quickly asked, puzzled at the strange action taken by his parents. Thunder would agree, but then he was still not done talking that part.

"Huh, my dad was a big deal in the Wonderbolts at the time, and my mother... well, she was supposed to be marrying another pony."

"... holy shit. Your dad was fucking screwed then."

Thunderlane sighed. Yes, his dad screwed up big time back then. Yet, his mother seemed to recall that tale with lots of humor whenever they got around talking about it when Thunder was a little colt. He would eventually learn that his mother loathed the idea of marrying a pony she never really cared for, but was obliged to because of family connections at the higher up class.

"Well, he would've been. Mom was bent on being with him though. Her family would be furious about it, but she made up some story about moving out of town and finding a new path in career. Needless to say she got away from that engagement pretty quick. She got a job at Rainbow Falls... yeah. Wasn't as popular as it is today, but still really good for events and other important stuff. Weather around those parts was always a bit strange, just like the Everfree Forest. We tend to struggle with weather most of the time here. Things start happening on their own." The stallion couldn't help the wince at reminding some particular nasty thunderstorms and blizzards. How a forest could make random horrible winter weather he wasn't sure to this day. "So she got set in there really quick, her experience helped a lot of residents living on a hill village nearby, which so happened to be the place my family would be settling our home, right at the base."

Thunderlane let out another sigh. He was pondering how far he could get before feeling himself getting emotionally stuck.

"Dad was doing fine as a Wonderbolt, but he didn't want folks to know he was married. If my mother's family found out it would cause a ton of trouble, so she made him promise to keep it a secret. At least for a few years. Well, they had me after their married few years later. I still don't know how nopony found out about it when they were at the hospital. I think my dad probably paid a lot of ponies to keep it quiet. So, when growing up, I..."

Thunderlane started to feel his throat choking up, his voice faltered. He averted his eyes away from Dust, trying his best to hide away his pain. Thinking back about his family always hurt so much, and he wasn't even sure if he can do it without crumbling. Dust seemed to notice his distress. She let out a sigh, giving him a firm glance.

"S-Sorry." He excused himself.

"Hey... if you don't think you're ready... don't do it, okay? I can wait. If you promise you will tell me. No hurries, I understand." She said with surprisingly amiability. "At least you loved them a lot, just like they did you. I don't know what is like to feel that kind of loss, so... yeah. Whenever you feel okay, we can talk."

Thunderlane nodded, feeling both ashamed and sorrowful by his inability to deal with such memories. He felt a hoof gently press his cheeck, his eyes found Dusty's, the mare a few inches away from his face. She smiled before planting a kiss on his muzzle. The stallion appreciated the gesture immensely, for such would be very rare coming from the likes of her, despite their current relationship.

"Say, how about we hit town and look around, I'm not very familiar with the place still." Lightning suggested after they separated. "I could use knowing where to buy stuff when I'm in need."

Thunderlane tilted his head slightly, somewhat confused.

"Huh? Are you staying in town?"

"Yeah, got into a inn a few days back. I don't really wanna stay there for too long since it's the place that Rolling and Shorty are also staying before all our sets are moved to next town. At least it was our set, now is theirs, cause their sorry asses cannot get over themselves." Dust huffed, annoyed with her initial Washouts colleagues being so dense about her decision to mix in with the Wonderbolts. She smiled all of sudden, a challenging glare in her eyes. "Race ya around town?" That got Thunderlane's mood up a bit.

"Really, this early? I can get quite noisy and not everypony is an early riser. Say, aren't you sore from... you know." He coughed a bit, which earned him an eye roll from the mare.

"No, and you could use the extra exercises. If you wanna put up with my team's schedule for next season, you better start working out a bit harder, and it isn't about training." She said with a grin before booping his floppy belly with a hoof. The stallion frowned, partially annoyed and frustrated. "You can do a lot better, that's for sure."

"Fine." He relented begrudgingly. "I gotta work on Rumble's breakfast.

"Wasn't he at a friend's house?" The stallion shrugged.

"He will be here soon. He knows I make pancakes in this particular day of the week. Unlikely to miss if he can. Say, how about we t-

Thunderlane stopped as, again, knocks on his front door echoed across the hallway. Both ponies rolled their eyes at the interruption.

"Who the fuck is this time?" Lightning shook her head, jumping from her seat and darting her wings, zipping at dangerous speed towards the entrance. Thunderlane merely saw her disappear before turning back to the stove to resume his task. "Is fucking Sunday, it's fucking six in the morning, do you have issues?!"

Thunderlane paused, surprised by the shouting. He listened for any exchange of words but nothing else was said. Before he could decide to move towards the front door Lightning appeared at the kitchen door, followed closely by...

Thunderlane gaped in shock at the unexpected visitor.

"G-Gilda?!"

There stood the female griffon he saw a few years ago, looking somewhat annoyed but also anxious as she set her golden eyes towards his figure. She seemed as powerful, sleek and intimidating as the first time he saw her, but that aura of hostility she carried seemed to have lessened to an extent. Without waiting for an invitation she took a seat at the kitchen table, crossing her arms while glancing around, mildly curious by the stallion's kitchen.

"Long time no see." She said somewhat gruffly, pointing a talon towards Dust. "This one here has some energy, I gotta give you that. Not bad." She said in approval. "How you doing? Still having your ass dragged by Dash?"

"Huh, no... not really." Thunderlane replied slowly, still trying to grasp his head around seeing her all of sudden. "Say, I guess Gilda already introduced herself?" He asked towards an intrigued Lightning. She chuckled.

"Of course, good thing you mentioned her. She wasn't getting through that door otherwise." Dust replied with a confident grin. Gilda flipped her off uncaringly. "She's cool though. Can we keep her?"

"Fuck off." Gilda replied, in between amused and aggravated. "I ain't here for your sappy shit. I just got here this early cause Gabby got sick and couldn't deliver the mail, so I'm covering for her." She said with a tired sigh. "Fucking worst decision ever, this job sucks big time. I don't get how she takes it and is so happy about it. What a loony."

"How often we get mail from Griffinstone anyway?" Thunderlane asked before adding. "Pancakes?" Gilda paused, giving him a doubtful look before shrugging.

"Sure, why not. If I'm here I will take anything. Been flying for damn five hours, next time I'm sitting my ass in the train. I hoped to cut time by going straight, but that was not the best idea ever, fuck me. As for how often anyone writes anything, it pretty much is just me writing to Dash, so I'm kinda just doing it myself. What about you? Did you get into the Wonderbolts? Dash mentioned you one time, heh, she was upset you got to make the cut and not Cloud Chunker or whatever."

"Oh, Chaser, yeah. She's really good. I guess I got lucky, well, not really. I'm not in their group anymore." Thunderlane replied, flipping another pancake in the pan. "Dusty has her own team so me and few others joined hers. We are going to do some events and try new stuff with the Bolts. Lots of things happened actually, so I can fill you later if you want."

"Sounds good. I'm hitting Dash first though." Gilda replied, she yawned rather dramatically. "Shit, I'm wasted. I gotta hit a bed soon."

"You... errr, have bits to stay anywhere?" Thunderlane fumbled his words a bit. He was perfectly aware of how bad griffons have it in terms of finances. The griffon shrugged.

"I can take any cloud just fine. Really don't care for the fancy stuff. They make better beds than what these grounded ponies use." She replied sleepily. "Say, how long you been dating this green one?"

"About few weeks actually." Thunderlane replied with a smile. Gilda snorted.

"Damn, this town is drowning with mares and it took you this long? Must be a bunch of crazy around here." Thunderlane laughed a bit.

"Yeah, that's cause you haven't met Cloud Kicker yet. She ain't that crazy, but can get to you really quick."

"You can say that again. She's kinda creeps me out at times and I'm very open about stuff." Lightning added her two bits into the conversation. "Well, mostly."

"Huh, sounds fun. I will think about it. Say, how it's stuff with Dash? I will meet her later, but I would like anything off in advance. You know, just because." Gilda added and it was telling she seemed a bit uncomfortable. Thunder knew exactly why.

"No, she's not being overzealous about anything lately, well, besides Scootaloo." Thunderlane replied, which allowed the griffon to sigh in relief. "Just keep her away from us if you can. Dust and her don't really see eye to eye. They had a falling out few years back, just like you had with Rainbow."

Gilda switched her attention towards the turquoise mare, a glance of sympathy being shared.

"Shit, you too? Yeah, that kinda sucks big time. At least I don't think you two were friends for too long."

"Correction, we never were friends. That was nothing but an impression." Dust said with some irritation. Gilda nodded, she understood the mare's anger perfectly. "I don't seek to make amends with her about that, I moved on. That's it." The griffon was slightly impressed.

"I wish I could be this bold about my feelings back then. But... when you don't really have anyone to rely on, it's kinda hard to let go of them. I was at fault anyways so I couldn't really blame Dash for that mess." Gilda sighed heavily. "I know I say a lot of shit about you ponies, but there's times I wish I was one instead. Being a griffon sucks most of the time."

"Really? You look pretty cool to me." Dust said, confused about why Gilda would want to be anything else.

"Well, girl, when you get to know the life I had, you would rather deal with ten Dashies than a pissed of griffon." Gilda paused, looking back at Thunder with a smirk on her beak. "Say, you still got that honeymoon?"

Thunderlane tried his best to not drop the pan as he fought a fit of laughter from erupting from his chest.

"Gilda, don't!"

"But it tasted so sweet with yo-

"NOPE!"

Washout For Your Feelings

by Beakwood

Hooked on a Feeling

A Little Less Conversation

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Feeling Itchy

A More Than Friendly Outcome

Honest Regrets

Heartfelt Fears

Lack of Empathy

A Date Out Of Time

A Day Off The Chart

Outta Mind, Outta Sight

In and Out

Dawn of Acceptance

Tempting Offer

Rolling the Dice

Inflaming Resolve

Daredevil

Frailty

Cutting The Ties That Bind