Act 1 Chapter 1: The Journey Begins
Act 1: I Am Vengeance
Chapter 1: The Journey begins
Lightning Dust walked into the theater with her mom and dad ecstatic about the play that was going on that night she could hardly stand it. She jumped up and down constantly and practically hovered on some occasions when she jumped too high.
“I know you’re excited to watch this play sweetie, but could you please calm down?” Her father, Silver Bolt asked her.
“But this is going to be the greatest play in history ever daddy!” Lightning replied in a cheery voice making her mother, Light Storm, giggled a little bit.
“You know how long she’s been waiting for this play Silver, she’s got the right for being this excited.” She said to her husband with a little smile.
“I know. It’s just… it’s unusual for her to have this much energy. Did Dinner Bell give her some extra sweets before we left?” He asked. Lightning blushed a little as she nodded to her dad. Silver just rolled his eyes but put on a smile as well for his daughter.
“Well… I’ll have a talk with him about this when we get home. But for now, let’s get to the theater." Lightning seemed to give off a ‘squee’ noise at this and hopped along as her mother and father held her hands. Light Storm looked at the clock that was located on the large tower in the center of the city and noticed that it was almost time for the play.
“Silver, we’re going to be late for the play.” She said to her husband in a worried voice. He noticed that she was right and finally got them a taxi. He told the driver to step on it and the cabbie did so with earnest. They made it to the play but just barely as the opening act was just about to start. They took their seats near the front of the rows right as the lights died down.
Lightning was excited as the play started. She saw the angelic fairies fly by and dance gracefully from one spot on the stage to the other. The music was fantastic to hear as it sounded as though it was from Elysium itself, But then came the Thestrals. The demonic looking ponies then danced on stage but unlike the fairies that were graceful in their movements these were sporadic and frightening as Lightning demonstrated as she tried to sink down into her seat. As she observed them, she noticed one of them was different from the rest. His fur and wings were shadow black but he had pure white eyes.
How could he perform if he’s blind? She asked in her thoughts as the Thestral Pony swing from a midnight blue cloth. The show went on for a few hours until it was finally over and everypony began to leave. As Silver, Light and Lightning left, they saw that it was almost time to meet up with Dinner Bell to head back to the mansion.
“Dang we’re gonna be late to meet up with Bell. Come on I know a shortcut.” Silver said with a smile on his face. He opened a nearby door and lead his family down an alley. Light was the only one that seemed nervous about going down the alley aside from their daughter who made her protests known.
“D-Daddy, I’m scared.” The little filly whimpered as she clung to her mother’s leg.
“Don’t worry Lightning, we’re right here with you.” Light said as she rubbed her head. But soon as they neared the alley’s end, the heard the cocking of a pistol. They then saw a thug wearing solid black with a pistol pointed at them making them stop in their tracks.
“W-What do you want?” Silver asked as he stood in front of his wife and filly.
“G-Give me your money. All of i-it.” The thug replied in a jitterish voice. Reaching into his back pocket, Silver pulled out all of the bits that he had on him and held them in front of the thug who snatched them from him.
“Good. N-Now your watch old stallion.” The thug ordered. Just as he was about to leave however he noticed the pearls around Light’s neck. “T-those pearls. C-cough them up. NOW!” The thug ordered but was stunned when Silver stepped in front of his wife and daughter.
“Don’t you dare threaten my family!” Silver yelled as he then charged the thug. The fight was short lived as the gun suddenly went off. Light and Lightning screamed as a red liquid slowly began to flow down through Silver’s suit. Then slowly, the stallion’s body fell to the ground with a thump.
“DADDY!” Lightning screamed.
“SILVER! OH CELESTIA SILVER!” Light cried as her husband laid there lifeless.
“I-I didn’t… ENOUGH! GIVE ME THE PEARLS NOW!” The thug screamed.
“H-Here! Just take them! RUN LIGHTING!” Light yelled as she ran to the thug. Suddenly, the gun in the thug’s hand went off once more. Light looked down and saw her own dress stained with crimson blood that started to flow onto the street in a red river. Lightning just stared at her falling parent but when the body finally hit the pavement Lightning screamed into the night.
“MOMMY!” Was all that she repeated for a few seconds while the thug just stood where he was.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m s-so sorry.” The thug said as he turned around and ran off just as the sounds of sirens were heard. A few seconds later, a Celestial Guard car showed up and out of it came a unicorn stallion with snow white fur and a two toned blue mane. He ran down the alley but stopped when he saw the crying filly.
“This is Officer Shining Armor. I need another car down here and an ambulance at the alley between High Alicorn Avenue and 138 Wing Lane right away.” The unicorn spoke into a radio on his coat.
“Copy that. Delta 2-6 is on their way.” The radio responded to the call. The guard then leaned down and tried to comfort the little filly.
“Hey it’s gonna be alright okay? We’re gonna get the stallion who did this.” Shining told her. Lightning couldn’t do anything else but cry. Her tears fell from cheeks and into the crimson river that was her parents’ blood.
“W-W-Why did he have to do it? Why?” She asked as she hugged the guard.
“I don’t know. There’s something wrong with this city. A plague that corrupts it.” The guard replied as he rubbed the little filly’s head. He then helped Lightning to her feet and wrapped her in a warm jacket as the paramedics and extra police showed up on the scene. All Lightning could hear was the sound of cameras flashing and tape being unraveled to block off the alley.
“Do you think you can tell me your name sweetie?” Shining asked.
“L-Lightning Dust. My name’s Lightning Dust.” She replied as she wiped her eyes.
“It’s a pretty name. Mine’s… well just call me Shining.” He said as he held the young filly tightly through this dark moment. They both got into his car and drove off towards the police precinct that Shining worked at so Lightning could help finding the thug who took her parents away. They turned in where the guard normally park their cars when they weren’t in use. Both ponies soon got out of the car and walked in the side entrance.When they entered the building, the two quickly went into Shining Armor’s office where he made sure the filly was comfortable.
“Can I get you anything? Something to eat, drink?” He asked as he looked into her eyes.
“C-Could I have a glass of water please?” She asked back.
“Of course.” He said as he headed towards his water cooler. He then filled a plastic cup with cool water and gave it back to the filly.
“T-Thank you.” She said with a weak smirk.
“No problem. Do you have anypony I could call to pick you up?” He asked.
“M-My butler.” Lightning told him, remembering Dinner Bell. Shining smiled at her but that soon vanished when several cops walked by.
“Hey Shining who’s the kid?” The closest one asked him. Lightning tried to shrink away from them but it was too late as one of them recognized her.
“Hey. It’s the girl. You know, the one who owns Dust Manor?”
“Oh yeah. Hey kid, is your butler gonna come pick you up? Enjoying everything given to you on a silver platter?” One of the guards asked in a sarcastic voice making Lightning sniffle a little bit. As the guard started to laugh, Shining Armor stood in front of him.
“Lay off of her.” Shining growled.
“C’mon, we’re just-”
“That little filly just lost her parents and you’re gonna joke on her now?!” Shining yelled at them which caused Lightning to shrink again back into her seat.
“P-please Mister Shining don’t y-yell.” Lightning begged from him. Shining sighed as he told the other guards to leave.
“Sorry about that kiddo. I just have to deal with that stallion every day. I know this is a little early but…. can you tell me what the stallion tonight looked like?” He asked her which caused Lightning’s pupils to widen in fear.
“I-I don’t know. He was wearing complete black. H-He was so scary that I-I-” She started until she began to cry.
“Ssh. Ssh. Don’t worry. If you don’t remember it’s fine. I’ll call your butler and he can take you home alright?” He asked as he rubbed her head. She looked back at him and saw that his face was full of worry.
“A-Alright. Please do.” She replied as she wiped her face. Shining nodded as he walked over to a nearby phone and pushed a few numbers until he heard it ringing. The wait was the worst part but it was short lived as the sound of a phone being answered was heard.
“Hello is this Dinner Bell? This is Officer Shining Armor. I’m here with Lightning Dust and… no she isn’t in trouble…. she’s here because I brought her…. Mister Bell I’m afraid to say, earlier tonight, her parents were shot in front of her. So if you’d… alright. Thank you.” Shining said, finishing his phone call.
“W-What did he say?” Lightning asked as he walked over to her.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes.” He replied. Lightning hugged Shining and stayed that way even as she heard Dinner walk in a few moments later.
“Madam Dust I-I’m so sorry to hear about-”
“DINNER!” Lightning cried as she let Shining Armor go and ran over to her only friend and pulled him into a bear hug. “I-it was h-horrible. T-the sound it m-made.” Was all Lightning could say before she broke down into more sobs.
“Don’t fear Madam Dust. I will remain with you until the end of my days.” He said as he hugged her back.
“T-Thank you. Thank you s-so much.” She sobbed. She knew that Dinner Bell would never break any promises that he made to her.
“Officer Shining, do you know who murdered the Mister and Missus?” Dinner asked.
“No. But we’ll find him somehow. Just make sure she gets home nice and safely.” Shining said to him. Dinner just nodded as he helped Lightning into the limo parked outside the precinct. The ride home was deathly quiet as neither one talked all the way back. They made it back to the mansion a little bit later though and Dinner helped Lightning to her room as she was cold and still shaken by her encounter that night.
“I am terribly sorry for what you’ve witnessed tonight Madam Dust. I wish I was there to have prevented it.” Dinner said in a depressed voice.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure Shining will find whoever did this.” She said back as she climbed into her bed.
“Madam, I shall make sure that you’re well taken care of until you’re old enough to care for yourself. Your mother and father would’ve wanted for me to do that.” Dinner said in a kind voice. Lightning nodded as she pulled the covers over her. That night Lightning had a nightmare. It would be the same one that would repeat itself over several times. She would be walking away from the theater with her parents, begging them not to go down that alley, and then they would meet the thug. His gun pulled and not even waiting for the money or the jewels this time. He just pulled the trigger and shot both her parents dead. She would just be standing there crying as the thug growled. He would then start…. changing. He would drop the gun and grab his head as he yelled in pain and run into one of the walls before he fell to the ground. Leathery wings would burst from his back, his face changed into that of a small mammal that would give fillies nightmares but still remained the size of a full grown stallion. He turned… into a giant thestral.
Act 1 Chapter 2: Vengeance And Forgiveness
A few years have passed since Lightning witnessed her parent’s murder and now she was a teenaged mare and officially the owner of the mansion known as Dust Manor as well as the famous company simply known as Dust Enterprises but to her none of that mattered at the moment. Right now, she was walking in the streets of her city as the sky poured down rain. She had on a black hoodie, a pair of gloves, a light grey sweater and a pair of jeans. As she walked down the street, she noticed in an alley a stallion being beaten and mugged by a group of thugs. Lightning glared at the sight and ran over to help him. She pulled several off the stallion but had to punch one off as he was making sure he didn’t let the stallion get away.
“Get lost!” She barked at them but they just started to circle her. One of them pulled out a butterfly knife and flipped it open as they advanced on her. She took a stance as the first stallion charged her. He threw a punch which she grabbed and made him slam into the wall next to her. The next one who charged her fared little better than his buddy as he was also unceremoniously tossed into a wall but then Lightning made him fall into a trashbin that closed once he was in it. The rest of the thugs, shocked by a mare beating them, quickly ran off as fast as they could.
“AND DON’T COME BACK!” Lightning roared as she tossed a glass bottle at them, which splashed against a small puddle. She then turned her attention to the stallion who was lying in a pile of garbage bags. She took her hand out and reached to him. The stallion quickly took her hand and was pulled up. “Are you okay sir?” Lightning asked the stallion who simply nodded. He walked a ways before he started to stumble a little bit. Lightning raced over and tried to help him up but was pushed away from the stallion as he walked towards a small little hole and tried to crawl into it. Lightning stared at him and sighed in sadness.
Poor stallion. He deserves better than this. She thought. But then, she felt in her pocket and felt the money she carried along with her. Pulling it out, she counted out a hundred bits and placed them in a small, leather wallet. She then walked to the stallion who just stared at her.
“Mister, here. This should help you.” She said as she passed him the money. He stared at her like she was crazy and probably was thinking the same thing. He reached his hand out and took the pouch as he turned away.
“Thanks.” was all he said….. and it was those words that made a horrible memory shoot through Lightning’s mind. The voice then suddenly played back to a memory she tried to keep locked away. It was the same stallion that gunned her parents down right in front of her.
“YOU!” She screamed as she pulled him out of the hole. The stallion got up only to receive a punch to his jaw, knocking him against the wall.
“What was-”
“IT WAS YOU! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS I FINALLY BUCKING FOUND YOU!” Lightning roared at him as she sent a kick straight at his chest, knocking him once more against a wall. The stallion was suddenly confused by the seemingly weird transformation. One minute she was helping him get away from some thugs and now she was trying to beat the living crap out of him.
“Look I don’t know what I’ve done to you-”
“Eleven years ago you mugged two ponies in an alley way. You stole something from the husband.” Lightning said in a venomous tone. The stallion was still confused as the mare punched him again and spoke as she pulled her hood down to show her face. Her face had aged since that night all those years ago and now it showed the face of a mare who, while she seemed to have everything, had lost something precious to her. Two very important things that was even more precious than all the money in the world. And it was thanks to the punk she had a hold of.
“That stallion and mare also had somepony else with them. Do you remember who that was?” She leered at him. It was then that his eyes shrunk to pinpricks.
“Y-You. You’re the filly.” He said. But just as he could say anything else, Lightning pulled a pistol from the back of her jeans and placed it at the stallion’s chin.
“Look familiar? It’s the same model gun you killed my mom and dad with. Now-” She said as she cocked the gun. “I can have my payback with it.” She growled with a grin on her face.
“I-I’m sorry. B-But I wasn’t doing that for-”
“Shut up. Just shut up. Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. You are not sorry. Nothing justifies forcefully taking money from two loving ponies w-who had a c-child with them. Do you know what I went through?! I went through my childhood, graduating high school, getting the rights to my company and guess who wasn’t there to see all that. Give up? My mom and my dad! YOU TOOK THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT PONIES IN MY LIFE YOU-”
“DADDY!” A young voice shrieked happily. Lightning turned and gasped at what she saw. It was a young filly with dirtied grey fur and a long, untrimmed mane and tail. Her eyes were a beautiful tone of magenta and she had little wings on her back.
“Sweetie, don’t look.” The stallion said to the filly who gave a confused look.
“Daddy, what’s-”
“Please just look away.” He interrupted. The filly then turned her attention towards the shocked mare.
“Who awe you?” She asked Lightning who still had her gun pointed at the stallion. Her hand trembled as she longed to pull the trigger and take the life away from this stallion just as he had done to her parents.
He deserves this! For what he did to them! Mom and dad, they’d want me to kill him!.... Wouldn’t they? Y-yes they would! Why wouldn’t they want me to get back at this piece of shit!
Because then are you any better than him? Her two conflicting emotions told her as she looked at the filly and back at the stallion. It took a few minutes, but Lightning allowed a single tear to fall from her eyes as she slowly took the gun away from the stallion’s head and backed away.
“I-I’m a friend of your dad. I j-just went through a really bad time with him and I almost made a really terrible m-mistake.” Lightning tried to get out as normal as possible but found that it wasn’t easy talking to a young filly. “Look pal, I’m not going to blast your head off, but I am asking you to do this. Treat that little filly like she’s the only filly left in the world. Make sure she gets anything she wants when she wants it. If you don’t, I’ll track you down and put a bullet through your brain. Is that clear?” She angrily asked the stallion who just quickly nodded. She then began to walk out of the alleyway and placed the gun back in her jeans. She turned her head to see the father and daughter hugging tightly as they could.
“My little angel. I promise I’ll make sure you get anything you’d like, when you’d like.” The stallion said as he cried tears of sadness and happiness. Lightning also felt tears come to her eyes as she walked away from the scene. She then walked towards another alley and looked to vaguely see two chalk outlines on the ground. One was clearly a stallion who laid down nearly face first after being shot while the other was a mare who was shot soon after and fell beside the stallion.
Lightning merely closed her eyes as she felt the tears and memories flood back to her
”G-give me all y-your bits now!” The stallion roared as he pointed the gun at Silver Bolt and Light Storm. The former had just handed over some on their bits and the stallion turned to leave but then saw Light’s necklace and that it was adorned with pearls. As usual Lightning could do nothing but stand and watch as her dad once more took a bullet that the stallion fired. Light yelled out his name as she tried to give the stallion her pearls but instead she was shot as well and fell right beside her husband. The stallion then ran off into the darkness as Lightning just fell to her knees and cried.]
Suddenly, her eyes shot open when she heard the sounds of wing beats. She looked around but saw no Pegasus up above her.
What was- She started. But then as if out of sheer coincidence, a large, black bat shrieked as it flew towards Lightning. She screamed out of fear and swinged at the bat hoping to scare it off. The bat did leave but not before it gave off a high pitched shriek. Lightning just stood where she was and hyper ventilated. Instinctively she placed a hand against a pocket but her hand felt cold as she felt the gun’s hammer. She then tore off towards the pier determined to get rid of the very thing that’s brought her pain her whole life, not even Dinner knew she carried it around with her during her hunt for the thug. So using all of her strength, she lugged the troublemaker into the ocean, hearing a ‘splash’ as it sunk into the ocean, never to be used again. She sighed as a heavy burden was taken off of her chest at long last. She turned to leave and was shocked to see Dinner Bell next to a taxi.
“Forgive me Madame Dust but I was wondering what was taking you so long.” He said calmly as he opened the door indicating Lightning to get in to which she happily obliged.
