Lingering Lightning

by Sparkler Shine MLP

Rating: everyone
Tags: Lightning Dust, Slice of Life, Wonderbolts, Main 6, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 4188

Lightning Dust just got expelled from the Wonderbolts academy, and had promised to have revenge on Rainbow Dash. But exactly how will she cope with her past and make it better?

Being kicked out of the Wonderbolts. Her life-long dream was crushed. All because of her. Well, at least that's how it all sounds to Lightning Dust. But how exactly will she make things better for herself?

DISCLAIMER: Cover art not by me! And I think this person made it: http://starryoak.deviantart.com

Published 2016-11-09 05:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-11-25 20:56:59 UTC

Chapter One: What Went Wrong?

Lingering Lightning

Sparkler Shine MLP

Chapter One: What Went Wrong?

Lightning Dust hung her head low as she was walking out with two of the security pegasi. She wanted to so badly turn around and beat Rainbow Dash up, but she knew that would get her banned from the Wonderbolts, forever. She quickly glanced back and fourth on the training grounds of the Wonderbolts Academy. She was on the verge of shedding tears when she came to the door to the dorms.

"Ms. Lightning." The white-coated guard strictly said. "According to Captain Spitfire, you will immediately pack and leave ASAP!" He boomed, no hint of mercy in his voice.

Lightning Dust slowly nodded her head.

"And no looking through any of you're partners things." The grey-coated pegasus informed. "You will be held accountable for your actions more strictly on Wonderbolt grounds."

"You're lucky the matter was reported to Celestia. Or the other Wonderbolts for that matter." The white guard said.

Lightning felt her hooves shake. All she wanted was for the guards to leave so that she could cry her heart out.

It felt liked forever. The guards were both giving her hard looks, but then slowly went, keeping their eyes on her.

When they left, Lightning Dust looked up to the sky. She saw Rainbow Dash's friends and Spitfire looking at the academy students. Tears filled her eyes as she bolted to the dorm she and Rainbow Dash shared.

She jumped on her bed and began to sob.

"I-I'm meant t-to b-b-be... One of th-th-them!" She stuttered. "W-Why?! I-I was only giving m-my be-st..."

Lightning Dust gritted her teeth. Her eyes filled with hatred.

This is my dream... She thought. I swear on Celestia's name, I will get you for this, Rainbow Dash!

Lightning Dust got up and wiped her tears. She began to pack her things, not so happy about her current situation. Once she was done, she glanced to Rainbow Dash's side of the room.

Right next to her bed stood a picture of those ponies who were in the balloon. They were with her. So were three young fillies, two baby foals, and a dragon. They were all on a picnic.

Tears returned to Lightning Dust's eyes.

That's her life, huh? So happy, so... So perfect! I will get my revenge. My life is a darn train wreak! I'll show her that low-lifes can be successful as well!

Lightning Dust slammed her suitcase shut, and fastened her saddlebags. She heard noises come from the halls.

"They're back..." She quietly murmured.

She swung her saddlebags and suitcase on her back and walked out her ex-dorm, head hung high. She took quick glances at the ponies around her. Her uniform had a rip on the neck part. That was where her lead-pony badge was. That is, until Spitfire ripped it off her uniform!

She saw Rainbow Dash talking to a black-coated stallion with a blue mowhawk-styled mane. He pointed in my direction, and Rainbow Dash turned around to face me. Lightning gritted her teeth when she saw Rainbow's shiny golden lead-pony badge on her uniform. Lightning shot her a deathly glare, but she only let out a small laugh before returning to talking with the stallion. Lightning Dust close her eyes and looked at the ground.

She just... Laughed at me...

Lightning Dust didn't look where she was going, but the faint sound of a flying pegasus caught her ears. She opened her eyes and saw a female pegasus with a lavender coat and sugar-colored mane that was in a shape nobody could ever describe flying fast in her direction.

"Look out!" The pony shouted.

But it was too late. The two of them collided with each other.

"Ugh! Watch it you idiot!"

"S-Sorry! I was going too fa- Lighning Dust?!"

Lightning Dust's face fell. She was mad at her. Everypony was mad at her. Nopony wanted to see her. If she was any other pony, the pegasus would simply apologize and continue. But she was staring at her, a disgusted expression plastered on her face. But Lightning wasn't going to have it. It was that pony's fault after all.

"How come you aren't looking at where you're going?! How did you ever get into the academy is you can't even fly without crashing into things?!"

"Whoa whoa whoa!" A raspy voice said.

Lightning Dust looked around to see Rainbow Dash approaching her with a maddened expression.

"You can insult me all you want. But don't you ever insult my friends!" She said, running to the pegasus on the floor. "You alright, Cloud Chaser?" She asked, clearly concerned.

"H-How come you're worried about her, b-but not me! She's the one who bumped into me!" Lightning Dust exclaimed, dumbfounded.

"It's because she's nice and a good friend! You're not!" A male voice shouted.

Lightning Dust looked to see the stallion that Rainbow Dash was talking to earlier pass her, and he and walk to Rainbow Dash and Cloud Chaser.

"Yeeah!" A muscular white stallion yelled. "And besides, you nearly killed 5 ponies! Just get outtah here!"

Lightning Dust uneasily looked around. Everypony was against her it wasn't until the booming voice of Spitfire came threw.

"Dust! You ready? Time for ya to leave!"

"Y-Yes ma'am!" Lightning said.

She took one last glance and trotted out the door and flew away.

Lightning Dust arrived home at sunset, but was way too tired to do anything else. She put her stuff aside and climbed into bed, drifting off to sleep.

Lightning Dust opened her eyes to find herself back into the dorms.

"W-What?" She said, blinking her eyes, hoping to find herself in her room again.

Useless.

She got out of her bed and went over to Rainbow Dash's. She hesitated before trying to shake her awake.

"R-Rainbow?"

The rainbow-maned pegasus quickly woke up. She faced Lightning Dust and frowned.

"What are you doing here?! Don't you know that nopony likes you?!"

Lightning's ears fell down.

"I-I just woke up here for some reason, and it's late. I just wanted to know if you have an idea on how-"

"I don't care how to got here! Why don't you go stay inside your own home with nopony! I'm sure that's where you belong!" Rainbow snapped, stopping Lightning Dust from finishing.

Tears filled Lightning's eyes.

"C-Can't y-you just listen?! I don't know where I went wrong!" She cried.

Suddenly, the door swung open to reveal a mad-looking Spitfire.

"Lightning Dust!" Her voice boomed. Spitfire began walking towards her. "I told you to go!"

"I-I-I don't know how I got here!"

"Likely story..." Rainbow Dash mumbled.

"Security!" Spitfire called.

Lightning's lower lip quivered. They stood there for a while. Soon, the spatter of hoofsetps could be heard into the halls. The two security guards came.

"Lightning Dust, I hear by sue you for trespassing and a careless murder attempt!" Spitfire yelled.

"W-What?! B-But I don't know how I got here! And... And... I didn't know those ponies were going to come! They came uninvited!"

"No they didn't. My friends filled out forms at the bottom of the training cliff! They would never be a low-life like you!" Rainbow Dash said, slapping Lightning on the cheek.

She held her cheek that turned a small shade of red from pain. She began to cry as the two security guards grabbed her and began to pull her away.

"Let me go! Let me go! Please! I don't wanna go to jail! STOP!!!"

Lightning Dust's eyes quickly opened, and she jumped up from the floor. Her heart was pounding. Her face was stained with tears. She found her bed sheet on the floor. She examined the room and sighed, realizing she was in her own house again.

"I must've fallen out of bed while I had that nightmare... G-Good thing it was just a dream." She said, setting her bed sheet down on her bed, and laying down of it. She looked out to Luna's glowing moon, and the twinkling stars. Tears came to her eyes once again. "W-What went wrong..? What happened? How did it all come to this..?" She looked back up to the sky and saw a shooting star. Her eyes once again were filled with hatred. "I swear. We will meet again, Rainbow Dash. And I wish for your end."

Author's Note

Hate me all you want, huehuehue...:moustache:

~Sparkler Shine

Chapter Two: Living Friendship Again?

The next morning, Lightning Dust quickly woke up and began to unpack her stuff.

"Phew! That took a while." She said, moving her couch to the right place. "Good thing I'm finally finished!" She happily said, wipping her brow. Lightning flew down to her kitchen and looked in the cupboards. "Oh no..." She murmured. "No more food..." She quickly flew back to her room to gather her bits. "Only 20?! Sweet Celestia, how am I going to make this work?" Lightning felt like crying, but she picked herself up and flew out the window. Just go to the nearest ground town. I know! Cloudsdale is hovering over Vanhoover this month. I'll go there! Lightning thought, the bit bag being held in he mouth.

After Lightning's slow three-minute descend, she hurriedly walked into the market place.

The market place had many goods in it. Apples, oranges, pears, strawberries, cherries, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, lemonade, and so much more! Lightning's mouth watered. She was looking at a stand of mangoes to the right of her, and by mistake bumped into something ahead of her.

It was a small impact. Nopony fell like the last collision she had. She looked to the front of her to see a peach-colored unicorn mare with a cream front right hoof, and a cream right ear. She had purple eyes and a pale pink and sparkling blue mane and tail that was simple and short. Her cutiemark was a golden shooting star followed by three pale yellow ones to the right of it, and a sparkly dark blue, shocking pink, and light green trail followed the golden star, while a less sparkly trial was behind that other three. She was wearing a necklace that had a golden trim and solid emerald block that spelt that words, Sparkler Shine in script.

"Sorry." The mare said. "You hurt or anything?" She asked.

Lightning shook her head, and her attention turned back to the mango stand beside her.

"You like mangos?" The mare asked.

Lightning simply nodded her head. She didn't really feel like speaking to anypony. Her entire confidence was broken, but she wanted to gain it. It wasn't until she noticed the mare staring at her in confusion.

"Uhm... Can you talk?" She awkwardly asked.

Guess I have to actually say something to somepony... She said, mentally facehoofing herself. "Yes, I'm Lightning Dust."

The mare grinned.

"Sup! I'm Sparkler Shine!" Sparkler also looked toward the mango stand. "You're gonna buy mangos?" She asked.

"Yep! I love them!"

"Heh, wish I could say the same thing..." Sparkler said, trailing off.

Lightning's eyes widened.

"You don't like mangos?!"

"Hey, it's not my fault. The first time i had a mango, I was six. I don't really like them. But I do like mango juice. That stallion over there sells them along with real mangos." Sparkler explained.

Lightning dumbfoundingly stared at her.

"You don't like mangos, but you like mango juice..?"

"The juice is put in with sugar. It tastes different."

"To you it may."

"Welp." Sparkler said, trotting to the mango stand.

She saw her purchase one bottle of mango juice and three mangos. Then, she trotted back to where Lightning was standing.

"I thought you said you don't like mangos..." Lightning said, confused.

"I don't." She said, setting the bottle of juice in her silky ruby red saddle bags that were snapped shut with an emerald jewel pin that was shaped like a square, and surrounded by pearls. She still had the three mangos within her indigo grasp. Sparkler smiled and set them in Lightning's saddlebags. "They're for you."

Lightning just blankly stared at her. "T-Thanks..." She quietly said.

"You moving here or something?"

"No. Just came for some food. I live in Cloudsdale."

"Ooh! That makes sense. Couldsdale is directly above Vanhoover today."

Lightning shyly nodded.

"I'll show you around anyway. There's still three weeks until Cloudsdale travels over Tall Tale, right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Well then, let's begin!" Sparkler said, pointing out various aspects of the great suburban city (idk).

Even though the various street performances and great houses were amazing, something was bothering Lightning.

Nopony has ever been nice to me in a long time. I should've never thought that I was better than everypony. Friendship is something I haven't felt in a long time... it feels so good to have it back... Lightning thought as she smiled at Sparkler who kept talking about the town, and what they usually do.

"Wow, I knew that Vanhoover was a pretty sporty place, but matches against your town leagues every week? When do you take your season breaks?" Lightning asked.

It was noon when she first arrived, and now she and Sparkler were slowly walking in the public park, the setting sun slowly disappearing with each second.

"Two months break after every competition, and there are a lot of them. I'm a part of the mares tennis and hoofball league."

"Really?!" Lightning exclaimed in shock. "I thought pegasi and earth ponies were the sporty ones. Unicorns are meant to be dainty and elegant, right?"

Sparkler stopped in her tracks and faced Lightning.

"There are weak earth ponies and slow pegasi. That means that there could be sporty unicorns!" She said, looking Lightning in the eye.

"Pfft. You couldn't ever bee faster than me!"

"Is that a challenge?" Sparkler said, a grin spreading on her muzzle.

"You bet!" Lightning said, flaring up her wings. "One... Two... Th-"

"Hey! You can't fly! That's cheating! Unicorns can't fly!" Sparkler said, stopping Lightning.

"Whatever, I can beat you on hoof."

"Psh. First one to that tree not far away!" She said. "One..." Sparkler started.

"Two..." Lightning said, grinning at Sparkler.

The two were staring at one another for a split second as yelled out, "Three!" at the same time, and they bolted off.

Lightning looked behind her to see Sparkler not that far behind.

"Oh, you're tired?" She teased.

A smug look came onto Sparkler's muzzle.

"Uhm... In your dreams!" She yelled, passing her and arriving to the tree five seconds after that.

Lightning's jaw dropped as she slowed down to a walking pace. Sparkler and laughing as Lightning arrived at the tree two minutes later.

"Ha! You were saying?" Sparkler said.

"How did you... Huh?"

"Heh, you look like you just saw a ghost! Clam down, Dusty! That's the problem with pegasi. They always fly, they never build up any power in their hind legs!"

"D-Dusty?" Lightning repeated, her legs shaking. That's what she used to call me all those years ago... Lightning thought, recalling the moments she had with her last friend.

"Do you mind me calling you that?"

Lightning Dust smiled.

"Not at all, Sparky!" She said, a cheeky grin plastered on her face.

The two of them began to laugh for what seemed forever. After they both calmed down, they realized that it was night, for the sky was dark blue.

"Oh... I've gotta get home! I'm having a sleepover with my friends! Can you come over tomorrow? You can meet them." Sparkler offered.

Lightning's eyes lit up.

"S-S-Seriously?!"

"Yip!"

"I'm so there!"

"Great, see ya there!" Sparkler said before igniting her horn. It glowed indigo, and her body was soon surrounded by the same color. "Bye!" She said, and she teleported away.

Lightning felt like she was going to burst.

"I'm finally going to be with ponies! I forgot how good it felt to have a friend... But now that I have one, a few more would be great! I wouldn't have to live my life alone like I've been doing for the past five years!" She said, flying around in weird patterns.

"Woah! you sure got speed and agility, kid! Have you ever wondered trying out for the Wonderbolts? I myself wouldn't mind training you if Spitty would let me! She won't let me train Dash, so you could be the next big option!" An all too familiar-soundning voice called in amusement.

"S-Soarin Skies?! Second-in-command of the Wonderbolts?!"

Author's Note

Dundundun!!!:derpytongue2:
I will now put a hashtag for the end of every chapter of every story I do.:pinkiecrazy:

ThisWeirdCliffhanger #BringingMyselfInTheStory #LightningGottaFriend #Sake4DemHashtags

~Sparkler Shine

Chapter Three: Is This Really Happening? (Ya know, she meets a Wonderbolt, passes out. You do the rest. XDD)

Lingering Lightning

Sparkler Shine MLP

Chapter Three: Is This Really Happening?

Lightning Dust couldn't keep her eyes off the sight before her. Soarin Skies, second in command of the Wonderbolts, and one of the best of the best in the team was standing before her!

"Uh... Hello?" He said, flapping his wings and moving closer to her. He waved his hoof in font of her face. "Are you there?" He said while laughing.

Lightning chuckled at the stallion's goofy personality.

Soarin Skies really messes like this? Feel bad for the Wonderbolts! Lightning thought with a smile on her face.

She saw the Wonderbolt looking at her all funny. Her eyes widened as she cleared her throat.

"Y-Yes? S-Soarin Sk-Skies..?" She meekly said.

The stallion coughed a chuckle.

"Your reaction when you saw me, priceless!" He said, waving a hoof in the air.

Lightning's cheeks went pink.

I embarrassed myself in front of my idol... Sweet Celestia! She thought while rolling her eyes.

"Hey, no hard feelings?" Soarin kindly asked, almost as if her were a mind reader.

"Y-Yeah... No hard feelings..." Lightning slowly said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Now, back to business!" He said. "Have you ever thought about trying for the Wonderbolts?" He asked.

Sugarcubes! Lightning thought. I can't let him know the whole story! B-But I gotta tell him something! But not getting kicked out of the academy, that's for sure... Lightning bit her bottom lip. "Uh... Yeah! I-I have thought about going to the academy... So much, actually!" She stuttered. That's not the biggest lie... "A-And I really wanted to go th-this year... But I didn't have enough money to pay the fee that comes along being in the academy!" She managed to say.

"So... You made the tryouts, but declined the invitation to the academy?" Soarin asked.

Lightning gulpled, but then slowly nodded her head.

"M-Maybe n-next year..." She said.

Soarin's face brightened up.

"Don't worry! I'll make sure you have enough money to get in the Wonderbolts! I mean, a talented flyer like you might have a dream with that amazing talent." He said is sing-song voice.

"W-What do you mean?"

"Why do you want to fly in the Wonderbolts?" Soarin asked.

"It's a... Private... Uh, reason. But I also wanna let out the message to other fillies and colts that anypony can do anything if they try." She said, ending with a smile at the end.

"Great! That was my reason! Well... They last part. There are so many other ponies out there with such talent, but they hide it, too shy to embrace it. I want to inspire other ponies to work together, and to find what their purpose in life is." He sighed.

Lightning smiled at the Wonderbolt.

"I-I'm Lightning Dust, by the way." She said, smiling.

"Great to meat you, Lighting! So, would you mind if I train you? I mean, you'd know so much more about what to do as a Wonderbolt that way." Soarin offered.

Lightning Dust felt like exploding, but then something struck her.

I was kicked out of the academy, how can I ever be a Wonderbolt?

"Lightning Dust..! Hellooo!!!" Soarin said, returning back to his old strategy, waving his hoof in Lightning's face.

Lightning giggled, once again Soarin was just being a plain goof.

"So, you in?" He asked.

Lightning hesitated, but then nodded her head slowly.

"Y-Yeah... B-But why are you doing this?" She asked.

"What else would a friend do?" Soarin said, rolling his eyes like it was obvious.

"Uhm... But what about this... Rainbow Dash?" She said, shuddering at the pony's name.

Soarin smiled.

"She's one of the best fliers ever! She did a Sonic Rainboom, saved my life one, twice of you include my pie! She's the element of loyalty, and I really want her to fly along side the Wonderbolts someday! She really loves flying, and she wanted to inspire others! And she's so cool!" Soarin blabbered about Rainbow Dash.

Lightning felt like crying, but she couldn't help but smile at the stallion's love for Rainbow Dash.

"Seems like you're the real fan, not her." She said, stopping Soarin with a chuckle.

Soarin flashed her a smile.

"Ready to get started?" He asked.

Lightning's eyes widened.

"R-Right now?"

"It's not that late." He said. "Your friend maybe had to leave because she had to get to someplace quick." Soarin said with a shrug.

Lightning nodded, then smiled.

"Sure. We can totally start! You're wings are gonna blow off when you see my cool stunts!" Lightning said, gaining her confidence back. He doesn't know what happened, I can be just me right now! She thought with a grin.

"Then come on!" Soarin said, taking off.

Lightning smirked at followed to the side of him.

"Well, you can keep up. How good are you at busting through clouds?" Soarin asked.

Lightning's mouth gaped.

Cloud... Busting... The events of yesterday were flowing back to her.

"Lightning Dust?!" Soarin called.

But Lightning didn't listen.

It's because she's nice and a good friend! You're not!

Yeeah! And besides, you nearly killed 5 ponies! Just get outtah here!

S-Sorry! I was going too fa- Lighning Dust?!

Lightning Dust couldn't take it anymore. From everything that happened, one moment really came through her head.

Spitfire was nose-to-nose ("nose-to-nose XDD) with Lightning Dust. She vigorously ripped her Lead-pony badge off her academy uniform, and it left a tear mark. She pointed for her to leave, and the guards took her to the dorms.

Tears freely escaped Lightning's eyes. She couldn't concentrate on anything. She didn't feel her wings close.

She fell.

Everything went black because of her eyes closed shut.

When she realized that her wings were closed, she tried to reopen them up.

Unfortunately, she was falling too fast, so she couldn't get in a good position to open her wings.

I-I can't do anything... She thought. Nothing goes right for me!

She thought she heard somepony call her name

"As if somepony would ever care about me..." She murmured, letting herself freely fall to the ground. "If your own parents leave you, you're nothing!"

She kept falling to the ground.

And she did hit it.

Her head. Only the tip of her head.

Before anything else touched the ground, but was swept up.

She didn't open her eyes, but her head felt dead.

She heard the flap of wings, and the thump of hoofsteps, and two familiar voices were calling her name.

But that was when she really passed out.

YOU SHALL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE ENDING! YOU WILL NEVER WHO WHO I AM!
PINKIE!
Huh?
GET BACK INTO YOUR CAGE!
Why do you get to be in the story?!
PINKIE PIE!
Ugh, buzzkill.
*facepalm

"W-Will she be okay?" A male voice said.

A small murmur was heard.

"Well what they hay is that supposed to mean?!" An angry female voice yelled.

They both were too familiar to a certain pony.

"Oh, Please calm down, Sis. E-Everyhting will be alright." A female young and unfamiliar voice squeaked.

"Why am I here again?" Another young and unfamiliar voice said, but it was male.

Lightning grunted slowly as she opened her eyes.

"M-My head..." She grimly said before passing out.

Author's Note

(Sky Rocket21 please read?:trollestia:)
You may hate me doing this a certain person, but expect SoarinDash to be shipped next chapter! (Talking about you, Sky! XDD)
The little voices are my brother and sister is you wanted to know. The male voice was Soarin, and the female voice was me.
(It's not the biggest fluff for SoarinDust, but I'm here to crush your SoarinDash mind with this story!:moustache: But in a good way!:pinkiehappy: Kay, I'm sounding evil now, sorry Sky!:derpytongue2:)
Oh, and idk about the title.:pinkiecrazy:
And that little tiny section:
Tears freely escaped Lightning's eyes. She couldn't concentrate on anything. She didn't feel her wings close.
She fell.
Everything went black because of her eyes closed shut.
When she realized that her wings were closed, she tried to reopen them up.
Unfortunately, she was falling too fast, so she couldn't get in a good position to open her wings.
I-I can't do anything... She thought. Nothing goes right for me!
She thought she heard somepony call her name
This was a suggestion on how to word that part by Frankie2: https://www.fimfiction.net/user/Frankie2

RandomTitleIsRandom

~Sparkler Shine