The Thunder Twist Chronicle

The Thunder Twist Chronicle

It’s been about ten years since the Mane 6 of Ponyville, as they’ve come to be called round these parts, defeated Chrysalis and her Changeling army. Since then there has been nothing but peace in Equestria. Since then the ponies Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash have gone their separate ways, but they get together twice each year to celebrate their friendship. Twilight Sparkle became the personal assistant of Princess Celestia, where she learns new and powerful magic, and the Princess has even started teaching Twilight how to raise the sun in the morning. Rarity was finally able to move to Canterlot where she is able to mingle with the upper class and get them to truly appreciate her ensembles. She even ended up marrying Fancy Pants. Fluttershy somewhat came over her fear of the unknown and moved into the Everfree Forest. Right next to Zecora, of course. She is now living there in a new cottage and taming the animals of the forest. Applejack took over completely at Sweet Apple Acres after Granny Smith died of old age, and they ain’t never seen better sales. After five years the Cakes moved to Manehattan to start another branch of Sugarcube Corner, and they left Pinkie Pie in charge of the Ponyville branch.

Rainbow Dash was finally able to join the Wonderbolts after two years. She traveled with them for about a year before they fully recognized her talent and made her captain. It was on one of these tours that she met my Pa, an earth pony named Bright Sunset. I know, kinda girly name right. I swear everypony thought he swung the other way until he joined up with Ma. He had a dark red coat with a perfectly groomed orange mane. Just by looking at him you could never tell he was an Appaloosan. He and Ma hit it off immediately when he came to get her autograph, and he tagged along the rest of the tour. He and Ma got married as soon as they returned to Canterlot, with Princess Celestia presiding over the service. That’s where I come in.

Eleven months later I was born. Ma wasn’t sure if I’d be a Pegasus or an earth pony due to my heritage, but when I came out with wings she was overjoyed. Pa was too. He was glad I wouldn’t have to be grounded like him my whole life. They decided to name me Thunder Twist. However, when I was five and just learning to fly, Pa was stricken by a rare pony disease that took him from us within the week. Ma was so put out by it she couldn’t even fly for a year, so she sent me to pre-flight school in Cloudsdale.

I’m now a seven year old pony fresh of my first year at Cloudsdale, and I’m returning home to see Ma. I’ve missed her so much. But when I land in Canterlot the first pony I see is Shining Silver, Rarity’s and Fancy Pants’ daughter. She the most beautiful filly in all of Canterlot, not that im one to judge seein’ as I’m only seven. But still, wow!

“Hey Silver,” I call out, “What you up to?”

She turns to me and her eyes light up. “Oh, Twisty!” she exclaims, “I’m so happy to see you. It’s been, like, ages!”

“C’mon Sil it’s only been nine months,” I say nonchalantly.

“But it’s felt like an eternity,” she replies in her sweet high pitched voice.

I change the subject hoping she won’t see the adoration in my eyes. “So what are you doing out here in the town square?”

“Oh, I’m here to pick up some new fabric that Momma wants so she can make me a new dress for the Youth’s Ball tomorrow. That reminds me, you’ll be wanting to go also won’t you. I’ll see if I can get Momma to make you a nice suit, and we can go to the ball together.”

I blush, turning my crimson cheeks an even darker shade of red. “No, no you don’t have to d-“

“Nonsense!” she interrupts me, “I bet she’ll be happy to do it. But listen to me ramble on. You probably want to see your mother don’t you?”

“Yeah,” I reply coming back to Equestria. “How’s she doin?”

“Well, she’s not 100% yet but she’s flying now. Miss Sparkle and Momma have been to see her every day. Would you like me to walk with you to your house?”

I brighten up at these words, “Yes, please. That would be greatly appreciated.”
When we get to my house I hear clanking in the kitchen that means mom is preparing dinner. “Thank you, Sil, I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Twisty,” she says as she give me a hug.

I walk into my house and immediately smell roasted asparagus, my favorite.

“Twilight? Rarity is that you?” I hear my Ma’s wonderful voice coming from the kitchen.

“No, Ma, it’s me. I’m home!” I call out to her as I set my bags by the front door.

“Thunder?” she walks out of the kitchen and spots me. She gallops over to me and gives a big hug and smothers me with motherly kisses. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, squirt, and holy hay, you’ve grown.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Ma,” I say as a hug her back. “Is that asparagus I smell cooking?”

“Yep. Your favorite if I remember correctly.”

“Oh, it is, it is, it is,” I say clapping my hooves together.

“Well then, set up the table and we’ll dig in…”

Three years have passed since that night, and since then I’ve been directly under Ma’s tutelage. I’ve become a great flyer but I still can’t break the sound barrier like Ma can. She took back over as captain as the Wonderbolts a week after I came back, and since then I’ve gone to every show and even performed a little.
We were about to perform in Ponyville, Ma’s home town when she came up to me.

“Hey, squirt, I got a question for ya,” she says brightly. “How would you like to dive with me later on when I do my Sonic Rainboom?”

“Oh, would I?” I squeal with delight. “That would be the best thing ever.”

“I’m glad. Now go put on you uniform. We’re going on last but you need to get warmed up.”

“Yes, Ma.” I’m already at the changing room door.

The crowd is cheering wildly when Ma and I enter the stadium.

“Ready, squirt? We’ll do a few laps and then start the climb.”

“Got it, Ma.”

We take off to the thunderous cheers of the thousands of ponies. We do four laps around the stadium then start our ascent. As we climb a bird hits Ma’s right wing. She doesn’t even break stride as we climb.

As we reach one thousand feet above the ground Ma looks at me with a gleam in her eye, “Ready, sport?”

“Let’s do it, Ma!”

She pulls down her goggles and I do the same. “Just remember to fly through the loop,” and with that she took off with be right after her.

Ma looked wonderful speeding like that. We’re at five hundred feet, two-fifty, one hundred. She's about to pull it off. Why doesn’t she do it. She’s getting close to the ground. That’s when I notice it. Her right wing is missing a few feathers. That bird must have done it. Ma keeps going. You can’t really pull out of a Sonic Rainboom when you’re surrounded on three sides by the sound barrier. All I can do is watch in horror.

At five feet she does it, but it’s too late. She hits the ground immediately, and I can hear the crunch of her bones even over the wind and the crowd. I speed up trying to get to her before it’s too late, but I know she’s gone. I speed up more and land with a thud next to her broken body.

“Ma?” I nudge her with my hoof. “Ma, please get up. This isn’t funny,” but I know it’s not a joke. Her eyes are glassed over, and she’s not breathing.

“No nononononononono. This can’t be happening. You were laughing with me a minute ago. Please, Ma, don’t go. I need you.” I’m vaguely aware of other ponies surrounding me.
I start breathing fast. Then I can’t breathe at all. The last thing I hear is somepony screaming, probably me. Then all I see is black…

End Of Chapter One