Dreaming of skies to conquer
"Ha! I win again." Lightning Dust said. Before the dart had even struck the board, she was scooping up her winnings.
Wind Rider rolled his eyes and took what little satisfaction he could in the fact that Lightning Dust didn't have a pension like him. One day she wouldn't be young. And all her fame and hubris would mean squat.
Still, at least she would be able to be hired as a "former Washout." Advertisers loved retired athletes even more than employed ones. They'd sure loved Rider before his own protégé ruined his reputation.
Speaking of...Spitfire had just walked into the bar, followed by a scrawny, yellow pegasus guard in antique armor. She frowned in the direction of him and Lightning and muttered something derogatory to her companion, before calling to the bartender.
Rider shifted deeper into his seat. Spitfire could badmouth him all she wanted but he still belonged here. He'd visited this bar while she was in diapers and he had no intention of leaving, no matter how much muscle she brought in.
"Hey, Spits. You finished with the 'Rainbow Dash' show already?" Lightning Dust asked. "Y'know she's the only half-decent flyer on your team anymore?"
Lightning, on the other hand, did not belong here. The bartender had let her stay because Rider had vouched for her, but they all knew she was only here to stick it to Spitfire and the rest of the Wonderbolts.
Spitfire rolled her eyes. "We all had a great show, Lightning. Sorry to hear that Short Fuse dropped out of the Washouts. But maybe his experience working for you means he'll start a stunt team with actual safety precautions."
Lightning Dust rolled her eyes. "If you can't handle the thunder get out of the clouds...besides," She smirked. "There's always Wonderbolt Academy dropouts eager to make a name for themselves."
Spitfire shook her head sadly and her eyes briefly caught Wind Rider's beneath her sunglasses. Rider didn't think she could get more disappointed in him. Neither did he think her disappointment could still sting.
The stallion who'd come with her handed her a mug foaming with cider and approached their table.
"You must be the troublemakers I've heard so much about..." The stallion said.
"What, are you gonna arrest us?" Lightning demanded.
He smiled. "I'm actually off duty at the moment. Name's Flash Magnus. Mind if I sit down here?"
Both Wind Rider and Lightning Dust stared agog as the living legend himself pulled out a chair and sat down at their table. Rider glanced at Spitfire, expecting her to reveal this was some kind of prank, but she just gave an encouraging nod.
"I'm not a Wonderbolt either, so I figure I belonged." Flash said finishing his mug in one go. "But perks of being over a thousand-years old, most ponies don't feel right turning you away."
He took Lightning Dust's unfinished mug and downed that one as well, wiping the suds off his muzzle with the back of his hoof. "You must be the leader of these Washouts I keep hearing about. You know I used to drive Commander Thunderhead wild with the risks I took. Still, me and the other members of the royal legion...we laid down our lives every day to protect the common folk from dragons and griffons. But I guess you and your buddies'll do it just for the applause, huh?"
Lighting opened her mouth to protest but Flash refused to be interrupted.
"Must be something wrong with a pony, if risking their life is the only thing that matters to them, don'tchya think?" He asked Rider.
Rider looked at Lightning Dust and couldn't help but nod.
"You alright, fellah? You haven't talked since I stepped in here." Flash asked.
"You're the reason I joined the academy." Rider said slowly. "You're a lot shorter than I imagined you'd be."
Flash laughed. "Y'know, the first time we met, Rainbow Dash said the exact same thing! I heard you did her a bad turn a while back...tried to get her kicked out of the Wonderbolts just to keep your record..."
Rider's mouth suddenly went dry.
"Now, that soured me on ya, since she helped free my friends and I from an eternity in limbo." He shrugged. "Still, I know how ya feel."
Rider blinked. "You...you do?"
"Sure. Back when me and the rest of the pillars were protecting Equestria, we got praised for every monster we fought. But with Rainbow Dash and her friends having defeated Nightmare Moon, Tirek and...Discord...well, let's just say my accomplishments don't quite measure up."
He stood up, cracking his neck. "Still, that's no reason not to be proud I helped inspire her heroism. Seems to me that if it weren't for the both of us, Rainbow wouldn't be the fantastic flyer she is today." Then he winked. "Who knows what foals she'll inspire next?"
Spitfire walked over and closed Lightning Dust's still gaping mouth as Flash threw a couple bits on the counter. "Apparently, the greatest flyer in Equestrian history is still alive. Who'dve thought? Anyway, I asked him if he'd give you two a pep talk, see if maybe he could get you to stop moping around my bar!"
With that, she nodded at them both and headed out the door after Flash.
"Who does she think she is!?" Lightning Dust fumed, the moment they were alone again. "And even if that was the real deal, so what? It doesn't change what Dash did to you or me!"
Rider stared deep into his unfinished mug. Then he stood up.
"Hey...where are you going?"
Rider didn't answer Lightning Dust. He just paid his tab and marched outside.
Flash and Spitfire were long gone. Probably racing each other home. But the cloud was soft and the wind beneath his weathered wings was warm. And there was still just enough sunlight left for one long flight. Besides, a little exercise would be good at his age.
Wind Rider plunged. Then he rose.
And then he soared.
