"Stupid Rainbow Dash, ratting me out to Spitfire like that..." Lightning Dust grumbled as she packed her things. She delicately removed her uniform, carefully folding and placing it into her small saddlebags. Staring at the fresh rip in the fabric for a few moments, a tear formed in the corner of her eye. Although Spitfire had simply ripped the badge from her chest, it had felt more like her hero had just torn out her heart.
"My dreams... All crumbled into dust..."
Lightning shook her head slightly, wiping the tear away with her hoof. She couldn't let anypony see her all emotional like that.
"Emotions are weakness, Lightning." She scolded herself in a hushed tone. As she sealed and secured her saddlebags, Lightning looked out of the window of her room, only to see Rainbow Dash talking animatedly with her precious friends.
"Dumb fillies... Why did they have to come here in the first place and ruin everything? I've done nothing but be an amazing cadet. Best of the best; true Wonderbolt material. Just because I'm more willing to succeed than Rainbow Trash, it doesn't give them the right to sabotage me just to make her look better." After she'd had her rant, Lightning sighed rather heavily. It was then that Fleetfoot came to stand in the doorway. She spoke calmly and firmly. As if the sound of her voice wasn't enough of a shock to Lightning Dust, the way in which she spoke now was so unlike her usual self that it sent a nasty chill down Lightning's spine.
"Lightning Dust."
"Fleetfoot." Lightning replied curtly.
"Spitfire was correct in assuming that you would linger around here. I have been summoned to remove you from the premises." Fleetfoot had steel in her gaze that told Lightning that there was no room for noncompliance.
"Fine..." She grumbled.
"I beg your pardon?" Snapped the Wonderbolt.
"Yes, ma'am..."
As Lightning Dust followed Fleetfoot, she became increasingly embarrassed by the second, as the other trainee Wonderbolts turned to stare at her. Embarrassment soon gave way to anger, when a few daft fillies made the mistake of laughing at her.
Lightning stopped walking. She straightened up to her full height. She turned to the giggling girls and silently walked towards them, slowly spreading her wings out to their full extent (which caused her saddlebags to slip from her back), blocking out the sun and casting a menacing shadow over them. Lightning closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they were burning with fury.
"What is so very funny, children?" She spat out the word distainfully. These ponies were, without doubt, the youngest trainees in the academy. Barely adults, and still very immature.
"You heard me. I asked you what was funny. Or are you too cowardly to admit that you were making fun of somepony your senior? Because cowardice is not acceptable. Wonderbolts are not cowards. Be brave, or go home. I've half a mind to slap the lotta you back to Cloudsdale." She snarled. The fillies huddled together, shuddering and whimpering. The smallest, a shy pony with a mint green coat, offered a quiet, frightened apology.
"W-we're very sorry, ma'am..." She whimpered, close to tears. Lightning Dust was satisfied by this, so she folded her wings, returned to her bags, and flew off without another word.
When she reached her house, Lightning barricaded herself inside, barely able to hold in her tears any longer. The flight home had been a long and thoughtful one, but now emotion washed over her and threatened to drag her under. Eventually, she gave in, and the tears stung as they ran from her eyes, leaving several wet tracks across her face.
"I can't believe it..." she choked out. "I can't believe... I-I was a good cadet, I... I tried my hardest and never let anything stop me; not even that goody-fourhooves, Rainbow Dash... And then her stupid, whiny friends have to show up and pull the rug out from under me." Lightning growled, wiping her eyes.
"They're not getting away with this..." the growl grew louder and louder as she spoke.
"I'll make those idiots pay, even if I have to sell my soul to do it. As Celestia is my witness, I shall have justice." Lightning let the growl loose into a massive roar of rage which shook her entire house. She felt determined, driven, unstoppable. A dark grin spread across her face.
A wise pony once said, "We make our own demons". Unbeknownst to Lightning Dust, she was about to unleash demons, the likes of which Equestria had never known before.
