Of Lightning and Pawprints
Rusty dived sharply to the left, a bolt of bright blue lightning missing her wings by less than an inch. She flinched in horror as the fur on the back of her neck stood on end. That was too close!
Why did I volunteer to be the mail pony in this part of Equestria? she thought with regret. I have no right to fly in this kind of storm. I just be going insane.... But the only way from Griffonstone was to fly, unless she wanted to get lost in the twisting maze of rock that led to and from the city. Last time she had walked, she had gotten lost, and had to bribe a nearby griffon to help her. She was appalled by their greed, and decided that she would rather fly than go broke. She was already low on funds as it was.
Now she really regretted this decision badly as she tried hard not to let the winds crash her into something. Usually she loved storms, but only in her dragon form. If the lightning hit her hard purple scales, it would arc harmlessly to and from each wing, dancing along the spines on her back, and she would guide it back into the clouds effortlessly with a single movement. It would be a game to her, a dance with the elements, deadly and beautiful that only she knew and could control. The very thought sent warm shivers of pride through her body. She anxiously unsheathed her claws at the thought of once more dancing in these dangerous elements, excitement tickling underneath her scales and the fur, giving a bright warmth to her cold bones. But as she contemplated on changing into that form for protection, she was reminded of the fragile package she was carrying. If she shifted forms now, she would momentarily drop the package, for shifting paws into claws would loose their holding power for a couple moments.... and she didn't want to be responsible for dropping another package. Dimly she remembered last month where she had dropped a package, and had to pay dearly for it. She had vowed she wouldn't drop this one, saying she had learned from her costly mistake. She could only now imagine how costly his one must be.
She flapped her wings hard, battling the harsh wind and the stinging ice cold rain that worked into her purple fur, chilling her to the skin under her half scales, making her shiver deeply in her bones.
"Aha! I will not be conquered, fowl storm! Is this all you have!?" She shouted to the storm defiantly with false bravado, holding the package protectively in her paws, trying to protect it from the rain, but with little success. A bolt of thunder awnsered her challenge defiantly, as a flash of lightning momentarily blinded her with its bright flash. She shook her head to clear her vision, feeling angry and fustrated as the storm took her off her guard.
Glancing down, her destination was just a couple hundred yards away... The castle. A solar guard stood next to it, apparently not bothered by the storm that thundered above, or the harsh rain that came down like ice cold needles, plinking hard off his solar guard armor. She felt sorry for him and yet jeleous for his protective yet useless armor.
Flapping her wings hard, she managed to set the package down before a huge gust of wing blew her back into the sky. Her eyes widened in suprise, as she could not put away her wings, no matter how hard she tried. The guard's expression turned to surprise as he saw this happen, and made an attempt to help her, only to get slammed against the wall of the castle, knocked out cold.
A boom of thunder sounded, and she trembled in fear, trying hard, but unable to land no matter how hard she tried. Her heart fluttered in panic, as she realized she was in the storm's ruthless grasp. The lightning strike flashed warningly in the sky somewhere, before a huge gust of wind blew her through one of the castle's windows. She heard the sound of glass breaking, and a small line of pain down one wing. Thunder rumbled like an untamed beast through the sky. She felt the bright bolt come after her like a wolf preparing for the final lunge. Was she hallucinating, or was reality swirling around her? She did not know this would soon change her life forever, as the darkness pulled her under, obliterating her thoughts and the unrelenting agony through her small frame.
She did not know where she was, but consciousness finally found her. Dimly she saw a ceiling.... and the air was warm from a nearby fireplace, quick crackled and sparked with welcome warmth. She pulled the soft blanket that was on top of her a bit closer. She was somewhat aware from a dim haze of pain in her back, and abruptly her crash came back, replaying it in her memory with sudden sharp clarity.
What a harsh fall I took.... wait, where am I anyway?
It was only then that she felt the first sensations of pain ripple through her coat.
Figures I'd crash.... Just my rotten luck I suppose. I've had a lot of it lately.....
With sorrow, she saw that she had broken a wing, and it was bandaged with care. Her wounds were surprisingly well taken care of, making Rusty's mind flood with question after question.
But who found and helped her was the real question.... One that would change her motives all together.
