Prologue: The mind of Lightning
‘”I’m afraid the crash has left her entire body crippled-. I’m sorry, but she’ll never fly again. Her days in the Washouts are over.” Why do those words from Nurse Redheart continue to echo in my mind?-. Why, why do they continue to torture me for my reckless acts-?
When that rope wrapped around my hoof, and carried me away in that rocket, I basically promised Rainbow Dash that we were rivals for life. But now I can’t keep that promise-. I’m nothing but a liar. Why, why did that crash have to end things for me-?
When Rolling Thunder and Short Fuse brought me in, they waited for hours in my room, hoping I’d be able to reopen my eyes. I hoped too, but then the nurse came in and all my hope vanished. “I’m afraid the crash has left your friend both paralyzed and crippled, and even though she can recover from her paralysis, she still won’t be able to walk or fly thanks to her back legs and wings both being crippled. I’m sorry, but she’ll never fly again, her days in the Washouts are over.” Why, why did she have to say that? I didn’t want to believe her, but how could I not, when I’m experiencing it right now. I used to think I was invincible, that I could do anything. Is this my punishment for thinking that?
“Ma'am, can you put the Dizzitron at maximum speed? I wanna push my limits.” I wanted to push it, to reach the top, but now, that’ll never happen. “The Wonderbolts don't seem to think so. After all, Spitfire did make me the leader and you the wingpony.” I didn’t deserve to be lead pony, why hadn’t I let Rainbow Dash lead?
“Honey, meet our new daughter. Her name, is Lightning Dust.” I was born on a ground-based ranch with my dad as the owner and my mom having come from the city, We were pretty far out from any towns, so we very rarely if ever got visitors, save for when that witch brought one of her city friends home with her. Even so, I didn’t mind; for me, living so far out meant I got the chance to explore and of course to play with either daddy or some of the forty farm workers who lived with their families on the farm. I probably had more family for a kid then anyone else in Equestria.
“Wonderful, my little Lightning Bolt! Your very first flight ever! Daddy is so proud of you.” Daddy was so happy when I first learned how to fly, and when I got good grades in Junior speedsters Flight Camp, he was even happier than I was. I loved him, I loved him so very much.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU, YOU LEFT OUR DAUGHTER TO DIE! YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT YOU OUT OF THIS HOUSE! I WANT YOU OUT NOW! NOOOW!” When Daddy threw that witch out, he had found me after I had spent days trapped in a hole that the witch had thrown me into, I wasn’t even a year old, and yet I remember it so well. After that the workers and their families all pitched in to help Daddy raise me. It was one of the saddest times of my life.
“Oh honey, it’s okay, those bullies won’t hurt you any more, sshh, sshh sshh sshh sshh. There there, You’re okay.” Uncle Trotter was my Daddy’s best friend and right-hoof stallion of the farm, he was also the one who took the most care of me while Daddy and the others were all working. One time when I came back from flight camp, some bullies went and threw me into a back alley, and then they-, they tried to violate me. If it wasn’t for Uncle Trotter finding me when he did… I owe so much to him.
“Oh sweetheart, there's no need to cry. I only have one more thing I ask of you. My final wish for you is for you to promise me, promise me you’ll live out the dream you always wanted. To be the greatest flyer in the world. Promise me, my little Lighting Bolt.” Those were daddy’s last words before he succumbed to his injuries; after that, Uncle Trotter took control of the farm and began taking care of me. I promised, I promised him I would make both of our dreams come true. I am such a liar.
“You wouldn't wanna get impeched for dishonoring my wishes, would you?” Why did I say that to such a little kid? The stunt was clearly to dangerous for somepony her age, but I didn’t even care, even though she wanted to back out I didn’t care, I just said it was too late AND PRESSED THAT BUTTON AND WATCHED HER RIDE TO HER DOOM LIKE AN IDIOT, IF IT WASN’T FOR RAINBOW DASH—. Sigh, if it wasn’t for Rainbow Dash swooping in and saving her, that little filly Scootaloo would’ve been the one in this, and it would’ve been all my fault. But now look at me, thanks to my actions, my days of one day being the best flyer ever are gone, up in smoke just like the rocket that did this to me.
‘This can’t be the end;, there has to be some way out of this. Somepony who can help me, somepony, please. Help me.’ With those final thoughts, Lightning Dust simply relaxed and let the sound of the many machines around her lull her into a deep slumber. It was all she could do now, just sleep; she had already given up all hope of ever recovering, both from her injuries and from the mistakes she had made that led to this point. But little did the little Lightning Bolt know, that at the end of every storm, there will always be a rainbow of miracles shining down to raise one up from the darkness, like an orange phoenix rising from the ashes.