Seeking Approval

Day 1

Meet Lilly. Lilly’s coat is a light shade of pink with a straight aqua blue mane and the image of a Violette on her flank. Unlike most Pegasi, Lilly suffers from a rather peculiar case of Acrophobia. She tends to enjoy peaceful walks rather than risk the terrifying prospect of flying more than a few feet above the ground. On one occasion she was feeling rather brave and decided to participate in the annual Tornado Duty which resulted in a well-executed nose dive into the local reservoir. Many of the residents of Fillydelphia agreed that it was “rather funny”.

Today however she isn't in any mood to embarrass herself in front of the local populace, she has plans. Yesterday she had been invited to have lunch with one of her friends, a pegasus pony named Lightning Dust. The invitation came as a bit of a surprise to Lilly at first, after all the pair had very little in common and often resulted in Lightning Dust rambling on about the Wonderbolts while Lilly sat and tried to stay awake.

Coming up just around the corner is Lightning Dusts home, a small cottage lying near the edge of the city. She’s been renting the place for a couple of years, pitting all her hopes of buying her own home on her future career as a Wonderbolt. It’s nothing grand, just a contemporary home made out of brick, timber and thatch. But the most interesting thing Lilly notices in the cyan mare standing out on her front yard like a watch dog.

“Lightning,” Lilly calls out as she draws closer. “what are you doing standing out here?”

Lightning Dust’s head slowly cranes around to face Lilly, her pupils narrowing and a slight grin fixed on her face. “Waiting here for my acceptance letter for the Wonderbolts Academy. I have to remain focused and alert otherwise I may miss it.”

Lilly’s head slightly tilts out of confusion, blowing aside a light strand of her mane that fell in front of her face. She knows how important this is to her, in fact she couldn't stop talking about it since the day she came second place in the Young Fliers competition. Her demonstration of the "Lightning Blitz" was perfect, but even after that it wasn't enough to win. She hasn't really stopped training since, this means the world to her.

“How long ago did you send it exactly?”

“Oh, about an hour ago.”

This is rather concerning. “You do realize that they probably haven’t even received it yet?” Lilly responded.

“I can’t take that chance. I asked the mailmare to be extra speedy when delivering this letter and I have to be ready for when it arrives. Heck, it could be here any second for all I know.”

“So does that mean you’re-“

“Not leaving the mailbox?” Lightning abruptly cut in. “Yes.”

There isn't much use in fighting it, once lightning sets herself to a task she tends to stick with it. Lilly lets out a rather disappointed sigh upon this new revelation. “So I guess the lunch is called off then?”

The grin on Lightning Dust’s face quickly disappeared. “Oh… that. Look I’m sorry Lilly, but this is just more important right now. Once the letter gets here and I’m an official Wonderbolt Trainee, all of us girls can go out and celebrate. That sound cool to you?”

Lilly gives a slow nod, her head hung low. “Sure, whatever.”

“Awesome, I’m sure you have plenty of stuff you need to do today without me keeping you.”

“I guess.” Lilly decides to just turn to walk back home. She can try to find something else to do with her day.

“Oh, and Lilly,” Lightning Dust quickly adds before resuming her post. “could you bring some snacks up later? I could be here for a while and I gotta keep up my diet.”

Lilly lets out a rather audible sigh. “Sure.”

“Thanks! Seeya later.” She locks her head back into position, looking wide eyed and eager down the road for the arrival of the much anticipated letter. Lilly, feeling rather dejected, heads off in the opposite direction.

“Maybe next time, I guess.”