Firelight

Chapter 3: Walk In The Park

Giving a quiet yawn, Lightning blinked out of her slumber and into the waking world. Being met with unfamiliar surroundings, it took her brain several moments to clear enough of the fog to remember where she was: Spitfire's apartment. Squirming slightly, and with a soft grunt, the mare stretched out her limbs to ward off the lingering sleepiness from her body, before she rolled over and hopped onto her hooves, brushing a few errant strands of amber mane from her face. Taking a brief moment to make the bed, she poked her head around the curtain hanging across the window to look out over the city.

The sun had been up for a few hours now, which meant she had actually managed to sleep in this morning. The exact time she needed to be up for her job would vary depending on the needs of the weather team and how early they had to get started; sometimes it was even before the sun had fully risen above the horizon. Lightning had decided a week into the job that she wanted to set a consistent schedule to her sleep so she wouldn't feel exhausted on the early days of weather duty. It was nice to snag an extra few hours every now and again, and today was apparently one of those days. Looking up at the clear skies above, she gave a nod of approval and turned to the door, slipping out to the hallway.

It didn't take her long to find Spitfire in the kitchen, scanning across the morning paper with a mug of coffee beside her. Ears flicking slightly as she entered the room, Spitfire looked up with a smile. "Morning Lightning. Sleep well?"

Lightning gave a small yawn, nodding as she sat across the table. "Yeah, the extra few hours was really nice." She glanced over at the daylight flowing in through the nearby window, her wings fidgeting slightly against her back. "I uh, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Waving a hoof in response, the Wonderbolt set the paper aside. "Oh no you're fine, I slept in too. All those shows in a row is really exhausting, so taking the time to rest and actually recover is important." Hopping off the stool, she took her mug and placed it in the sink. "Did you need to shower or anything? We can head out whenever you're ready."

Tilting her head, she thought for a brief moment. "No, I got a good shower last night, and this" she gestured at her mane with a hoof "is pretty much the extent of my morning maintenance." She paused again. "Unless we're going somewhere nice, then I can brush it and look a bit less... this."

Spitfire shook her head. "Oh don't worry about it, we aren't going anywhere that would require us to dress up or anything." Taking a small brown saddlebag off the counter, she slung it across her back. "And don't worry about the bits, this trip is on me." Lightning opened her muzzle to protest, but Spitfire held up a hoof. "I dragged you out here at the last minute, it's the least I can do."

"At least let me pay for my breakfast or something..."

"Nope!" She replied happily. "I'm paying and that's the end of the story." Seeing Dust's face, she put a hoof on her shoulder. "Trust me, we aren't going anywhere that's going to be expensive or break the bank, so let me treat you. If nothing else, consider it my thanks for carrying me out of that cave a few months ago."

Lightning sighed, looking down as she pawed at the ground with a hoof as her wings ruffled gently. "Well, when you put it like that..."

"Perfect!" Spitfire beamed. "Let's get going then!" As the pair headed to the door, she used her wing to snag the keys off a small hook on the wall. Entering the hallway, she turned and locked the door behind them, slipping the keys securely into one of the bag's smaller pockets.

"It's a little bit of a walk to the diner," Spitfire said as they headed down to the elevator, "but absolutely worth the trip I promise. It happens to be a bit hidden away too, which makes it perfect for ponies like the 'Bolts to visit and relax without being bothered."

Lightning nodded as they waited for the elevator to reach their floor. "I guess that makes sense. I imagine there isn't a way to nicely say 'hey leave me alone I'm in my off time'?"

The captain shook her head. "Not really. Thankfully, out of uniform, there are less ponies that recognize us, and the ones that do will usually avoid holding us up for more than just exchanging pleasantries. We have lives and stuff to get to, after all. But you take a dozen short encounters, and suddenly you're missing an hour of your day. And I want every hour of time I can get my hooves on." The elevator gave a soft rumble as it came to a stop in front of them, the stallion inside sliding the door open for the pair.

"Morning ladies." He greeted with a broad smile.

Spitfire gave a small wave as the mares entered. "Hey Brass, how's the weather today?"

Closing the door and activating the mana crystal, the compartment rumbled as they began their descent. "Going to be a beautiful day out there, Captain. Sun is out to keep it warm, but the breeze will stop it from getting too out of hoof. Got any plans for the outdoors?"

She nodded. "Lightning has never been to the Canterlot Gardens, figured it would be a great place to wander around for the day, especially if the weather is going to be so nice."

"Excellent plan!" He replied with a nod. "Word of warning, I do believe the primary schools are taking the kids to the fruit orchards of the Gardens, so if you were hoping for some quiet I would avoid them just for today." The lift shuddered to a halt on the ground floor, Brass reaching to pull the door open for the mares.

"Thanks for the heads up!" Spitfire reached into her bag and hoofed a few bits to him that he placed in his pocket. "You're a lifesaver on that one." Waving as they departed, the two made their way towards the large doors of the entrance.

"He seems like a really nice guy." Lightning commented, once she was sure they were out of earshot.

"Oh, Brass Alloy? Yeah, he's great." Spitfire agreed. "He's been running the elevator since long before I got here, seems to really enjoy it. He also keeps track of the weather, local events, pretty much anything you would need to know for your day. Saved my flank more than once from walking out into a downpour without realizing it." Holding the door open for her friend, the two stepped out into the sun.

As the stallion had said, it was an absolutely beautiful day outside; even without any clouds in the sky to cover the sun hanging high overhead, the consistent breeze blowing across their coats kept them from feeling too warm. They made their way lazily down the streets, neither in any rush to get to their destination any quicker. They walked beside each other, with Lightning keeping a short half-step slower so she could easily follow if Spitfire made any turns or stops.

"It's a couple roads down from my place, so it's not too far." Spitfire explained as they traveled. "I try not to eat directly around my flat too often, the prices are... well, let's just say they clearly cater to the elite of Canterlot. And especially being an athlete, it's just too many bits to get the intake and specific diet I need for flying and staying in shape."

"Makes sense." Lightning nodded. "I imagine for them it's a lot more about the artistry and the quality ingredients than the amount of food they're giving you."

"More like keeping the 'non-elites' out of their stores." She grumbled in response. "Speaking of getting in shape though, seems like the diet suggestions are working out for you. Your body's looking a lot nicer than back in the cave." She glanced over. "Please don't take that the wrong way."

Lightning chuckled, shaking her head. "Trust me, I get it: I looked awful back then, even if I didn't want to admit it out loud." They paused at a corner briefly to let a carriage roll by, before continuing on. "But yeah, it feels good to be getting back in shape. With weather work I'm focusing more on getting my stamina back rather than speed or power: it's just more useful for the job."

"Makes sense, it always looked like more of a long-haul sort of job than one you muscle through." They continued crossing town at a gentle pace, chatting idly as they weaved along streets and around other ponies. The pair gladly soaked in the sun, letting it warm and relax their wings as the breeze continued to gently brush across them. It didn't take them long after to reach their destination.

Many buildings in Canterlot were meant to draw your eye; either through unique architecture, fancy signs and lights, or just their sheer size and scale. The obvious intent was to entice the eye and draw you inside to indulge in whatever goods and services they were selling.

This place, simply called Flan's Diner, was very much the opposite.

The diner stood barely a story tall, opaque windows stretching across the length of the building; when Lightning squinted, she couldn't make out anything other than vague shapes on the other side of the glass. A string of magic lights, almost like those you'd hang on a Hearth's Warming tree, ran along the edge of the roof above them. They were powered off, likely because it was daytime, but looked like they would shine a very soft neon red when ignited by the spell. She idly wondered how something that looked so plain and easy to miss in a city like Canterlot managed to survive; even in the less-rich areas of the city, it still had to be incredibly expensive to own anything compared to most of the other places she had visited.

Spitfire grabbed the silver handle of the entrance, opening the door and holding it for her companion. "After you."

"Thank you."

The interior of the diner was just as simplistic as the outside had been: the decorations were sparse, with some pictures and what looked like vintage vinyl records in protective frames filling the empty space. Several ponies sat in front of them at a long counter, cups of coffee and plates of food in front of most of them. Fanning out to either side of her against the front windows were booths, a few already occupied with ponies happily enjoying their meals together.

Lightning was met with the delicious aroma of pancakes, syrup, and haybacon, causing her stomach to rumble gently in anticipation.

"Hey Spitfire!" One of the waitresses behind the counter, a unicorn mare with an icy blue coat and a short aqua mane, waved at them with a hoof. "Feel free to grab a booth, I'll be with you two in just a second."

Nudging her companion, Spitfire nodded towards their right. "Think the one at the end is open, let's head there." Slipping past a few already-occupied booths, they slid into the empty one at the very end of the row facing each other, and got comfortable. Glancing at the window beside them, Lightning realized she could see through clearly without issue, and gave her companion a curious look. Catching her gaze, Spitfire waved a hoof. "Oh, don't worry about ponies looking in on us: the window panes are enchanted so you can look out without an issue, but you can't clearly see who is on the inside of the diner. Adds some natural light inside, without ruining the privacy of it all."

Lightning gave a nod, looking back outside as the ponies milled about their day. "Huh, that's pretty cool." Turning back to the table, she opened up the menu and started looking inside. "I don't exactly go out to eat very often, got any suggestions?"

"Hmm... Well I've been all around the menu here, and it's all pretty good: pancakes, omelets, haybacon, you really can't go wrong."

The unicorn waitress from earlier stepped up to their table, greeting the pair with a soft, genuine smile. "Well hey there you two, thanks for stopping in!" She turned to the Wonderbolt. "Not often you bring company, Spitfire, who is this lovely young lady?"

"Rosepetal, this is my friend Lightning Dust, she's come all the way from Ponyville and Pinegrove." Spitfire introduced. "Dust, this is Rosepetal, she runs the place now that her mom retired.” She turned back to the unicorn. “How is she by the way?"

"She's doing great!" Rosepetal answered. "She wasn't too sure about retirement, but I think that changed when she got to Las Pegasus and relaxed on the beach for the first time: pretty sure I'm never getting her off the sand again." She chuckled, levitating her pad and a pen in front of her muzzle. "So, what can I get the two of you today?"

"Just got back from my shows on the coast, so I'm getting my usual celebration breakfast: coffee, water, and the fully-loaded omelet."

"You got it hun!" She scribbled the order down, before looking at Lightning Dust. "Do you need a minute? I can come back."

Dust thought for a moment, shaking her head. "I'll just have what she's having. Apple juice instead of the coffee though, please."

"Sure thing you two, I'll get that right in!" Taking the menus out of their way, she trotted off with a soft hum.

Now that they were closer to the wall, Lightning saw that many of the photos appeared to be family pictures: she could pick out Rosepetal easily, following the images backwards to see her younger and younger. Another mainstay of most of the images was a light brown earth pony; based on the younger Rosepetal being held by the pony in the early images, she figured that must be Flan. The pair bore wide smiles in each image, the light sting of envy bubbling inside. Pulling her gaze away from the wall, she turned back to Spitfire. "So, sounds like you've been coming here a long time then?"

The captain nodded, leaning against the booth's back. "Mmm, probably for the last five years or so? Her mom, Grandma Flan, actually took over this place when the previous owners went bankrupt: she worked hard to clean up and improve it, and they've been really successful ever since. The location, and not-flashy décor, don't really bring in the Canterlot elite; that actually makes it a great place for visitors and ponies looking to avoid the snobbery and price gouging of the fine dining places around the city."

"That's pretty cool." Dust commented. "How did you end up finding it then?"

A light blush crossed Spitfire's cheeks, a hoof rubbing the back of her neck. "It's a little embarrassing. One day, when I was still pretty new to Canterlot, I got myself turned around and lost trying to find my way to one of the tailors around here; my uniform had gotten a bit dinged up at an after-party, and I uh... I figured since the uniform had been brand new, the 'Bolts wouldn't have been thrilled about having to pay for the repair or get me a new one so soon. So I had decided that I was going to go and get it fixed up on my own bits, save myself the embarrassment. I was still exhausted from the night before, which is how I got turned around trying to follow Soarin's directions. Deciding I needed a little help, I wandered in here to try and get pointed the right way. While Flan was trying to help me out, I see the biggest omelet I've ever laid eyes on get carried past me. Well, I hadn't eaten in nearly fourteen hours, so I ended up staring at the plate and losing track of the conversation."

"Flan got a good chuckle as my stomach rumbled loud enough to wake the dead, so she sat me down in a booth and served me one of those plates: a fully-loaded omelet." Spitfire chuckled softly at the memory. "Wouldn't take no for an answer, but I was so ravenous I don't think I'd have been able to fight the urge to dive in anyway. Once she got me fed, she sent me on my way to get my uniform fixed, and I've been coming back ever since; though during show-season I have to get something a bit... less big, to make sure I stay in shape. But like I said, we're off the route for a couple weeks, so I get to cheat for just a few days."

Lightning gave a soft chuckle. "That does sound pretty funny. Do the 'Bolts do a lot of parties like that?"

"Nah, we tend to be a bit more reserved than how hard we went that night; after all, we have a reputation to maintain, and it's too easy to end up injured doing something stupid. For instance, about a year ago, Rapidfire actually was put on the reserve team for a few months because he ended up getting in a stupid argument and shoving a bouncer at one of the clubs we were at." Another waitress dropped off their drinks, and the pair thanked her.

After taking a sip of water, Lightning responded "Oh, I think I remember reading about that! It was in the paper for a couple of days after, he had community service and missed the main run of shows that season.”

“Yup.” Spitfire confirmed. “And that was the end of any crazy parties for us, under threat of severe punishment.” The two continued to chat idly about the Wonderbolts over the next several minutes, until Rosepetal returned carrying a tray of food in the pink aura of her magic.

She set the plates down in front of the mares with a smile. "Alright, here you go ladies! Just let us know if you need anything else."

“Thank you!” The two mares said in unison. Looking down at the plate in front of her, the aroma of haybacon, onions, and peppers made Lightning salivate: this was going to be good. Seeing Spitfire dig in, Dust wasted no time in following suit and taking a bite off the edge, her eyes lighting up.

"Oh wow, this is amazing!" Dust exclaimed, happily shoving another forkful of omelet into her muzzle. Cheese oozed out of the side of the open omelet, carrying pieces of haybacon and tomatoes onto the plate, but were quickly scooped up by the next pass of her utensil.

Spitfire laughed, nodding in agreement. "Haybacon, onions, peppers, tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and enough cheese to suffocate you. It's nearly as thick as my cannon, and it's all wrapped in egg that's almost impossibly fluffy." Conversation fell silent as they devoured their meals, both making sure to clean up any pieces that fell out onto the plate. In almost no time, the two mares had picked their plates completely clean of any omelet shreds, and leaned back against their seats satisfied.

"Buuuuuck that was good." Lightning groaned, patting her stomach lightly. "I'll have to remember where this place is, cuz I am definitely coming back here."

"Well I'll keep that in mind next time you come out to visit." She smiled, stretching slightly. "I'm ready to move on, but do you need to sit a few minutes to let it settle?"

"Nah." Dust shook her head. "I should be good, as long as we aren't going running... or flying, that might've made me too heavy for that." Spitfire slipped out of the booth, smirking as she very gently poked her friend's stomach, earning a soft squeak from Dust.

"It's not that bad, I think you could still manage.” She joked. "But trust me, I remember my first time with that omelet too, and I felt the exact same way." Leaving a small pile of bits on the table, Spitfire motioned to the door with her head. "No flying or running, just a nice walk. The east side of the Canterlot Gardens isn't too far from here, and then there'll be plenty of benches if you need to take a break." As they headed towards the exit, Spitfire gave a small wave to Rosepetal. "Thanks again! I'll be seeing you soon!"

She waved at the departing pair. "Thanks for stoppin' by hun! And make sure to bring your friend back soon too!"

"I will!" With that, the two slipped back outside.

The breeze had picked up slightly, gently blowing their manes and tails as they trotted down the road. Their pace was a bit slower than it had been, the delicious food from the diner slightly weighing them down. It was still a little before noon, so Spitfire wasn't in any hurry to get anywhere; they still had plenty of time.

"So," Lightning started, "the Canterlot Gardens, what exactly are they? Beyond being a giant garden, I mean."

"Well, the name sort of explains itself." Spitfire began. "I'm sure you've at least seen images of it from above?" Dust nodded. "While it is 'just a garden', it's a lot more than that too. The Princesses brought in plants from all over Equestria, and even other nations, and have them set up and organized mainly by climate and weather requirements. Some areas with similar needs are separated by knee-high fences, while much taller walls split up the main areas. They have a team of pegasi employed full time to make sure that the weather over each area is exactly where it needs to be, and unicorns keep the areas separated and protected from the Canterlot environment. Personally, I love the orchards and fruit trees the most; they're so bright and colorful and have the most beautiful fruits growing on them. But if Brass is right and all the fillies will be swarming around, we'll want to explore them another time." Chuckle. “Just another excuse to get you back out here.”

She nodded slowly as she took in the information. “Growing up in Pinegrove there wasn't a lot of need for a garden, or the spare time to take care of it. Guess it didn't make a lot of sense to have one anyway, being in the middle of a forest. It'll be neat to actually see stuff from all over Equestria.”

"And don't forget," Spitfire pointed out as they neared the eastern entrance to the gardens, "that the Princesses have imported plants from Saddle Arabia, Zebrica, Griffonstone, Yakyakistan, and several other places. So there are things in here you literally will not find growing in Equestria itself."

The Canterlot Gardens had entrances at every cardinal point, with the most elaborate designs and creations on the southern end of the area. By no means did this mean the other entryways were bare or boring: each of them was dedicated to a different pony race, with their archway dedicated to the unicorns of Equestria. Intricate lines were carved into the stonework, swirling and arcing gracefully along the entire surface; every color of the rainbow seemed to be present, some internal magic giving them a soft but brilliant sheen. On the very top of the arch were a pair of large unicorns, made in such perfect detail one could have mistaken them for being real... at least, if not for their enormous size.

The two pegasi passed under the arch and into the Gardens themselves, standing in a small cobblestone clearing surrounded by benches. Spitfire nudged her companion gently on the shoulder. "So Dust, left or right? The orchards are mostly along the far western side since the cooks use the ingredients fairly often for Canterlot Castle, so we shouldn't have to worry about straying into them and dealing with the fillies running around everywhere."

Lightning paused for a moment, before pointing a wing off to their left. "Not a fan of kids, huh?" She asked as they set off.

"It's not that." Spitfire said. "I really don't mind them normally, but I really wanted this to be a chance for us to hang out, and the gardens are just a convenient and relaxing place to do that outdoors away from the usual bustle of the city." She glanced over. “Besides, I was hoping I could maybe get to know you a little better? We didn't exactly have time for a meet and greet during the Pages incident.”

"Twenty questions, hmm?" Dust mused, nudging the other mare. "I guess I could answer a few from my favorite fan." They laughed and pushed each other playfully, ignoring the glances of the other ponies around them: this wasn't about them after all, today was for the pair of pegasi pals. "So, what's first on your mind then? Only fair for you to drop the first question when it's your idea."

Spitfire tossed her mane out of her face, still chuckling from their back-and-forth. "That's fair." She hummed for a brief moment, thinking. "Tell me about your family. You live with your grandmother, right? You said you didn't remember much about your childhood."

Lightning nodded slowly, mulling it over for a minute before responding. “I've been living with my grandmother for as long as I can remember; she wouldn't tell me much about my parents, other than they weren't in the picture. From what little digging I could do through her memory albums and the court system, she sued for custody of me when I wasn't even a year old. I guess my mom and dad were in pretty deep with some really unsavory characters from the rundown parts of Manehatten; she was worried I'd either end up in that circle too, or even worse.”

Spitfire nodded, but said nothing as she absorbed Dust's words.

“Soon as she found out they had a kid, she went straight to court to get custody and keep me safe. It lasted a few months, but the legal documents say they kept failing to show up for the hearings. And when they got caught up in a bust a few weeks later, that was all the judge needed to let my grandma take full custody of me; probably helped she was an ex-Wonderbolt, so her name was pretty well known. She moved us out to Pinegrove, and that's where I've lived ever since.”

“What about school?” Spitfire asked. “Doesn't seem like there would be a lot of teachers who would live in a logging town.”

“You're right.” Dust responded. “She ended up making a deal with one of the schools in Las Pegasus to have me learn there. We would take the train there on Monday and stay at one of her friend's houses for the week. Once it came to Friday, we'd take the train back to Pinegrove and spend the weekend together so I could learn to fly.” A small smile crossed her muzzle. “I know it couldn't have been easy, but she never seemed to let it bother her. As we both got older and she wasn't able to travel as easily, I'd make the trip on my own. After I graduated, she helped me build a training regiment so I could eventually apply to the Wonderbolts Academy, and hopefully follow in her hoofsteps.” She let out a heavy sigh, looking down. “But you know how all that went...” Her voice trailed off.

Stretching out a wing, Spitfire gave her a soft hug. “Sounds like you went through a lot.”

“I guess? But it was all I'd ever known, so I sort of just thought it was normal for the first few years, that it was the sort of life every filly lived. And then after that, it was normal for us, so it never actually felt weird.” She shook her head, letting out a soft chuckle. “Sorry, didn't mean to dump all that on you like that. But yeah, that's me and my grandma in a nutshell.”

“Hey now,” Spitfire responded, “there's no need to apologize: I'm the one who asked, and I'm glad you were willing to share with me.” The pair continued on in silence, more interested in each other's presence than the actual scenery around them.

Lightning cleared her throat. "Speaking of asking, you got more than one question snuck in there. Seems a bit unfair."

"Hey now, one was a question the other was asking for clarity!" She laughed, shaking her head a bit. "But you're right, have at it."

"All right. Well you know a bit about my family, tell me about yours?"

Tilting her head, Spitfire thought for a few moments. "I don't think there's much more beyond what I said in the cave. Grew up in Cloudsdale with my brother Rapidfire; though I'm sure you know about him, since he's a pretty big Wonderbolt too. He and I are kind of close, probably about as much as most siblings are I'd guess? As for my parents... well, I told you back then about the flight stuff, but my dad is an accountant and my mom is a teacher. They both wanted their kids to be good fliers, so they signed us up for all sorts of training, flight clubs, races... you name it, and if it involved flying and was accessible to young ponies, Rapid and I were there."

She nodded. "Do you regret it? Even now that you're a Wonderbolt?"

With a soft sigh, Spitfire looked down. "I enjoy where I'm at, it means the world to me... but I wish I'd had the chance to do kid stuff, you know? Silly stuff like play street hockey, go out for ice cream, things like that. I've always loved flying, and I like to think I'd have made it here even without all the forced practicing. Maybe not as fast as I had, but in my own time, and without the stress or missing out on just being a kid."

"Do you still keep in touch with them? Your parents?"

She was silent for a moment. "They... write me more than I write them, let's just say." She finally answered. "It's not that I've gone no contact, but I've definitely minimized it. I know they meant well with the choices they made, but it still stings." They trotted in silence for a moment, before she let out a laugh. "Look at us, getting all depressed and sad when we're supposed to be having a good time."

Lightning chuckled as well. "Well, how about something a little lighter then... do you have a favorite 'Bolts show that you've been a part of?"

The pair spent the rest of the warm afternoon pacing around the gardens, making idle conversation with whatever came to their heads: musicals, past relationships, their jobs, whatever struck their fancy. They had wandered until nearly sundown, much later than they had originally intended to, but both agreed it had been absolutely worth it. Lightning had never had the chance to spend time with another pony like this, and she couldn't deny there was something personal, and touching, about the entire experience. She decided to file it away in the back of her mind, wanting to do that again in the future.

Not wanting to be late for their rendezvous with some of the other Wonderbolts for the club, they had opted to grab some snacks from one of the food carts in the Gardens with the intent to eat a meal once they got there. Lightning wasn't sure if the type of food a club served would be very filling or good, but Spitfire assured her it wouldn't be an issue: the VIP section would absolutely have access to whatever kind of food she was feeling hungry for. Perks of having popularity and fame, I guess. Lightning thought.

And so, the pair made their way towards the club.

"So, is this one of those clubs we can hear from a couple blocks away?” Lightning inquired. “With huge lights flashing all over the outside?"

"Nah," Spitfire answered with a shake of her head, "there's too many regulations around noise and light when it gets dark in Canterlot. You can thank the upper class for that: didn't want their dinner parties and sleep to be bothered by 'all that noise'. The club is almost entirely soundproofed to follow the local laws, and except for the neon sign out front with the name, it doesn't have any huge strobes or floodlights decorating it. Trot Step has been one of the biggest clubs around the city for a while, and I can't imagine they want to ruin that by breaking the rules."

As they grew near the building itself, Lightning saw a decent line of ponies snaking down the street away from them waiting to get into the club, three large bouncers standing outside the entrance. I guess we can skip the line or something? She was about to continue down the road until Spitfire nudged her, tilting her head to the side.

"This way, there's a side entrance that we're allowed to use for the VIP area: stops us from getting pestered by the ponies in line, and it's a much shorter walk to where we're going to be sitting. Soarin' said they would wait outside for us, so they might already be here. Told them I wanted to do introductions outside, so we weren't battling over the noise." They passed quickly between the buildings, rounding the corner to the street that ran behind the club. Just as Spitfire had said, there was a pair of large earth ponies standing outside a smaller, more concealed looking door to the club they were walking around.

And a few meters away from the door stood a pair of stallions, one of which she recognized immediately as Soarin', second-in-command of the Wonderbolts. The other was a light-gold earth pony, sporting a tan cowboy hat and vest; he looked about as out-of-place as Lightning felt, and she was grateful she didn't seem to be the only one.

"Hey Cap!" Soarin' called out once he saw them, waving with a hoof. "I was starting to wonder if you would make it."

"Sorry about that." She replied as the mares trotted up to them. “We got caught up in the Gardens longer than I thought.” Her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced around. "No one else? Really?"

The sky-blue pegasus shrugged. "Fleet is still recovering from whatever flu she got during the after-party of our last show, Rapid took the chance to go out and visit your parents, Wave Chill said he didn't feel like it.

“And Surprise?”

“She drew the short straw for Optics tonight, so she's out schmoozing at a small hangout that Fancy Pants is having. So it's just going to be us tonight, sorry."

Spitfire waved a hoof. "It's okay, just as long as everyone is doing fine." Turning to her companion, she smiled. "Guys, this is my friend Lightning Dust. Dust, I'm sure you don't need any introduction to Soarin'."

The pair shook hooves. "No, I remember him pretty well."

He tilted his head slightly, looking her up and down. "Dust, Dust... Oh yeah, we had you at the Academy didn't we! I thought your name sounded familiar."

Not wanting to get into that particular topic and spoil the mood, Spitfire quickly moved on. "And this is Braeburn, Soarin's coltfriend. He lives all the way out in Appleloosa, so he's coming even further than you are." She smiled at the stallion. "Glad you could make it out, I know it was pretty last minute for us."

He smiled broadly, eagerly shaking Lightning's hoof, who fought back a wince at how strong his grip was. "Oh ah don't mind! Just glad I could catch the train when ah did!”

Tilting her head, Lightning glanced the stallion up and down. “The name and accent... you're part of the Apple family right?” He nodded enthusiastically, to which she smiled. “I spend half my week in Ponyville working for the weather team, so I've met Applejack and her family a couple of times.”

“Ah okay!” He said brightly. “She's a might of a stubborn mule, but Applejack has got a heart of gold. She's mentioned a tooooon of times how y'all weather ponies help her out with the farm weather.”

Lightning pawed at the ground, wings ruffling behind her. “H-heh, nice to know we leave a good impression.”

Sensing Lightning didn't want to be put on the spot, Spitfire cut in. “Alright, well if it's just us let's head on in!” She turned to Dust, nudging her slightly. “Don't feel like you have to drink if you don't want to, okay?”

Getting a nod of confirmation, Spitfire led the group past the security guards, and together they stepped inside Trot Step.