The barrel stood stubbornly in the mare’s way. Every ounce of the water in it became Lightning Dust’s problem. She tried everything, from pulling to pushing, but to no avail. She began to look around the busy day with ponies striding; in the blazing sunlight. She couldn’t help itch of exhaustion. Every huff from her dry mouth had hazed her mind as she thought about a better plan.
“Come on…” Lightning Dust grunted. The barrel stayed idle.
She would have been surprised at this struggle had it not been so long since she had been hurrying this task.
“Need some help?” a voice said from above. As Lightning Dust peered above, she viewed a dark shadow gleaming from the sun. As the shadow began to die, a purple mare appeared, as eager as her smile seemed to suggest. “I see your problem.”
“And that is?”
“It’s a two-pony job.” Cloudchaser said, slowly approaching the barrel.
“Right, well I need to move this to the center of Ponyville. Think you can help, Cloudchaser?” Lightning Dust said, standing from the ground.
Cloudchaser stood idly by. “Sure.” she said quietly.
Lightning Dust arched her eyebrows. “It’s heavier than it looks. You probably can’t lift it by yourself.”
As Cloudchaser shuffled to the opposite side, clamping her hoofs to the sides of the barrel and stood on her hind legs, staring at the sun. “You’ve got the bottom?”
Lightning Dust clamped the bottom, slipping on her grip. “Can you lift a little?”
Cloudchaser peered under her, furiously flapping her wings. “Can you push up?”
The barrel moved upward slight, pressing against Lightning Dust’s hoofs. As it rose, the water tipped slightly, pouring drops slowly on Lightning Dust’s hooves.
Lightning Dust grounded her teeth and as her hind legs straightened, began to flap her wings slowly. “I think I got it,” she said, her now-wet hoofs shaking.
As they began to haul the barrel full of water, they pressed forward slowly.
“So…why are you doing this?” Cloudchaser asked.
Lightning Dust stared at the bottom of the barrel, watching her hooves. “Heh, well I was going to do a new trick I’ve been working on. I’ve almost…got it.” Lightning Dust said. “Just need this last barrel…”
Cloudchaser raised her eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you be working in Cloudsdale? The day isn’t over.”
“Well, I’m sort of done,” Lightning Dust said rapidly. “I’ll get to it later.” She looked at Cloudchaser in an oddly fashion. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“Oh, well I just saw you down here and I was curious so…” She rubbed the back of her neck, looking down decisively.
“You’re distracted too, huh? Lightning Dust said abruptly.
“No, I just wanted to see if you were okay.”
Lightning Dust was confused. She normally didn’t get this kind of affection from Cloudchaser, at least not directly. Lightning Dust couldn’t help but think about her. Why is she watching me?
As they neared the center of Ponyville, Cloudchaser carefully peered back, looking at the tower that stood. “I think we’re coming close. Slow down.”
The barrel began to lower, steadily approaching the ground. As it tapped the ground, Cloudchaser looked around to see ten barrels standing idly by each other, all in a single row.
Cloudchaser pointed to the row of barrels. “Wait…how did these get here?’
“I had some other pegasi help me.”
Cloudchaser moved back, extending her distance. “And…they were okay with that?”
Lightning Dust pushed Cloudchaser, almost making her tumble. “Yeah, they did it didn’t they?”
Cloudchaser left a blank stare. “Oh. Alright, well I’ve got to go.” She began to flap her wings. “Need anything else?”
Lightning Dust extended her hoof. “Hey, you want to get dinner later?”
Cloudchaser tensed her eyebrows. “Um…listen, Lightning Dust. I really don’t think its best if we hang out.”
“Why not?”
“Well, do you remember what happened at the academy? I’m still…well, you know.”
“Are you still on that?!Come on…”
“You burned my side! That was incredibly mean.”
“You should have been better. Again, as I said, it’s not my fault.”
Cloudchaser grimaced. “I tired of this ‘it’s not my fault’. It’s entirely your fault. You injured me! You-”She stopped and took a deep breath. “I’ve got to go. Bye, Lightning Dust. And stay out of trouble, okay?”
As Cloudchaser flew away into the sky, Lightning Dust, stood idly by the barrels.
Precariously, the town was only filled with little foals that moved around her, not seemingly surprising for her, as it was pretty normal during lunch time. Lightning Dust sat, watching the foals running.
To be honest I expected her to say yes…why should I care anyway…
Lightning Dust kicked the dirt, leaving a cloud of dust in the air.
“My eyes!” a voice said, crying. A foal sat, rubbing her eyes furiously.
“Oh sorry-“Lightning Dust said, attempting to help the foal.
“Get away from me!” The foal cried, galloping away. Lightning Dust stood, staring at the horizon the foal ran to. There were no ponies around now; even the foals had run with the irritated one.
***
Lightning Dust wore a scowl. It was so often she was blamed for things that it wasn’t even a surprise anymore. Every event, every practice, everything she loves most is tarnished by those who disown her. She started to believe that maybe she was being punished…
Come on. I’m trying to have some fun.
Lightning Dust sat in her room, rubbing her head on the blue sheets. She was alone. Every act that had been shown during her life was nothing but painful reminders of want of acceptance.
Hours pasted since she had laid there, staring at the ceiling. The sun began to set and the sky began to dim.
***
As Lightning Dust lowered to the ground, Ponyville was filled with bright little lights full of lightning bugs each in a lantern. She began to walk through the town, uncertain of where to go or to be, all she knew was that she couldn’t be at home.
What to do…
As she looked around, little small bugs flew across her sight and a few ponies closed their doors. Walking silently through the town, nothing could be heard but the hushed mutters inside the houses. The only place emitting sound was The Hay Burger, which boomed through the night. Surprised to see the restaurant, Lightning Dust ventured inside, stepping on the wooden stairs before entering.
The restaurant was booming with the sounds of ponies conversing and the music of the boom box playing. Every sound ringed in Lightning Dust’s ears and interrupted her thought. But a sight had taken her breath away as she surveyed the room. In the corner of the restaurant, in the booth seated high in the far back was Rainbow Dash, sitting alone. She hadn’t seen her since the academy and even then was it not a surprise.
“Would you like a seat miss?” A waiter stood before Lightning sporting a brown coat with The Hay Burger emblem attached. She looked at him with a blank stare, still marveling on the sight of Rainbow Dash.
“Um…no thanks. I’m meeting a friend.” As the waiter nodded, Lightning Dust maneuvered through the tables, keeping Rainbow Dash in her sight. Everything up to this moment seemed nonexistent.
“Hey Dash.” Lightning Dust said smiling. Rainbow Dash looked up.
“What do you want?”
“Well…” Lightning Dust sat down on the opposite side, moving some crumbs from the seat. “I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out.”
Rainbow Dash had a puzzled expression. Lightning Dust looked around, waiting for a response.
“And why would I want to do that?” She folded her hooves. “You aren’t my friend.”
“Okay! I know about what happened at the academy and the tornado and all that stuff but when can you forget about it?”
“I will never forget it. And I don’t know if I will ever forgive you.”
Lightning Dust stared with a sudden frown. “But-“
“You have to realize Lightning that your ego is in the way.”
“And? Your ego is just as big.”
“That may be true but I don’t hurt others.”
“I sense you’re trying to persuade me to say sorry…” Lightning Dust smirked.
“No Lightning, I’m not. I’m trying to make you realize your mistakes.”
“Whatever…” Lightning Dust crossed her hooves.
“If you don’t have anything worth saying, then let me eat my dinner in peace.” Rainbow Dash took a bite from her burger as Lightning Dust sat, staring into her eyes.
It was a while since either one had spoken. Rainbow Dash continued to eat as Lightning Dust sat with her hooves crossed.
“I just wanted to talk to you…” Lightning Dust said, leaning forward.
“We did. I’m done.”
“I just want your forgiveness.”
“For what?”
“The Incident.”
“I already told you, I don’t think I can ever forgive you.”
“Really?” Lightning Dust stood.
“Yes. Really.”
“So…I wasn’t the best. We still had fun right?”
“Fun?!” Rainbow Dash stood up, livid. She sat back down, realizing her behavior. She looked Lightning Dust in the eye. “You know Lightning Dust, you aren’t worth it. You just don’t get it. There is a difference between having fun and being so reckless.”
Lightning Dust stomped on the table, shaking the basket that Rainbow Dash’s food laid in. The restaurant began to quiet down. “Look Dash…I have been trying to be nice, but no one will forget it!”
Rainbow Dash stomped on the table as well. “Why should they? You aren’t worth the breath.”
Lightning Dust cringed in grimace and launched across the table to Rainbow Dash in a fury, both tumbling down to the ground. The screaming of them both echoed through the restaurant, every pony coming around to witness the fight. Tables scattered as every pony moved out of the way. Punches were flown as both mares twirled around each other, pressing against themselves. As every pony looked at them, the turmoil increased as the two broke apart and looked in each other’s eyes. Lightning Dust incessantly swung at Rainbow Dash, narrowly scuffing her chest. She fell back, feeling the burn that had been given to her. As she arose, Rainbow Dash threw her hoof at Lightning Dust in the eye, sending her backwards into table behind her, food spilling in her lap.
“Stop!” The manager arrived, coming from the corner of the restaurant. “Stop this instant.”
Lightning Dust huffed, feeling the stinging pain from her eye and licking her swollen cheek.
“Get out,” The manager pointed to the door. “Now!”
“Fine. Rainbow Dash rushed to the door, looking back with a glance. “Don’t ever come near me again, got that?”
Lightning Dust stood looking at the door Rainbow Dash used, her fur stained in ketchup and mustard.
“What did I say? Go!” The manager hastened.
Lightning Dust busted through the door, disappearing into the night. This was the most unfortunate for Lightning Dust, for she didn’t think it would get this far, especially in her hooves. As she caught up with Rainbow Dash, she thought quickly about her words. “Dash, wait.”
Rainbow Dash stopped. Lightning Dust halted, staring at Rainbow Dash’s back. “Get away from me…”
“But…”
Rainbow Dash turned, livid. “I said get away from me!” She burst in flight, disappearing into the sky.
There Lightning Dust sat in front of the restaurant.
***
As Lightning Dust returned home, her thoughts raced in her mind. She became disgusted, the voices yelling at her, she couldn’t take it. She looked into the mirror, watching as her black eye pulsed. She began to poke at it, receiving a shock of pain. She hit the mirror in frustration, failing to break it. Stepping back hold her now bruised hoof, she looked down in spite.
This is my fault…
She knew she couldn’t blame anyone. After all, she started this. All of it was her fault.
She walked to her counter, steadily walking with her head held low. Her eyes drew water, filled with the misery of the day. It had been the first time she had been this way. Even when she had been scowled at, it was not usual she felt sad about herself.
Sitting on the bed, she laid down,thinking about Rainbow Dash's words.
You aren’t worth it…you just don’t get it…
She punched the pillow in frustration, her cry echoing in her room. Each blow she made shook the bed slightly.
It seems I can’t be myself anymore…
She again lay back down, staring at the wall which would be for hours, thinking.
