Make It or Break It

by Serina

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Other, Trixie, Slice of Life, Wonderbolts, Lightning Dust, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 4442

To Lightning Dust, being a Wonderbolt isn't just about being famous, or being the best. It's about making her Mom proud. Lightning writes to her Mom everyday after arriving at the Academy and these are her letters.

Lightning Dust got accepted into the Wonderbolts Academy. Her dream is one step closer to coming true, but not just her dream, her Mother's too. To Lightning Dust, being a Wonderbolt isn't just about being famous, or the best. It's about making her Mom proud.

Lightning writes to her Mom everyday after arriving at the Academy and these are her letters.

Published 2013-07-25 18:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-31 17:53:58 UTC

Second Day: Success

Dear Mom,

I hope you’ve already received my first letter, honestly I don’t know how fast the postal service is now a days. But anyway, the second day at the Academy was so amazing! We woke up to this loud trumpet call, which was slightly annoying, and headed out to the mess hall for breakfast. They had these weird shakes that we’re supposed to keep us energized all day. They tasted nasty, but did the trick. When all the recruits lined up at eight o’clock sharp, Spitfire unveiled this wicked machine, called the dizzitron. It spins you around really fast and then releases you into the sky. It’s supposed to help you train for spin outs when you're flying. I knew that this training session was going to be a breeze.

I really wanted to be first, to show Spitfire just how good I really was, but she choose this pink mare instead. That mare totally bombed the session, by the way, I mean she looked like she wasn’t going to be able to fly straight for days. I keep wondering where they find these amateurs, I mean most of these ponies can’t even fly through a cloud, I bet. Next up was Rainbow Dash, I was kind of bummed Spitfire still didn’t choose me, but I couldn't wait to see Rainbow’s skills put to the test. She got an Academy record of 6 seconds! That’s impressive, but wait until you hear about me.

I was next after Dash, I placed myself in the dizzitron, but told Spitfire to turn it up to maximum speed. She said it was a bad idea, but I wanted to push my limits to the max. When that machine started whirling around, I could barely see anything. I heard the faint sound of Spitfire saying “Release!” and before I knew it I was flying through the air. I immediately straightened myself out and plunged down towards the ground. I opened my wings and whipped past Spitfire and the others. My record? 6.5 seconds! That had to be an academy record on maximum level. Everypony was so stunned and cheering me on, it was great. Rainbow hoof pumped me too! The moment didn’t last long though, because the other newbies had to be put to the test too.

At the end of the day nopony came close to me and Dash’s record. We were talking about how they should make us Wonderbolts that very second, I mean, yeah they should! We’re the best of the best! Nopony even comes close to beating me and Rainbow at anything! Spitfire announced that for the rest of the week we’ll be working in pairs, one pony will be the leader and one the wing pony. I hope I get to be the leader! I’ve been working so hard these past two days. The results will be announced in the morning, so wish me luck Mom!

Your eager daughter,

Lightning Dust

P.S. Somepony took a picture of me on the dizzitron! Take a look!

Third Day: Teams

Dear Mom,

Oh my gosh! They made me and Rainbow Dash a team, and I got to be lead pony! It was one of the most exciting moments of my life! I went to the training area after words to stretch my wings a little. I asked Rainbow if she wanted to come, but she said she had to take care of something. If she’s anything like me, she’s probably taking her free time to write home to her friends, just like I write to you. Anyway, we all lined up at 12 o’clock sharp and put on our pony pins, which stood for who was lead pony and who was wing pony. Mine was a gold pegasus pin and Rainbow’s was a silver pin. Spitfire announced that today’s training session would be a flag hunt, no sweat. Rainbow and I had this one in the bag! We were put on the blue team with two other ponies. The goal of the exercise was to find as many flags of the opposing team, which was the red team, as possible. The lead pony and the wing pony have to stay together at all times, which of course was no problem for me and Dash, being as fast as we are.

We started off fast, zooming through the grounds of the area. No flags yet. I asked Rainbow to keep a lookout. Within a few minutes Rainbow spotted a flag down in a gorge, she has pretty good eyes for being up so high. We zoomed down and snatched the flag up, it was epic. We had found the first flag! Rainbow scratched her wing on a log above the gorge and wanted to slow down, but in this type of session being slow is how you lose. You need to be super fast and push yourself no matter what. And that means pushing through the pain.

Turns out we found most of the flags in the end, but Rainbow kept moaning about her wing the whole time. I mean, honestly, it was a little scratch, suck it up. Remember when I had sprained my wing that time in flight camp? I still flew through the obstacle course! I wasn’t going to let a tiny sprain stop me! Maybe, I’m helping Dash out by pushing her through the pain, you know? It’ll help her improve as a flyer and all. Anyway, Spitfire says we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, so I need some shut eye. Goodnight, Mom.

Wishing you sweet dreams,

Lightning Dust

Fifth Day: Losing Your Wings

Dear Mom,

I... I don’t know where to start. I've failed you and I’ve failed Dad. I got kicked out of the Academy...

I don’t know where I’ll be going, or when I’ll write to you next, but I’m not coming home until I’ve made something of myself. I’ll make you proud. One day.

Your heartbroken daughter,

Lightning Dust

Author's Note

If you're wondering why I would publish 5 chapters in one day, it's because I wanted to get the episode stuff out of the way. Also this story is going to eventually coincide with another one of my stories My Dearest Friend: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/107592/my-dearest-friend

Can't tell you how though! That would mean spoilers~

One Week Later: Selling Your Dream

Dear Mom,

I’m sorry about the last letter. Don’t worry, I’m doing alright. I sold most of my Wonderbolt stuff while on the road, though, to earn a few bits. You wouldn’t believe how fast that stuff sells. Then again, I would’ve bought a signed Wonderbolt poster for only ten bits too. I did keep the Wonderbolt plushy you made me, I couldn't bear to part with it. I still remember that Hearth’s Warming Eve like it was yesterday. You were knitting in front of the small fire place, as I was stringing popcorn together. I remember that Dad was home back then. We had to move most of the furniture into his room, so we could fit his hospital bed in the living room. He was so excited to be able to see us, he always said the nurses and doctors were nice company back in Manehatten, but nothing like when he got to be with us.

When I got the popcorn stringed around the tree, you asked me to go fetch the boxes and wrapping paper. I knew the boxes were empty, but the wrapping with Dad was the fun part. That year it seemed like he could barely lift the empty box, so I ended up wrapping most of the presents and he placed the bow on top. He still gave me a wing five though. We always used to do that.

We were all sitting by the fire, eating roasted walnuts that we picked from the tree outside earlier that year, they were really good. I remember the blush on your face when Dad said they were the best roasted walnuts he had ever had. After that we were all curled up for that night before Hearth’s Warming Eve. Presents under the tree, you sleeping in your rocking chair, and me curled next to Dad on his hospital bed as the machines next to it beeped steadily.

That morning the sun stung at my eyes, but there were still presents under the tree and that excited me. I bounced off Dad’s bed and ran to the tree. You were already awake and you told me to wait until Dad woke up. I agreed and I waited outside, playing in the snow, until Dad finally woke up. Then we all gathered by the tree. I reached out from behind the tree to pull to neatly wrapped presents. I remember how surprised you guys looked at me actually having presents for you two. I handed Dad his present and I handed yours to you. The smile on your faces were priceless to me.

I know you still have those flowers in your dresser even though they're wilted and that you’ve still kept that drawing of Dad and me as Wonderbolts on the wall in the living room. Then you gave me my own wonderbolts plushie! I was so excited. I can’t believe you hoof stitched that plushy, it looks professional. And when we thought that there was no more presents to be opened, Dad pulled out two tiny boxes out from under his pillow. He gave one to me and had me give one to you. We opened them up and mine was a folded Wonderbolts race advertisement. I remember yours was a sales ad for a new gardening tools. He knew us so well... It didn’t matter if he didn’t buy us stuff, it was the thought that counted.

Those were good times, huh? I miss him. I know you do too.

Anyway, I’ve been looking for some work and I think I might have a lead in Manehatten. Wish me Luck!

Your thoughtful daughter,

Lightning Dust

P.S. If you can't find Zipper's hoop, it's probably in the walnut tree.

Manehatten Day 2: Ice Cream In The Park

Dear Mom,

Today rocked! Sense me and Trixie didn’t have to work she showed me around town. I didn’t know so many shops could be in one city. There’s shops dedicated just to hats here, isn’t that weird? It was fun trying all of them on though, of course the shop keeper seemed to get a little aggravated with us. I don’t get why ponies here are so uptight, I mean, loosen up a little! Wonder if they’re really unhappy or if that’s just their personality... I don’t know.

Anyway, Trixie and me got some ice cream from this stand in the park, and sat down to talk a little. I never told you about how I got kicked out of the Academy, but I told her and it’s time I tell you. We had to clear the clouds from the sky, the more clouds you cleared the more points you got. Of course, Rainbow Dash was my partner and me and her were rockin’ it up there. I got a great idea to use a tornado to clear all the clouds away. Rainbow was a little hesitant but went along with it. Unfortunately, we lost control of it and it knocked this hot air balloon out of the sky, but it did clear all the clouds away!

Rainbow got really ticked. She said I tried to murder her friends by wiping them out with that tornado. I mean, there was what? A hundred pegasi in the area? They would’ve been fine, duh. But, no. No, she had to go and complain to Spitfire about it. I think she was planning this from the beginning. She wasn’t happy as a wing pony, so she was all “Let’s make Lightening the bad leader.” How unfair is that?

Trixie totally agreed with me about it. She even met Rainbow Dash before and agreed that she is a hot head. That is pretty much obvious of course, but still I can’t believe that she did something like that. I thought we were friends...

Well not anymore! Trixie gets me and I get her and we’re friends now! And she wouldn't betray me like that loser Dash did! We look after each other, I mean, she even giving me a place to stay! I just gotta show Dash that I am the best flier in all of Equestria, not her. Maybe, I’ll head to Canterlot next, once I get enough money. That’s where the Wonderbolts started, maybe, I can start my own team! Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. I’m gonna start my own flying team.

Your planning daughter,

Lightning Dust

Author's Note

I really want to finish this before school starts, which is August 12th, but that may not happen. I just don't know how busy I'm going to be with school... So, the smart thing to do is refrain from writing any new stories and just do updates! Unfortunately, my imaginative self refuses to do so and I already have two more new stories (1 one-shot and 1 on going letter story like this one) in the making. Yeah, I'm a write-a-holic and I really need to finish what I've already started, but I just like these ideas and I don't want to wait until school breaks or when I have free time. I wanna write them right now! XD

BUT! This will be the first story to be finished if it isn't already finished before I start school. You have something to look forward too then~ and trust me, the ending is something you'll never expect! Feel free to guess though. I might just take some inspiration from your comments. ;)

Manehatten Day 3: OH MY GOSH!

Dear Mom,

You will not believe what happened tonight! You know how in the last letter I was all like, “I’m gonna start my own flying team and all and show up Dash!” Well, it may actually happen! Okay, let me calm down and tell you what happened: Trixie and I were performing our show and afterwards a bat-pony came up to us. Turns out he’s from the royal night guard and he was one of the captains! He said Princess Luna, that’s right THE PRINCESS, was looking for some talented ponies to put together two teams: a team which showed off their magic skills and a flying team.

Let me tell you, I shook that ponies hoof almost immediately but Trixie seemed a little hesitant. She said and I quote, “The Great and Powerful Trixie is not too sure if she should spend her time entertaining for only one pony.” But once the guard said she would be performing for the galas, she was hooked, but Trixie was listing rule after rule of what she wouldn’t put up with. That mare is so crazy, telling one of the captains of the royal guard that she wants her own room and not to mention specialty soaps delivered to her bathroom every Thursday or she refuses to perform. He just rolled his eyes and laughed along with me. Although, Trixie didn’t think it was very funny.

The guy at the bar wasn’t too happy on us walking out almost immediately, but he lightened up once the guard gave him a look or two. He gave us our wages and now we’re on our way to Canterlot! All three of us ponies and Trixie’s huge cart. Wish us luck!

Your super duper excited daughter,

Lightning Dust

P.S. Here’s a picture of all of us!

Author's Note

Sorry I've been so busy with school! Gah, I don't want to make you guys wait forever for a short chapter. I'll try to do better!XP

Canterlot Day 1: Introductions

Dear Mom,

We’re in Canterlot! Sorry I haven't wrote to you for a whole week but everything’s been so exciting! Trixie and I talked the captain’s ear off the whole way. He’s name is Captain Nighteye by the way! he’s nice but I think he was getting tired of our jabbing halfway there, he stayed pretty quiet the whole time except when he answered the occasional question. The trip wasn’t bad though. Weather was good and we got there pretty fast. I can’t believe Canterlot is so big! All those shops and roads and ponies, it’s just… Wow.

Trixie and I are waiting to have a meeting with the Princess. That’s right, an audience with Princess Luna herself! We’re waiting outside the castle chamber doors, Trixie whistling a some catchy tune and me writing to you. I don’t know how long we’ve been waiting but it feels like ages. I hope they haven't forgotten about us…

Anyway, how’s you and Zipper? I bet you guys miss me, huh? Well, once I get on this flying team I’ll be able to fly down there and visit anytime I want! Won’t that be great? Being able to go anywhere in Equestria you want without having to worry about bits or anything. One day, Mom, one day…

I got to go they’re calling me in!

~♦~

I… I GOT ACCEPTED!

Mom, you wouldn’t believe it the Princess was all like, “Your flying skills are quite amazing.” and I was all like, “Well, thank you, Princess!” She was super impressed! I did back flips and flew really fast and went all zoom! Oh man, I’m so excited! I start tomorrow! TOMORROW! I can’t wait! I just, can’t wait! This has been the BEST DAY EVER! I can’t wait to see my uniform and see the field and see the other ponies that I’ll be flying with. But most importantly I can’t wait to show you what I can do. I’ll be the best flyer in Equestria, Mom. You can count on it.

Your smiling/excited/happy daughter,

Lightning Dust

P.S. I’m staying in the castle! How cool is that?

First Day: Flying Fast

Dear Mom,

I made it to the academy! You should see this place, it is so rad. There’s training equipment everywhere! Pull up bars, flying hoops, all these weird machines, and not to mention a giant track. You’d love it. I’ll have to bring you up here one day, that is, if Spitfire allows visitors during training. Either way everything is really cool and my first day was fantastic! Our first day here and Spitfire, who was basically a drill sergeant the whole time, was trying to scare the feathers of the me and the new recruits. She didn’t scare me a bit. I told her straight up, “Let me show ya what I can do.” You should have seen her face! After that she made all the ponies fly five hundred laps, no sweat, of course. You should’ve seen me, Mom, you would’ve been proud seeing me zoom past all those other ponies. There was this one pony, named Rainbow Dash, who was able to keep up with me the whole time though! I couldn’t believe I had finally met a flyer that was about as fast as me. We could become the best of friends or the most competitive rivals. Maybe both!

Either way me and Rainbow got to hit the mess hall early sense we finished before all the other recruits. The food here is pretty good, but nothing compares to your food back home. I’m already craving your hay pot pie. Speaking of food, thanks again for sending me some candy fruits with me! I’m already munching on a few. I don’t know how I’m going to resist eating them all in one week. I really miss you already and I hope Zippers will be okay while I’m gone. Remember not to let him stay out after dark. You know how hummingbirds get if they can’t see where they’re going. Also I forgot to tell you, I left his treats on the mantle in the kitchen if you haven't been able to find them.

Speaking of don’t knows, I don’t know where Rainbow Dash is staying. I kind of wished we had got bunked together because she is pretty cool. She told me over lunch about how she grew up in Cloudsdale, but moved to Ponyville later on. She says she has a bunch of friends rooting for her down there. I told her about you and how proud I’m gonna make you by being the best wonderbolt ever. She laughed and said she wanted to be the best wonderbolt too, she already believes she’s the best flyer in Equestria. I believe I’m the best though, nopony can surpass me, not that I’ve met anyway. Well, there’s the bell. Which means lights out. I love you and I hope this letter reaches you soon.

Your loving daughter,

Lightning Dust

Forth Day: Showing Off

Dear Mom,

I’m so happy my letters finally got to you and thanks for sending more candy, they’re delicious by the way! I’m glad that Zippers is behaving himself, he’s such a little rascal. So, we finally had a challenge, if you want to call it that. It was called the air obstacle course. It’s supposed to help you train to fly in different types of weather. I immediately thought about how this was going to be so easy. You were right about training during the storms when I was a filly to get an upper wing on everypony. Plus Dash and me already had this down. I mean, we are the most aerodynamic peagasi here. Spitfire said it wasn’t a race but Dash and I both know that we can out fly any of the ponies here, so it might as well be a race. We were zooming through the hoops, and not to mention we totally dodged those fluffy pink storm clouds. Until, unfortunately, we got behind a really super slow team. I mean, snail kind of slow. Rainbow wasn’t concerned about getting around them, just about showing off to Spitfire, which was a good idea but it would’ve been better to show off and be in front.

We had to go through these big storm clouds, nothing compared to the ones at home though, but then the team in front of us got even slower! I didn’t think that was possible. Anyway, we totally passed them before going into the wind tunnels. We also made another record at the Academy! Spitfire said that she had made the right decision making me and Dash a team and all. To hear that from her was amazing. We even got to hit the mess hall early. Rainbow Dash was hesitant on how we cut the other teams off, but hey you snooze you lose right? That’s what Dad always told me. I wonder if he’s rooting for me up there...

Well, back to Rainbow Dash. She acts like this isn't even a competition. I don't get why she wants to be give the other ponies a break. Life isn't going to give those ponies a break and neither will I. Besides, the Wonderbolts only pick the best of the best and if you don't show your best then they kick your tail out! She needs to buckle down if she's going to be my wingpony, I can't have any loose ends on my team. Besides, I don't know where they'd find another flyer to match my speed for the rest of the camp. I just need to convince Rainbow that we're on top and the other ponies will get in our way if we let them.

Anyway, tomorrow is a big day, so I better get some rest. I love you, hopefully I can come home and visit soon. I really miss you and Zippers.

Your determined daughter,

Lightning Dust

Manehatten Day 1: Bits In A Bar

Dear Mom,

I made it to Manehatten! You should see this place, so much has changed since last time we visited. I managed to scrounge up enough bits to buy a taxi and within a few hours I was in the big city! I found a job too. Well, part time anyway. It’s a gig doing all sorts of tricks to entertain ponies, who are mostly drunk and won’t even remember my show anyway. I also have a partner in the show who performs magic tricks and illusions. Her name is Trixie. She’s pretty cool, after you get over the fact that she talks to herself in the third person and she thinks she’s all that, but, hey, she wants to be the best, just like me, and I can respect that.

Our show went pretty well, random fireworks, hat tricks, while I had to do some flying tricks, and, not to mention, catching random objects in mid air too. It lasted about an hour and the pony that ran the bar said we brought in a good bit of business and he’d see us in two days. I was excited that I didn’t get fired sense it was my first time performing for bits and all. Plus that would’ve sucked to come all the way to Manehatten to end up without a job.

Anyway, me and Trixie got to talking after the show and turns out she’s been almost everywhere! Las Pegasus, Baltimare, Van Hoover, you name it. Not only that, but she has her own performance wagon and usually doesn’t just work in places like this. I said that it sounded like a pretty exciting life and all, but asked if she ever wanted to settle down somewhere. She thought about it for a moment before shaking her head and saying “That Trixie’s life is on the road, traveling.” I can understand that.

She asked where I was staying the night and I kind of tried to skip around that question, but she insisted on knowing. I finally fessed up about me not having a place to stay. Would you believe that she invited me to stay in her wagon? Turns out she has a pull out cot under her bed. Trixie is pretty nice for only just knowing me. I hope someday I can repay her. Maybe one day we can invite her out to our house while she's passing through and fix her some dinner. We could even wrap up some walnut butter for her to take on the go. I'm sure Zippers would like to meet her too.

Well, I better hit the hay. I don’t know where life will take me tomorrow.

Your optimistic daughter,

Lightning Dust