Grounded

Back to Lash

AN: sorry if this one is a bit short, but I figure we give a little more insight on good ol’ BackLash. X3 That, and wanted to try and test out some formatting (which is NOT helping me right now.) as well as the change in narration from third to first person.

It was about a week or so after Rainbow Dash’s wing healed. The pegasus once again was free to fly, free to take risk and fly at great speed. She was so happy, so excited that she got to fly once more. Being on the ground for so long did not suit her as much, but she was grateful none of the less. She was especially grateful to Lash who after all, helped her. The two spent much time together, even after the clinic. She could never forget that night she spent her virginity on him, and neither could he forget it as well. They always seem to look at each other, flirt, admire, also tease and joke. But most of the time they spent their free hours racing and chasing after each other. They laugh, they snicker and they playfully push each other around. Yet when they are alone, they would always stare into each other’s eyes, snuggling and cuddling and kissing like any two lovers would.

Sometimes Dash would take the time to slip on the goggles that Spitfire and Lash got for her. It was such a nice gift, a perfect gift actually. Lash always knew what ol’ Dashie likes, who she admires and what she does. In fact, BackLash learned more about Rainbow Dash more than he ever expected. What her dreams are, what her goals are, what she does and what she hopes to accomplish. Yet, Dash never took the time to get to know him more. She never knew what he wanted, what he hopes to accomplish, what his goals are. In fact, she didn’t learn much about his past as much as she had hoped. Of course he only told her a bit about himself, but she wanted to learn more about himself and his life before they met.

One afternoon, the two were chasing each other yet again. Lash was after Rainbow Dash in a game that seems like tag, only it was like in the air you know? So anyways, the two flew below cloudsdale, away from any obstacles they encounter. Hopefully they don’t end up in another accident again like last time. It was a normal race, nothing too extreme or too out of control. Although they were flying normally, Dash picks up speed as if to outmaneuver and escape him. She laughs and gives her boyfriend the raspberry.  The brown colt pegasus huffs and laughs, trying his best to pick up speed. As he chases her, Lash could feel a change in the wind. He picks his head up, feeling the wind coming from atop of him, a bit from behind too. He grins, flying upwards as he keeps his eyes on Dash. She was flying rather fast, but she wasn’t working with the wind. He doubt if she felt it.

Lash was a bit above the clouds, positioning himself in the direction he was satisfied with. His target of course was Dash, and right on cue, as he felt a gush of wind hit him, he folded his wings back a bit as he dives towards the pegasus. He smirks, shifting his wings a tad as he let the wind guide him. Lash flew fast, almost faster than Dash. Except this time he isn’t saving her hide, he is catching it. He got closer and closer to her, to the point where he was right above her. He chuckles and gives her a big whistle from above. When Dash turned her head, she gasped as she saw the colt just inches above her. He grins and yells “Gotcya!” as he tackles the Rainbow haired pegasus. They laugh and giggle, rolling around in the sky as the two lovers crashed onto one of the clouds. They held onto each other closely, all snuggled up yet again. Dash laughs, pushing Lash gently off of her as she stands.

“Hahha. Got me again Lash.” She said smirking.

“Well, you’re not that hard to catch. Didn’t you notice the wind changing?” he replied.

“Well yeah… of course I did!”

“Then why didn’t you fly along with it?”

Dash blinks, biting her lower lip a bit as she stutters.

“Uhh… I-I…ahh…”

“You didn’t want another accident right?”

Dash gulps, swallowing a bit of her pride as she accepts her nervousness.

“I don’t understand how you are able to do it. Heck, I tried doing it early this morning and I almost crashed against the trees.”

Lash smiles, placing his hoof on her shoulder as he kisses her.

“Mmmm… I’ll show you how to do it. Remember back in the clinic I said it’s about how you adjust your wings according to the wind?” he said.

Dash nods, remembering a little about the details he said.

“Yeah… that you glide along with the wind? Or at least flap your wings in a parallel position?” she recalls.

“Pretty much like that yeah, I can show you if you like. But you’re going to have to hold onto me up top in order to get a good look at it.”

Dash pondered for a moment. If she wants to fly like Lash does, she must follow every word he says. Then again, she could use this opportunity to get to know him more. But she’ll be too distracted about how to fly with the wind.

“How about… uhh… I ride you just to feel the wind. Ok? I mean, I’m a bit of a fast learner, but I want to get to know ya a bit more.”

Lash looks at Dash, smiling as he spoke.

“Heh, you want to learn more about me?”

“Of course silly, after all we had sex at the clinic! I think I deserve a little more history of my new boyfriend.”

Lash blushes a bit, chuckling as he kneels down for Dash to climb on.  The rainbow haired pegasus smiles as she climbs on top of his back. Once she settled on him, Lash spreads his wings, hopping off the cloud as he makes his way up where the wind was blowing.

“Hahah alright then, guess it’s only fair. I mean after all, you told me a lot about yourself. Ok…”

As Lash begins to explain his past to Dash, the scene slowly begins to shift and disorientate. The scene changes, the color grows dull, with a white frame stretching two to three inches from the edge of the scene. The background begins to fade out, as a new one fades in to take its place. Instead of being in the sky, the scene shifts to the town of Ponyville. A male earth pony and a female pegasus appears walking down the road towards the town. The pegasus was about nine months pregnant. In about two more months though, she would be ready to give birth. As they were walking, Lash starts speaking as the narrator.

“It all started when my father and mother decided to move to ponyville after her ninth month of pregnancy. She was about two months away from having me. My father, who is an earth pony, wanted to have me in a natural and peaceful environment. They were originally from Manehattan, having to grow up from a natural commoner lifestyle instead of a rich wealthy one.  Not to say they were poor, but they did have a small run of the mill home in the busiest section of the city. Plus, they wanted to have me growing up healthy because of all the… I guess you can say manufacturing facilities. Ponyville was mom’s first idea really, because well her mom was from Ponyville too when she was born. Dad agreed, going along with her idea.

They were really excited, and almost impatient for me to be born. They always wanted to start a family ever since they started dating. When they were in school, they both took sexual education; they were surprised to hear it takes at least eleven months to have a foal. But that didn’t really slow them down, nor did it stop them. Of course, they had to wait for a while. But anyways, after years in school, the two got married and decided to mate. It was about a month till my mother found out she was pregnant. They were both so overjoyed that they already began buying toys. They bought both boy and girl stuff because they didn’t want to take chances of messing up. Like who would? After getting ready early for me, an issue came up seven months later as to how I’m going to be raised. Really it was about the health concern that’s been going around in the city for a while. They wanted to know where they should move to. Cloudsdale was out of the question because my father couldn’t fly since he’s an earth pony. That and he’d fall through the clouds like a rock going through tissue paper. The next idea was Appleloosa, but the heat was too unbearable because of the climate changes there. So the next best thing was Ponyville which was mom’s idea, like I said.

“I think we should go to Ponyville Darald. It’s the only next best thing we got to raise our child.” She said.

“You’re probably right. Hey doesn’t your mother live in Ponyville too Annabelle?” he replied.

“Yes she does! Since the prices of homes in Ponyville grew, I think my mother will help provide for us the necessary funds! She said that she stockpiled as much bits as she can after I finish my education in Manehattan. It was a way for her to plan ahead for me just in case I come back to Ponyville. Who knew? Haha! Isn’t this exciting Darald? A family away from the city, away from the crowded pollution and into a town of serenity and luxary would be the perfect place!”

Darald whole heartedly agreed with her. However, he laughed at the idea of it being full of ‘serenity.’

“I’m pretty sure Ponyville seen its fair share of excitement and dangers in the past, that I am sure. After receiving the Equestrian Daily every month I read about Discord this, Cerberus that! Nightmare Moon and the cow and the cockatrice in a silver spoon, also there’s a giant red dragon and you think it’s better than Manehattan?”

“Wouldn’t you say the same when everyday is not an accident for somepony?”

She had a good point. Often enough, accidents are common in Manehattan. Somepony ends up in the hospital with a broken bone or limb… or a wing. Same goes for sickness being more common since it’s always near the industrial zone. Besides, the chances are that a giant creature or monster or alien attacking are like one in a hundred. Well ok more like twenty in a hundred.

“I guess that’s true. We need to get packed though. I’ll call some of my friends and we’ll start packing up!”

And so, my parents started packing the next day. However since they had no means of transportation and being short on funds, the two strolled around Equestria on hoof. It took around two months to travel with the wagon behind daddy’s back. They made stops too, but you figured it wouldn’t take long to get to Ponyville eh? Mother had a few strong kicks in the womb and she wanted to wait a month. She was a bit worried that they might have an early birth which is never a good sign, but they prepared just in case for any other early birth signs. So with that done, they moved on again. It didn’t take long till my parents reached Ponyville. From appearance, it did look quite luxurious and serene despite the news they hear. But once they stepped into the streets of Ponyville, they were greeted with lots of love and happiness. My grandmother was also there, who helped get my parents all settled in. They had enough money left over, and the last remaining months they had left before my birth were the greatest time they ever experienced. They danced, they laughed, they singed and they ate at the greatest restaurants Ponyville had to offer. Aside from Canterlot’s fancy pants stops my mom’s mom goes to, they had a well lived, wealthy life. And then, I was born!

We had to stay at the hospital for a while after mom’s birth, she was a bit weak. But during the first days I spent in the hospital, I flew for the first time. As a newborn foal no less! And no one could catch me, not even my mother. They said I was as healthy as an ox, strong as dog and fast as the wind. Of course that was all exaggeration. But I was pretty dang fast. Evaded everypony until my dad caught me. I did back flips more often I can count. And thus, my mom and dad gave me the name BackLash.”

Dash spoke up after the scene end.

“Oh can you tell me about the time you got your cutie mark?”

“In a minute Dashie I was just getting to that.”

Lash coughs, and the background begins to fade. We now see Cloudsdale and the Flying Academy. It’s been at least five or seven years now. We can see young Lash fiddling around with the clouds, laughing as he watches the other pegasus flying and racing each other. He saw almost everypony there. He saw the Wonderbolts, the most well known group of flyers who defend Equestria against evil! And other stuff like training and initiations and helping around the normal stuff in Ponyville, everything and everypony was there. Lash continues on with his narration.

“It was my third year in flyers school. I went to both Ponyville’s elementary school and the academy for my education and flying lessons. It was this particular day that I realize my true calling, which is basically… literally nothing. Or so it seems, because I always seem to make friends of the opposite sex, make people mad, and give no hays at all. But I didn’t start being like this hot stuff TOO early so you know. But I kind of received a lot of attention after racing this pony Dumbbell.

“Oh hey I know Dumbbell! That jerk is always acting all snooty and high and mighty.”

“Hey Dash don’t interrupt my story!”

“Oh… sorry…”

“Anyways… Dumbbell was this sort of colt who always got on everypony’s nerves. But I guess you already knew that since you also butted heads with him. He came up to me one day and started mouthing and showing out.

“Well well well! If it isn’t Slack Back! Little guy like you shouldn’t be allowed in the academy if you are just gonna lay on the hay all day! And by hay I mean cloud and by lay I mean get lost!” he said.

Dumbbell proceeded to trample all over my little molded cloud. I didn’t flinch, but of course I was angry. So I do what I normally do when I’m angry.”

“Kick his butt?”

“Nah… mess with his ego. So I looked up at Dumbbell and huff.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but at least well thought out ones can hurt a bit of my pride. And no that’s not a compliment… what’s a colt like you got over me? Nothing at all! So here you are, picking on the little guy to satisfy your own ego. That or your daddy didn’t teach you much about social interactions. So why bring up a bunch of low brow insults that are full of horse apples? Slack Back isn’t even funny. And neither is picking on me for just fiddling with the filling. And seriously, ‘and by lay I mean get lost’? Got anything better than that? And who made you king of the castle? Surely not sir Prance’alot that’s for sure.” I said.

And boy oh boy was Dumbbell angry! Course he’s dumber then a bag of hammers, but he doesn’t take backfires to well. So when he gets mad, he gets competitive.”

“Sounds like Dumbbell alright.”

“Got that right… so he started huffing and puffing and said,

“Well then let’s race! You, me, right here, right now! Around the entire academy and back! Think you can keep up smart pony?” he said with a snarl. I just smiled and showed my teeth. He didn’t like that smile of course. So I just said.

“Sure thing, I’m ready like Freddy. That is, if you got what it takes to keep your pride.” I said and grin. He huffs, swishing his tail as he walks off. So as everypony was setting up the course, Dumbbell was seen flexing and stretching his wings as he annoys the other colts and fillies. I just stayed where I was, tapping my hooves, looking around and hum. I could hear some of the other ponies calling out for me to win. Maybe I wanted to win, but I didn’t want to have the whole thing go over my head. Looking at Dumbbell made me realize how ridiculous racing really is. Once everything was set, we got into position at the starting lane. A filly was chosen as the host of the race. I think that’s what it is…

“On your mark… get set… GO!!!” she yelled.

And just like that, Dumbbell was off like a rocket. He was sweating and panting, using every muscle and fiber in his body, well mostly his wings, to speed up. He was making rude gestures, laughing and blowing raspberries at me as I followed right behind him. I was flying normally like any pony would. But I was so dreadfully behind. Dumbbell wouldn’t let up, already making half way across the track as I followed. He didn’t even bother to stop as he tears through the winning thread. I arrived a minute later, landing and smiling. Dumbbell got so close to my face I could almost smell his breath. It was so stinky like cheese. He was bragging and laughing.

“HAH! In your face pretty boy! You LOSE! Haha! And the victor goes to Dumbbell! Can I get a woot woot?” he let on.

But everypony was groaning and moaning. He continued to brag and brag and boast and show off. I just stood there, smiling.

“And that my friends, is a self destructive ego maniac. Seriously is this really how we want to spend our time racing just to turn every single thing into a competition and rub it in the other pony’s face?” I said.

A few pegasus ponies looked at me and muttered. They were rather surprised of my speech, and muttered in agreement. They smile and laugh, running over to me as they cheered my name.

“Yeaheah BackLash! BackLash! BackLash!” they cheered.

“Yeah he’s right! Why do we have to take this kind of attitude? I say bleh! Bleh I say!” said one of the fillies.

“Hahah yeah! I say, why not crash or run through the obstacle clouds and enjoy it? Like you do Lash!”

They all nod and grumble in agreement. I was walking off with like several other ponies as Dumbbell was left, with his friends. He huffs and snorts, surely rather angry. And I was able to get away with unintentional humiliation! Well sorta unintentional. One of the ponies asked how I did it.

“It’s not really HOW I did it. I just don’t have that same over obsessive passion of competition as other ponies have. Really I ask myself why I did it in the first place. I just want to have fun! You can say I’m a bit apathetic, but that’s how I always see racing. And you know, my momma always says, slow and steady wins the race! So why not just plow the clouds without a care in the world!” I said.

I don’t know if they got what I meant, but one thing was for sure, it was when I got my one and only cutie mark! I never expected it to be a screw and ball. Course, I gotten a little too much attention then I would have hoped. I just wanted to have fun and make friends. Cept I made more enemies when others tried to challenge me. And over the years, it felt rather… annoying. And so was being swarmed with all the fillies. Then, everypony finally stopped paying attention to me. Well mostly everypony. I was grateful! Yet, at the same time I felt so alone. More alone then I ever hoped for. My mom and dad would be worried about me like all the time. So… the only thing I had left to entertain myself was… well… myself. I gained something positive in my personality, and then I lost something very important to me. And I was depressed.

It was around the time I was almost done with school for good. I met this really really nice filly, and she was the kindest sweetest and fastest flyer there ever was. Her name was Spitfire. She became my very best friend and my best teacher. She taught me a lot, especially how to fly along with the wind.”

“WOW! You had Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts to teach you!?”

“Well yeah! She wasn’t a Wonderbolt Captain then. It was still like years back. Ya know; when I was around sixteen at the time. She was still an initiative herself. But man did she ever lighten my life up. But, I felt like I taken her training for granted. I’m fast, yet not fast enough to be an equal. That and I hardly flew as much as I liked to…”

Then, everything stopped. The scene halts, the colors and the background and ponies stopped moving, and then everything begins to fade in. The white frame disappears away from the edges, the color turning brighter and colorful. We now see Lash again, with Rainbow dash right on top of him as he flew across the sky.

“But then a while back, I met you. And you were the only thing I had left to prove myself to, or the only one I can prove.” He said with a smile

“Prove what?” asked Dash.

“That I got what it takes to be the best flyer not just for myself, but for my very special somepony.” He said and winks to Dash.

Rainbow Dash blushed deeply, giggling as she leans over and gives him a kiss on the neck.

“Mmm… after that story, you took one large step in proving yourself Lash.” She said with a smile.

He never saw sensitivity in dash before. This was a new turn in her. He laughs and blushes, snuggling against her head after the kiss.

“Hehe… well I got you to thank for that.” He said.

Dash grins devilishly, slowly spreading her wings as she takes off. She sped at such great lengths she was yards ahead of Lash.

“Now prove yourself big boy! Race me to the finish line! Destination: My house! No fooling or cheating or showing off!” she yells with a laugh.

“Oh I think I got what it takes Dashie!! Here I come!!” he yells back, picking up speed as the two raced towards Cloudsdale. Lash would always remember this moment, and so would Rainbow Dash. The first time in years he opened up to somepony. He was surprised he didn’t get as much feedback. But there was one thing Dash told him when they arrived at her house.

“Looking back at our past is a good thing. But only if you remember the good times you had in life. Learn what you can from your mistakes if you ever want to reach where you want to some day. I learned that the hard way.”

Dash making mistakes? The colt pegasus never heard that one before. The next time they hook up, Lash might pry around her life and learn more about her then he already knows.