Chapters A blue blur zoomed off from a platform oddly flying in the sky. On the platform stood a sign saying, "WONDERBOLTS ACADEMY". Tears flew from the flying pegasus' eyes. Her dreams were crushed. Turned to dust. All because of the pony she had trusted most in the academy.
Lightning Dust felt sad, angry and very much betrayed. All because she wanted to break a few records. Was there anything wrong with that? Besides, Dusty had thought that Rainbow Dash was loyal. Turns out she's only loyal to five other ponies.
The angry mare's head buzzed. Her brain felt like mush after all she'd been through today. First the Dizzatron. Then the tornado. Finally (and worst of all), getting kicked out. Why did she always have to be the troublemaker? It wasn't her fault she wanted to strive for the best.
After flying for some time, Lightning's nerves calmed down. She was able to sort out the day's events without major headaches while still keeping herself in the air.
Finally, the troubled pony reached her home town. Las Pegasus was more of a city really. Lightning flew a bit more before reaching a small apartment building. She went inside, and climbed up the stairs to apartment #13. Opening the door, Lightning stepped inside her small home. Unlike the other apartments, hers was tiny. It was made up of two rooms: A living room with a sofa that was used as a bed, a fridge with a cupboard next to it tucked away into a corner of the room, and a small bathroom where a pony could barely fit in.
As far as she remembered, Lightning Dust had been alone in life ever since she was abandoned. She had been left on the doorstep of a rich stallion's house. He had not taken liking to her so she had been sent to an orphanage where everypony was cruel and only took care of themselves. Lightning Dust had learned to live life the hard way.
Now her dreams were gone. It felt like her life was ruined. She had been so close. But Rainbow Dash had ruined it. Lightning would have cried, but it seemed as if her soul had been sucked away. She felt like an emotionless blob, completely useless to this harsh world.
But it wasn't her fault, right? It was Rainbow who always doubted her methods. The more Dust thought about it, the clearer it seemed. It was all because of Rainbow Dash. And Lightning had to get her revenge. She knew that if she did, she would feel much better.
Slowly, a plan began to form in the mare's head. A plan so horrible, yet perfect for the vengeful pony. A devilish grin stretched across her muzzle. Lightning Dust went into her living room where she took a few cookies from her fridge. She also took a muffin, knowing she would need it to persuade a certain mare.
Dusty put her things in a saddlebag and, after putting it on herself, she locked up her home and dashed off, leaving a blue stripe with an orange line zigzagging through it.
Storm clouds were gathered in the sky by the weather pegasi. Lightning smiled, she liked storms. After all, they did have lightning in them.
Soon it started to rain. Not that it bothered Lightning much. She flew at a relatively fast speed, lost in her thoughts of revenge as she sped out of Las Pegasus and into the long plains of seemingly everlasting grass, the young mare following the roads leading to Ponyville.
In Luna's night, the darkness hid her well. The shadowy pegasus slunk around the streets of Ponyville, her black cloak hiding her bright coat, mane and tail.
She passed a few houses, none of them the one she was looking for. Finally, she stopped in front of a two-story house with a small terrace facing the street. It was house #41, home of Derpy Hooves and Dinky Doo. Knocking in the door, the cloaked mare looked around to make sure she was alone. The door creaked open and a grey mare looked sleepily at the visitor with her criss-crossed eyes.
"Hello! How can I help you?" she asked.
"Hi Derpy, I need a favour from you," whispered the hidden pony in a hushed voice, "though I will be certain to pay you back" -she pulled a muffin out of her saddlebag- "with this."
Derpy's eyes opened wide as she said, "Wow, what a yummy-looking muffin! Come right in and we can talk." Both mares entered the house as the unexpected pony explained that she needed a place to stay for a few nights. Derpy instantly agreed and took the muffin as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
The Next Day...
"TWILIGHT, YOU HAVE TO OPEN UP RIGHT NOW !" a voice shouted into the Golden Oaks Library at 6:00 in the morning. Twilight Sparkle, who was not a morning mare, groaned as she pulled herself out of the cosy warmth underneath her bed covers.
What does that mare want now? Why is she even UP?! Twilight's brain thought groggily, for it was still not fully awake.
The lavender unicorn opened her door to reveal a somewhat agitated rainbow pegasus and the rest of her friends.
"What is going on?" Twilight asked, looking at each of them suspiciously. Especially Pinkie Pie, because she had a knack for throwing surprise parties when a pony least suspects them. But to the librarian's surprise, each pony's face was grim and worried.
Rainbow Dash grabbed Twilight's hoof and dragged her out. Everypony else followed in frightening silence. Even Pinkie walked instead of bouncing her usual way.
"Ponies, please explain WHAT THE HAY IS GOING ON IN HERE?!" Twilight shouted crossly at her silent friends. They had reached Town Square. Applejack pointed a hoof at a mare standing at the centre of the plaza.
All six ponies walked towards the cloaked figure. The mare pulled the cloak off as everypony gasped.
"LIGHTNING DUST?"
Chapter 2: The Challenge/ Revenge
"L-Lightning Dust?" choked out Rainbow. Out of all the ponies that could have been under that cloak it had to be Lightning Dust?!
Lightning stepped up to Rainbow and said, "Are you scared? Maybe you think I'll just kick your fat flank out of Ponyville because of what you did to me?"
"N-no! Of course not!" Rainbow stammered, "I'm just surprised to see you here... that's what." The rainbow-coloured pegasus narrowed her eyes and glared at her former friend.
"And I'm not fat," she added while holding her stare directly at Lightning.
"Prove it then!" the other mare laughed evilly, "I have a challenge for you, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow winced at the way Lightning said her full name with disgust. When they had been friends, Dusty always called her just Rainbow or only Dash alone. Hearing her full name like that unnerved the mare.
"So what's your challenge then?" Rainbow asked, looking at the other pegasus. She noticed that Lightning's coat was a bit ruffled and that her mane was messier than usual. Maybe I shouldn't have gone so hard on her... Rainbow wondered as she examined the pony's unkempt body.
"I challenge you to beat your records." Lightning smiled, but not pleasantly. "Do the Sonic Rainboom five times in a row and then that means you are better than me. Then I will leave you alone forever." she continued.
"I can do that, no problem. But if I don't achieve it, which by the way I WILL, then I will admit you're better than me and will get you a chance at the Academy." Rainbow replied confidently.
"DEAL!" both ponies agreed as they spit on their hooves then bumped them together.
"How uncouth!" Rarity stated after that.
"Come on Rares, we don't want to miss out on watching Dashie totally rock those five Booms!" Pinkie tugged her posh friend along eagerly.
Applejack, Twilight and Fluttershy joined them as they sat on the grass in a clearing near Ponyville. Here they would watch their friend do Lightning Dust's challenge.
The orange-maned pegasus appeared soon after the five friends had settled down. There was no way that Lightning was going to miss out on seeing her enemy fail.
All six ponies were seated when a rainbow filled the sky. Twilight and the other ponies cheered and "WHOO"ed for their brave friend. Lightning Dust just smiled knowingly.
Rainbow Dash shot up in the sky creating a rainbow streak behind her. She stopped high above her friends, so that she was ant size if looked upon.
Rainbow Dash, well, dashed down in amazing speed. She was suddenly stretched out and a second later, a thunderous "BOOM!" broke the peaceful silence of Ponyville.
Rainbow continued doing Sonic Rainbooms until she was on her last one. Below, Lightning was getting worried that maybe, just maybe, Rainbow would complete her challenge successfully. But it was obvious that the rainbow-maned pegasus was getting tired with every Rainboom she did. By now she was panting.
"OK here goes..." Rainbow said to herself uncertainly, the roar of her friends' cheering loud in her ears. She flared her wings and set off.
The world seemed to flicker on and off. Rainbow Dash found herself lying in a room that was all too familiar; the dirty-aqua coloured curtains that matched with her hospital gown, the blueish walls and the small window. She was in the hospital.
Her friends were looking at her worriedly. Rainbow tried to open her mouth to say something, but shut it when a strike of pain hit her whole body. Nurse Redheart came into the room and cast the hurt pegasus a look that seemed to say, What did you do to hurt yourself so badly?
The rainbow mare looked at herself; all of her hooves were bandaged up and her wings had been put in casts. Rainbow wanted to scream from what she saw, she had never been in such bad condition before.
"Rainbow Dash, you're OK! Oh we're all so glad!" Fluttershy said as she let out a sigh of relief. The other four ponies nodded their heads to confirm what Fluttershy had said.
"Rainbow, you should have been more careful!" Twilight scolded as she began her lecture on safe flying.
"Save it Twi. Rainbow 'ere needs tah know deh good news." Applejack said as she stuck a hoof in Twilight's mouth.
"OK, OK!" Twilight said as she pulled A.J.'s hoof out of her mouth. "Rainbow, you are very lucky that I learned a new spell just before you had your... accident," Twilight continued.
How is that lucky? Like what spell that Twilight has just learned can help me? Rainbow thought to herself. Suddenly the door burst open and an orange-coated filly with a shaggy, purple mane ran inside.
"RAINBOW DASH, ARE YOU OK?!" Scootaloo shouted, wide eyed.
"She's fine, sugar cube." Applejack assured the filly while narrowing her eyes at Rainbow. The orange filly nodded happily but she wasn't exactly convinced.
"AS I WAS SAYING," Twilight said loudly to show how annoyed she was, "I learned a new healing spell. So Rainbow, you would have stayed here for a few months if you had to heal normally, but with my magic, I can heal you right now."
Rainbow Dash felt like jumping up and down and hugging her talented friend, but of course, she was still stuck in the medical casts and bandages.
Twilight's horn filled with magic as she focused on her spell. A raspberry-coloured glow surrounded Rainbow. In a white flash, the hospital went silent. When everypony could see again, they found Rainbow Dash standing upright on her bed, wobbling a bit. All her bandages had magically disappeared and her wing casts were lying on the floor.
"I'm so sorry Rainbow..." Twilight trailed off as she hung her head in shame.
"Sorry for what? This is awesome! I can stand again!" Rainbow exclaimed in confusion. All of the other ponies in the room, including Redheart and Scootaloo, looked at Twilight with equally puzzled stares.
"Well, you see, the Sonic Rainboom is a magical thing originally created by a failed experiment that some unicorns were working on. I tried to cure all your bones but the last Rainboom damaged your wings permanently... I'm sorry Rainbow, you're crippled and will never fly again." Twilight explained to the ponies as she nervously dragged her hoof over the cream tiles on the floor.
Everypony's jaws dropped in unison as they realized what the smart unicorn had said.
"Dashie's... never going to fly again?" Pinkie asked as her poofy mane went straight in sadness. Twilight nodded, her eyes kept on the ground.
The hospital was silent for a few minutes until everypony heard Rainbow Dash mutter, "I swear Lightning Dust, you won't get away with this !"
"I suppose that Rainbow Dash is correct," Rarity said, "we do need to find that awful pegasus that caused this absolute disaster to happen."
Everypony agreed that the element bearers should go find Lightning Dust and arrest her.
"W-wait!" Scootaloo said, "Can't I come too? I mean I am sort of Rainbow's sister, right?" she asked hopefully.
"Sure you can come, squirt." Rainbow said as she ruffled her sister's mane. Scootaloo grinned happily and followed the other six ponies out of the room, leaving Nurse Redheart wondering what exactly would come out of their quest.
The seven ponies exited the hospital and made their way over to the Golden Oaks Library. Twilight held the door open for her friends as they went inside her home. They sat down on one of the many tables in the public library.
"So, does anypony know where Lightning Dust lives?" Twilight asked as she sat down to join the rest of her friends.
"Yeah, she told me that she lives in Las Pegasus," Rainbow said, "but that's really far away. How are we gonna get there?"
"IDEA!" Rarity shouted suddenly, startling everypony. "But, um, I don't think I can join you there..." the stylish mare trailed off.
"Why not Rares? After all it's your idea!" Pinkie said.
"I have had a rather traumatic experience there," the fashionista said, "I prefer not to go."
"Where exactly?" Scootaloo asked, getting impatient.
"Well, you know about the time I was marenapped by the diamond dogs? I think you all might want to use their tunnels to get to Las Pegasus. After all, while they were making me do their gem collecting, they told me that their tunnels led to every corner of Equestria and that each city has each own mark. All you have to do is follow the mark in the tunnels. It's engraved in the dirt."
"Whoo, let's go!" Pinkie said.
"Wait!" Twilight shouted after her, "Rarity, I know the diamond dogs gave you a hard time in there, but it won't be the same without you. Friends stick together. Besides, you know more about the tunnels than any of us. We'll need you." the librarian said to her fellow unicorn pleadingly.
"OK, Twilight, I understand. I will come with you. For Rainbow Dash." Rarity nodded as the ponies headed out of the library, their plan ready.
Lightning Dust ran, her hooves making rhythmical beats on the rocky road. Click, clop, clop, click, clop, clop. She knew that Rainbow and her friends had probably alerted the Pony Police. The vengeful mare couldn't risk flying now, her wings would give her away.
Rain drizzled onto Lightning's black cloak, soaking it and making it heavier for the galloping pegasus. She stepped in a puddle, the muddy water dirtying her coat. She would have to worry about that later. For now, her eyes searched for signs saying "Manehatten". Flying would have saved her so much time.
Finally, an old, wooden board sitting in the grass showed her the way to the famous city. She took the right path and made her way towards a forest. Lightning wondered why there was a forest in front of nearly every city in Equestria.
She stepped in the shadows and stretched her wings. At last she was able to take to the air. Flying low, the mare's thoughts wondered back to Rainbow Dash... how she had hurt her. Dust remembered seeing the pegasus flying through the air, going limp and falling down back to the clearing. Guilt crept it's way into Lightning's heart. She had never seen a pony looking how Rainbow did right then. She wondered if her peer was alive at all.
A smack in her face snapped Lightning out of her frightening thoughts. She had bumped into a tree, bruising her cheek just bellow her orange eyes. The hurt pony rubbed the aching spot then continued toward Manehatten.
Seven ponies stood before a sea of holes. Scootaloo looked at the others as if they were crazy. The element bearers just frowned at the holes in the dirt, wondering which one they should take.
Rarity shrugged and went to the nearest hole. She waited for her friends to follow. Eventually, they did and everypony jumped into the darkness.
"I just know I will regret this!" Rarity said as they slid down the tunnel. Rocks and little pieces of dirt stuck in the ponies' coats, manes and tails. Finally, they rolled out of the tunnel and into a small room of some sorts, with dozens of other tunnels pointing in every direction.
"Uh, Rarity, which one d'we take now?" Applejack asked as she looked around, glancing into every never-ending hole.
"I'm not sure really, the diamond dogs never told me their different marks for cities. But I suppose Las Pegasus should be pegasi-related." replied Rarity while tapping a hoof against her chin.
"Ooh! Guessing games!" Pinkie shouted, hopping around, "I know! How about, WINGS?"
"That must be it! Wow Pinkie, you're a genius!" Twilight exclaimed.
Pinkie shrugged, "Nah, I'm a pony!"
Everyone rolled their eyes at that while Pinkie Pie beamed. Soon the friends got to work. Fluttershy got up to check the tunnels above while Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash checked the ones on the right. Twilight and Rarity examined the left ones and Applejack and Pinkie looked at the ones below.
"Nothing here!" the unicorns confirmed. The other ponies didn't have much luck, either.
"Wait! I think I got something!" Scootaloo cried out, pointing to a small, abandoned-looking tunnel with a worn-out wing drawn in the dirt. The ponies smiled at the filly and Rainbow Dash hoof-bumped her sister.
One after another, the seven ponies squeezed into the small hole and crept further into the ground. For Scootaloo, it was quite easy. But the other mares had to bend their legs at uncomfortable angles.
In the end, the ponies made it out into another room, this one a bit bigger than the last one. Piles of sparkling gems stood in the left corner and occasionally, the ponies would see a grey blur swipe a gem off the pile. Rarity clutched Applejack, holding onto the strong farmer pony.
"Yes! Almosst finishhed !" a raspy voice whispered excitedly.
The ponies huddled together as they cast each other worried looks. They realized that they were about to see somedog they would have preferred to have avoided, especially Rarity.
The seven friends decided it would be best to try and sneak past the diamond dog. Twilight made the first step and the others followed. Scootaloo came last, before her Rainbow, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity.
Fluttershy's hoof came into contact with something hard. Before she could stop herself, she accidentally flicked it into a rock, where a sharp click could be heard.
A growl echoed through the cave and a grey dog leapt over the piles of gems. Its green eyes glowed in the darkness. The diamond dog glared at the intruders.
"What are you ponies doing here, in my kingdom?" it asked, examining the group. "YOU! You are the whiner!" it accused, pointing at Rarity with a giant paw.
The white unicorn shrunk back and stared at the diamond dog innocently.
"If you'll excuse me, good sir, we were just passing by. We had no intention of going into your hole." Rarity lied as she winked back at her friends. Applejack made a face at Rarity which clearly said, You may have saved our flanks, but next time, try not to lie.
"Oh, sorry then. You are free to go if you pay a small fee..." the diamond dog said, thinking up the ponies' fee. Its face lit up as it got a "brilliant" idea.
"Us, diamond dogs, love diamonds. If you find one for me, I will let you pass without any problems!" He said while he looked Fluttershy in the eye. She cowered back and coughed a little bit. Wow, Rarity was right that their breath is awful! Thought the poor pegasus, nearly suffocating from the creature's smell.
"No problem Mr. Dog!" Twilight said as her horn glowed with pink magic. The ponies saw all the gems in the dirt; sapphires, emeralds and rubies. The lavender unicorn trotted on a bit and she finally saw it, a big, silver diamond, embedded in the cave walls. She used her magic to dig it up and levitated it to the diamond dog.
"Here you go sir. Now please show us the way to Las Pegasus..." Twilight said as she pushed the diamond into the dog's paws. It nodded quietly and grinned, showing it's jagged teeth.
"The way there is the second tunnel on your right." it rasped, pointing a dirty paw to the hole. The ponies nodded in thanks and left the dog chuckling quietly at their stupidity. Never believe a diamond dog... It thought in its head smugly.
Rainbow Dash shot forwards, getting ready to complete her last Rainboom, despite her stiff wings. Below, her friends were watching in admiration at the beautiful rainbow streaking through the sky. Lightning Dust felt worried that she may lose the deal.
Rainbow Dash started the slow procedure of stretching, the pain in her wings increasing with every second. She realized now that this was impossible, that Lightning had set her up, for revenge. A way to get back.
Her wings felt like they were burning up. As she got stretched out, Rainbow knew she had pushed this too far. With a sickening "SNAP", her cyan wings broke. She thought now she would stop, but it wasn't over.
The pain crept down to her front legs. Soon they cracked too. Finally, her last limbs, her hind legs, were broken. Out of pain and shock, Rainbow Dash went unconscious.
Meanwhile....
Twilight and the others watched as Rainbow Dash stretched further and further. She was almost there. But everypony could see something was wrong. Her wings went limp by her sides and her legs seemed not to function. All of a sudden, the Sonic Rainboom failed, and the six other ponies watched in shock as the rainbow pegasus fell.
Fluttershy and Pinkie shot into the direction of their falling friend. Their hooves outstretched, the two mares felt the seemingly-dead pony fall into their hooves.
Soon the rest of the element bearers came to see their hurt friend. Tears welled up in their eyes as they saw the legendary pegasus looking so fragile. Anger built up in their hearts as they realized that Lightning Dust was responsible for this horrible deed. They turned around only to find themselves facing an empty clearing; the harmful pegasus was gone.
This was really unexpected. Lightning didn't ever plan to hurt Rainbow Dash. She wasn't such a cruel pony. All that Dust wanted to do was humiliate her peer. But now, seeing that she was responsible for hurting the rainbow-maned pony, Lightning had to flee. What if she got arrested? She was already low on money anyway.
But Lightning knew that they would track her down. Everypony knew that she probably lived in Las Pegasus, which was true. So after grabbing her things from Derpy's house, Lightning Dust set off to another city: Manehatten.
