Firefly let out a small sigh and soared through the clouds, trying hard to ignore the complaining filly on her back.
"Moooom! I don't wanna go to daddy's! I want to go with you to wooork!" The cyan filly grabbed a hoof full of Firefly's blue mane and stuffed her face into it, causing Firefly to wince and sigh.
"No Rainbow Dash. I've told you a thousand times before, I'm not allowed to take you to the stadium. You wouldn't like it there anyways, it's loud and noisy and messy. You also could easily get lost and that would make mommy very very sad. You don't want to make mommy sad do you?" Firefly grinned knowing this would shut the foal up as she heard Rainbow Dash sigh.
"No...." The filly grumbled and took her face out of Firefly's mane.
"Then you need to go to your fathers. Besides, he misses you, and it would make him sad if you didn't visit him." Firefly chuckled as Rainbow sat there in an upset silence.
"No it won't..." she grumbled as Firefly looked back and her and brushed noses with her filly.
"Now come on Dashie, your father loves you just as much as I do." Firefly assured her as they landed in front of a small, light blue cloud house. Firefly quickly knocked on the door and moved back, waiting for somepony to answer. There was a small amount of commotion in the house then the door swung open.
"Dashie!" The stallion that had answered the door said and he reached down and picked up the filly, hugging her in his forehooves. The stallion was a darkish blue with a messy, short Rainbow mane and bright yellow eyes. The filly hugged her father and leaped out of her fathers hooves and flew into the house.
"Make sure she eats all of her lunch and put down for a nap around 1:30." Firefly said with no emotion in her tone. The stallion smiled at her lightly and rubbed the back of his neck with his forehoof.
"Look, Firefly..."
"I don't want to hear it Rainbow Blaze. Just watch Dash and keep her out of trouble. If she comes back to me with the least of a single scratch or bruise and tells me you did it, Celestia help me I will kick your flank so hard, you won't back able to sit right for weeks." Firefly glared at the stallion as Rainbow Blaze backed up nervously.
"Do you understand me Blaze?"
"Y-yes ma'am!"
"Then goodbye." Firefly grumbled and flew off without another word. Life had been harder ever since Rainbow Dash was born. She had less money to spend and had to take double shifts working at the racing stadium just to keep up with their needs, which means she had less time to spend with her precious little filly.
~~~
Firefly quickly hustled into the stadium to see a white Pegasus mare with a yellow, bouncy mane.
"Hey Firefly! Where's the filly?" The mare had said as she and Firefly trotted into the locker room.
"Hey, I told her she couldn't come like always. I don't want her running off and getting lost. By the way, how's Fire Feather doing?" Firefly asked as she put on her faded pink racing suit that had her double lightning bolt cutie mark stitched into both sides where her wings were.
"He's doing great! Maybe Rainbow Dash and him could have a play date sometime." The mare smiled as she zipped up her snow white racing suit that had her cutie mark of 3 purple balloons on both sides.
"You know what Surprise, why not? Rainbow loves meeting other foals!" Firefly chirped as she walked out into the stadium where the other racers where. She made small talk with the ponies she knew and shook hooves with the newbes.
Soon, the racers were called to get at the starting line. After a couple brief moments, a gun was sounded off and the pegasi racers took off without a second to spare. Firefly quickly took lead and left the others in her blue lightning trail. she then lapped one of newer racer's and weaved her way to victory. As she skidded to a stop she looked up at the cheering crowd and waved slightly, trotting up and hoofbumping the ones in the front row. Soon she and the rest of the racers cantered into the locker room as she sat there on the bench wiping her face off with a towel when one of the volunteers had trotted up to her.
"Wow! That was awesome!" The teenage-ish mare had said. The mare had a bright yellow coat and a mane that honestly looked like it was on fire.
"Thanks. Now be a good filly and go get me a water bottle." She chuckled to the young mare as the mare nodded and trotted off. Surprise quickly cantered up breathing heavily and hoofbumped Firefly.
"Way to go! You got lucky that I had a bad start, just wait till the next race. I'll getcha' then, you just watch me." Surprise laughed and Firefly just chuckled along with her. After a brief minute the young mare came back with a bottle of water that Firefly happily accepted.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" The orange Pegasus quickly tapped Firefly's shoulder, trying to get her attention.
"Yeah?" Firefly asked taking a sip of water and looking down at the teenage mare with a smile.
"Can I get your autograph?" The mare asked pulling out a pen and a piece of paper and Firefly choked on water.
"W-what? My autograph? Why?" Firefly looked down at the fire-like mare with shock. Nopony has ever asked for her autograph before, not even the ponies in the stands that paint their faces pink and spray paint there manes blue and scream Firefly's name as loud as they could just so they could get her attention.
"Because you're probably the fastest Pegasus in Cloudsdaile! When I get older, I want to be just like you!" The mare said holding her head up high. Firefly on the other hoof, was sitting there in shock.
"I... Well.. Uh... Sure... I guess I'll give you my autograph... What' your name filly?" Firefly stuttered as she took the pen and started to sign the paper.
"My name's Spit Fire! " The young mare exclaimed. After Firefly finished signing the paper she handed it back and smiled.
"Awesome. Remember to follow your dreams and never give up Spitfire, and you might just make it somewhere in life." Firefly smiled as the mare let out a small 'Yes!' And trotted off to show some of the other volunteers.
~~
After many hours of long, grueling races with little 3 minute breaks inbetween Firefly flopped down onto a bench in the locker room. She had won fifteen out of the seventeen race's and came in second the other two. She looked around and realized that all the other racer's were still hyped up and ready for more and some were just arriving. She let out a small sigh and looked at the clock, realizing she didn't have to race anymore.
"Oh thank Celestia I can finally go home." Firefly sighed unzipping and leaping out of her racing suit and shoving it into her messy locker. As she picked up her duffel bag and started to trot out the door, she noticed the young mare form earlier.
"And she was like "Remember to follow your dreams and never give up Spit Fire!" and then she gave me her autograph!" Spitfire boasted showing a group of volunteers the paper she had signed earlier. One white stallion with a blue, spiked backwards mane raised and eyebrow.
"No way. There is no way that's real. You're totally lying. Firefly is way to awesome to ever talk to you." The stallion said sticking his tongue out at Spitfire, who only scoffed in return.
"Shut up Soarin'. I did ask her and she did give me the autograph. She even asked me to get her some water. Ask Fleetfoot or Misty Fly if you don't believe me!" The orange mare stamped her hoof and stuck her tongue out at him as well, in return the rest of the group giggled. Firefly smirked and decided to help the mare out as she trotted up and the whole group went completely silent except for a few gasps.
"Hey Spitfire." Firefly smiled as the group of young ponies eyes averted form Firefly to Spirtfire and back.
"H-h-hi Ms. Firefly!" Spirtfire stuttered out then smiled from ear to ear.
"Hey, call me Firefly. I sort of overheard your buddy here givin' ya trouble. Everything alright?" Firefly looked at Soarin' whose pupils and irises were as small as marbles and his mouth was hanging open.
"Y-yea everything fine! N-nothing that I can't handle!" Spitfire laughed nervously as Firefly rubbed Spitfire's head messing up her fire like mane and trotted away happily.
~~~
Firefly tiredly kicked open the door to her apartment and cantered over to the couch, gently placing the sleeping Rainbow Dash down onto it. By the time Firefly had gotten to Rainbow Blaze's house the little filly had been fast asleep on an air mattress. She had considered leaving the little one at her father's, but decided not to because Rainbow Blaze... Well... Let's just say that stallion wasn't the best with foals. Firefly exhaustedly flopped down on the other end of the couch and stared up at the ceiling.
"Oh Dash... What are we going to do? I just can't let you live like this forever..." Firefly whispered and rolled off the couch, trotting over to her closet to get a blanket. She had a small apartment, a one bed one bathroom type of apartment. Even worse was that she was using the only room for storage, so she and Dash slept out in the living area. As she gently laid the blanket over Rainbow and curled up on the other side of the bed, using to other end of the blanket.
"Oh Celestia... Please let things get better.. I want to raise Dash in a good home, not this old, crappy apartment." Firefly whispered before slowly drifting off into dreamland.
Firefly awoke with a spitting headache and a burning throat. As she sat up she open her eyes to find that to room was spinning and there was a loud ringing in both of her ears.
"Oh... What the hay... Is making that sound..." Firefly moaned and looked around to see smoke rising from the kitchen. In a spilt second she turned her head to see Rainbow Dash wasn't where Firefly had left her. And then there was a cry for help. Firefly quickly flew into the kitchen and filled a glass of water, throwing it onto the flaming stove. Instead of the water helping, the flames only grew larger.
"Shit! Rainbow Dash?! Where the hay are you?!" She screamed and in return she heard a small cough come from the corner of the kitchen. Firefly quickly leaped at the corner as the smoke started to grow thicker and heavier and grabbed Rainbow . Something went off in the back of her mind as she remembered what they taught her about stove fires in high school. Without a moment to spare Firefly grabbed a lid and threw it atop the flame then grabbed her filly, diving out the door. She placed Dash out onto to ground and flew back into the house with great speed.
"Damn it Dash! Where the buck did you put the baking soda!" Firefly screamed as she stumbled through the smoky cabinets. She soon came across the bright orange box of baking soda, dumping the entire box all over the pan that was on fire. The large flames hissed and popped as they started to die out and fade. A small sigh came from Firefly as she trotted back out the door and carried Dash back in, ready to scream her head off at the filly when she placed Rainbow down on the couch.
"Mommy..?" Rainbow Dash moaned as she looked up at her mother, whose purple eyes blazed with anger.
"What in the name of Celestia were you even DOING?!" Firefly shouted as Rainbow Dash cowered back, trying to sink into the sofa.
"I... I was trying to make you breakfast..." Rainbow Dash's eyes started to water as Firefly gritted her teeth.
"How many time have I told you NOT to use the stove Rainbow Dash! You could have gotten hurt or worse! I am very upset with you!" Firefly raged as tears left Rainbow's eyes and the filly looked at her hooves.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to make you upset with me... I wanted to make you happy..." Rainbow spoke in a quietly tone that could barley be heard as Firefly's anger left her and she blinked, realizing that Rainbow was crying. She quickly sat down on the couch and wrapped her forehooves around her daughter.
"Dashie... I know you didn't mean to do it... I'm sorry for yelling at you... I... I just was scared that you were hurt..." Firefly said as Dash dug her face into Firefly's chest.
"I-it's ok... I'm sorry the stove caught on fire.." Rainbow Dash sniffled as Firefly stroked her fillies mane.
"It's ok sweetie, we all make mistakes. I know you didn't mean to... Hey now look, I have the day off today. How about we go out to the Cloud Diner and get a real breakfast that won't catch the house on fire?" Firefly chuckled as Rainbow Dash hugged her tightly and nodded.
~~~
It was a bright and sunny spring day for the two. Firefly had taken Rainbow Dash to the park after the Diner. She had offered to take the filly shopping, but Rainbow Dash declined without haste or hesitation.
huh. I guess my little filly isn't as girly as I thought. No problem with that I guess... I'll just have to start shopping in the boys section for her Firefly thought as Rainbow's little wings buzzed and she zipped around the cloud park.
"You can't catch meeeee!" Rainbow Dash giggled and buzzed away as Firefly chuckled.
"Oh I bet I can you little speed demon!" Firefly laughed and flew after Rainbow Dash at a slow speed, allowing the filly to fly away. As they flew around Firefly came across Surprise with her colt, Fire Feather.
"Hey Surprise!" Firefly shouted flying over to the white pegasi as Rainbow Dash sprung onto her mother back.
"Hi Firefly. Oh, is that Rainbow Dash?" Surprise asked as Rainbow Dash leapt atop Firefly's head and threw her hooves over Firefly's eyes.
"HI!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as she started to wrestle with Firefly's ear and Firefly chuckled while wincing.
"Yeah... And that must be Fire Feather?" Firefly asked pointed to a white colt with a black and red mane that resembled Spitfire's except his flopped down some.
"You betcha! Fire Feather say hi." Surprised told the colt as she pushed him out from behind her with her hind leg.
"Hi... I'm Fire Feather..." The colt spoke softly as Rainbow Dash leapt off of Firefly's face and scrambled over to the colt.
"HI Fire Feather! I'm Rainbow Dash! You wanna go race?" Rainbow Asked as the colt nodded and the fillies ran off.
"Cute." Surprise chuckled as the two adult mares sat down on the bench.
"You'll never believe what Dash did today... I swear the filly is out to burn the whole apartment down." Firefly mumbled and Surprise tilt her head in confusion.
"Huh? What did she do?"
"She wanted to make breakfast for me... Things didn't exactly go as she planned..."
Firefly sat there and started to tell the story from earlier as Surprise listened. After that the two mares sat there on the bench and talked while the fillies ran around and played.
