Life is good.

Ponies aren’t exactly nice to me. My wing is too injured to fly. I’m barely the Pegasus I once was. Yet life is better than I feel it ever has been.

I have a friend. Her name is Blue Bobbin. She’s a blue Earth pony who cared about me when nopony else would. I guess kindness comes naturally to her. It doesn’t exactly come natural to me. I’ve learned, over the years, to be a good pony, but it hasn’t been easy. Actually, it’s been really hard.

Even though the comments made of me are cruel, I hold my head high as I trot down the sidewalk. I do this as if I’m daring them to insult me. I'm not, of course. I wouldn’t want to hear them bad-mouth me if I didn’t have to. But I don’t care as much as I used to. I used to care a lot. It used to hold me down and keep me from being the best me I could be. Now, I try to ignore their rude words.

At least, I don’t care that much when it’s complete strangers. It’s worse when it’s my sister. Nimbus Cloud has never liked me. So when, all of a sudden, I hear her voice, I startle.

Her voice, a mix of laughing and snapping, is all too familiar.

“Dusty…you’re a mess,” she cackles.

Tears sting my eyes and I run as fast as my hooves can carry me, which is admittedly not very fast. If only I could fly… Nimbus catches up easily, spreading her wings in a gloating manner.

“I thought you were stupid before, but filly, this is a whole new level of stupid. Losing races, sure”–she’ll never let me live that down– “but starting a stunt group and injuring yourself. Sheesh.”

“I pushed myself a little too far there, huh?” I mutter angrily.

“I don’t know what you just said, but I don’t even care,” she scoffs.

I want to slap her. But I don’t do violence, so I choose instead to take a deep breath and repeat myself, whether she cared about my words or not. “I said I pushed myself a little too far. It was all thanks to your rotten advice, Nimbus.”

Nimbus chuckles condescendingly. “Whatever. And why is a pony like you in Manehattan? It’s a little high-class for you don’t you think?”

“No. I’m fine here. I’m managing. I’ve got a friend,” I snap. I try so hard not to let out my fury, but I can’t keep it in any longer. “I’m fine without you trying to control my life, Nimbus Cloud. So leave me alone! And never ever talk to me again!”

Nimbus gets a look in her sky blue eyes that I’ve never seen on her. It’s a look of hurt. I sort of want to take my words back, but even if I could, I meant them.

“Fine.” Her mouth is moving, but no sound is coming out. She touches her cyan mane as if she’s playing with it. She sees me watching her and slams her hoof to the ground. Nimbus Cloud doesn’t play. She spreads her wings but looks back at me, folding her wings back to her body. We’re staring at each other awkwardly. I wish we could look at each other kindly. I also wish that about Spitfire and…Rainbow Dash. Something occurs to me. I miss Rainbow Dash. I wish I could apologize to her. I wish it with my whole heart.

Nimbus looks at me, a small tear slipping down her cheek. “I didn’t mean to, you know…hurt you or anything. I just wanted to protect you and help you. I’m sorry if I did that the wrong way. I’ll get out of your life now.”

“No! Wait!” I cry. “I think we don’t communicate enough. Can we…start over?”

“After all I’ve done to hurt you?”

“Well, sure. Sometimes life is about second chances. So what do you say?”

“We’re friends?”

“No. We’re more than that. We’re sisters.”

************************************************************************************

I can’t shake the feeling of missing my first-ever friend.

Rainbow Dash lives in Ponyville, slightly south of Canterlot. It’s convenient, to a degree, because I can take a train. I fork over a few of my bits, which are running low, and exchange them for a ticket.

The ride to Ponyville is near silent, which is nice compared to the bustling city. I write a letter to Blue Bobbin, who says I can be as long as I please if I write her letters daily. She gave me stamps and paper.

After the train ride is over, I walk into the streets of Ponyville and trot straight into somepony. The pain in my right wing begins torturing me again.

The pony looks at me with a smile that taunts me. The irony of who this pony is is disgusting. It’s Rainbow Dash. She looks just how I remember, with her multicolored mane and sky blue coat.

“Hi,” I mumble.

“Lightning Dust?!” Rainbow shrieks.

I look up and smile sheepishly.

“Why are you here?” she asks.

“I, uh, took a train,” I reply.

“You didn’t just fly?” she says curiously.

“I can’t,” I admit.

“You can’t fly?”

“Look at my wing,” I tell her, sarcasm dripping from my voice. “Of course I can’t fly.” I’m usually only sarcastic when I’m hurt or scared. Right now I’m both. I also feel distant and empty. Rainbow Dash was my first friend, and I’m treating her like dirt. Well, not exactly like dirt. I’m not stomping on Dash, and I’m definitely not speaking to the earth in a sarcastic tone.

“How are the Washouts?” Rainbow asks, trying to make small-talk and change the subject.

“Disbanded,” I reply.

“Why are you being so short with me?” Dash asks.

I don’t snap. I contemplate her question. I decide to answer it honestly. “I’m nervous because apologies scare me and I certainly have something for which to apologize. I was reckless, destructive, careless, and just plain mean. Plus, I almost hurt Scootaloo. So I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you,” says Rainbow. She says it confusedly, but she says it nonetheless.

“Are we cool?” I ask.

“We’re cool,” Rainbow replies. “Cool enough that I think there’s somepony you should meet.”

********************************************************************************

“Meet Starlight Glimmer, headmare at the School of Friendship!”

The Unicorn is pink, with a violet-and-aqua mane and a friendly smile.

“I’m Lightning Dust,” I say, waving with my left wing.

“Welcome to the School of Friendship,” Starlight chirps. “Were you hoping to be enrolled? There’s no cost, as I believe all students should have access to Friendship Education.”

I wasn’t expecting this. But life, I’ve learned, is about going with the flow and taking chances when the chances present themselves. “Sure,” I declare. “I’m up for anything.”

Author's Note

Hey everypony. Just a quick reminder to make sure to be supportive as I believe it can be hurtful if we aren't. Thank you!