Storm Chasing - broadly defined as the action of physically following or ‘chasing’ a severe weather event, regardless of motive.
The first thing Rainbow Dash thought when she set eyes on Lightning Dust was something she probably wouldn’t repeat aloud unless she was really drunk. Okay, maybe only if she was slightly drunk. Discounting the one time she told Twilight while point blank sober, of course.
Either way, the mare was really good looking and it seemed she thought the same thing about Rainbow, if the glances she was giving her were anything to by.
Things got physical before they even properly introduced themselves to each other. Lightning would brush her wing lightly against Rainbow’s coat in-between flight drills. Something about it sent electric and primal feelings to her brain. Oh shit.
Fraternising with fellow Wonderbolts was technically officially forbidden. Whatever. That never stopped anypony. You got used to the squeaky bunks and learned when to shut your mouth because pissing off your wingmates was never a good idea.
Besides, what goes around comes around, and Rainbow Dash was getting lucky tonight.
There was a dull thump as the two mares hit the wall the bunk was up against. Rainbow cringed- it was still considered common courtesy to try and keep it down when you did the deed. “Lightning,” she whispered as the turquoise mare made out with her neck, leaving tiny lovebites down to her collarbone. Suppressing a shiver, Rainbow tried again. “Lightning.”
“Ugh, what is it, Dash? You pussying out already?” The mare hissed, drawing back from Rainbow’s neck with one last hard nip. Rainbow shook her head, “No, no. I’m uh, really into this- I’m just-“
“What? Worried you’ll wake your bunkmates?”
The way Lightning said it sent a jolt of heat to her core. Like she was teasing her. Celestia, that was hot.
“Fine.” The other mare continued, rolling her eyes and rolling off Rainbow Dash, their fur both so drenched in sweat that they stuck together for a moment as she removed herself from the bunk. Rainbow immediately wanted to call her back, ask her to stay.
But she didn’t.
Lightning Dust left the next day.
Various ponies have given many different reasons for ‘chasing’ storms. Some experience a unique thrill at putting themselves in the path of danger. Others view it as nothing more than a time-killing activity. Others still say they simply do it because they love it.
“Fuck you.” Rainbow Dash spat at the teal pegasus.
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” Snapped back Lightning Dust between panting breaths. “Seriously. Fuck you. You almost-“ Rainbow Dash paused for a moment to let out an undignified whine, “-you almost got Scootaloo killed.”
“Seriously, Dash? You’ve got me face deep in your-“
“Lightning!”
“Fine. You’ve got me in your bed and all you can think about is that kid?”
“That kid is my fucking sister. Who you almost fucking killed with some ridiculous stunt.”
“Uh, yeah- no shit, Dash. How else was I supposed to get your attention? Would you have liked a letter? Dear Rainbow Dash, ever since you betrayed me and ruined my chances with the Wonderbolts I’ve been thinking and we really should meet up for a quickie behind the bleachers.”
“Seriously?! You couldn’t think of a single thing better than almost killing my kid sister?”
Lightning pulled back from Rainbow’s nether regions, “Ugh. She would have been fine, I wasn’t actually gonna let her do it.”
“You’re a fucking psychopath, Lightning”
Lightning shot her partner a dazzling grin, “Oh yeah? I’m a pretty good lay though, right, Crash?”
“…Don’t call me that.”
“Make me.”
Rainbow Dash didn’t know why she kept going back. She didn’t know why she bothered to stay after the sex either. Maybe it was just some warped and twisted sense of loyalty to somepony she had once called a friend- and had hoped to call more.
Maybe.
Loyalty. Lightning Dust snorted whenever Rainbow mentioned her element. The only loyalty you need is to yourself, she had said.
Looking over at the sleeping mare beside her, golden mane ruffled in the waning sunlight, Rainbow Dash thought about it.
Interrupting her musings, Lightning Dust let out a grunt and blinked the sleep out of her eyes. “You’re still here?” She mumbled, shifting in her bed and letting out a groan as she stretched her sore limbs.
“Oh, uh, yeah.” Rainbow Dash tripped over her words, “I’ll uh, I’ll go. Unless you want me to stay.” Lightning Dust made what Rainbow assumed to be some kind of lopsided shrug and turned away from her, lying back down.
Rainbow Dash left.
For many storm chasers, the ultimate goal is witnessing a tornado. Others have reported simply being enraptured with cumulonimbus and other similar formations, chasing the storm to marvel at its’ beauty or strength.
“Rainbow.” Twilight started, but before she could continue her sentence, Rainbow cut in. “What is this? Is this a fucking intervention?”
Applejack sent Rainbow a stern look, “language, Dash.” Rainbow rolled her eyes, “yes, mom.” Looking around the room her friends all looked to be in various stages of discomfort. Pinkie looked unusually serious, Rarity was giving her an indiscernable look and Fluttershy was avoiding eye contact entirely. That last one hurt more than she thought it should.
“Fine. What’s this about?”
Twilight took a deep breath, “we think,” she paused before continuing, “we all think that Lightning Dust is having a bad effect on you.”
Rainbow felt the fur on her back stand up, she thought she had been hiding it well. “Lightning Dust?” She feigned confusion, letting out a nervous chuckle “What does Lightning Dust have to do with this?”
Fluttershy finally turned her gaze towards the cyan mare, “it’s um… I don’t want to be mean but it’s kind of obvious.” She let out a small eep and hid behind her mane as Rainbow turned her glare on her.
“Fine. Me and Lightning are a thing. So what.”
She didn’t actually know if they were a thing but it seemed the best term to use. Applejack would probably just tell her off again if she used any of the more vulgar descriptions she was thinking.
“So what?!” Twilight balked, taking a few moments to collect herself. “Rainbow, why didn’t you tell any of us? This isn’t healthy, she’s not good for you- you’ve been showing up at your lessons late and your attitude has taken a nosedive!”
“Of course I didn’t tell any of you, I knew you’d react like this!” Rainbow snapped back.
“Rainbow, darling, we love and cherish you dearly, but-“
“But what? It’s none of your business- unless you all secretly want to sleep with me?” She gave the gathered mares a challenging look. Nopony said anything.
“That’s what I thought. Now stop trying to control who I do and don’t screw.”
And then she left.
Storm Chasing is widely regarded as a very dangerous activity, several notable pegasi (along with some earth ponies and unicorns) have lost their lives upon underestimating a particularly strong storm.
Everything was fine.
Everypony was making a much bigger deal about things than Rainbow thought was reasonable.
“Rainbow!” Twilight’s voice snapped her back into the moment, “do you not understand how serious this is? The Element of Loyalty didn’t. Recognise. You.”
Rainbow rolled her eyes, “so what? Chrysalis still got her ass kicked- I don’t see how this was my fault.”
Twilight made some kind of gasping, choked sound. As the princess struggled to get her voice back, Rarity picked up where Twilight left off.
“Rainbow. I think we are all experiencing a lot of emotions at the moment and we would appreciate if you didn’t inflame things.” Rainbow opened her mouth to tell the unicorn to piss off, but before she could get the words out, Pinkie spoke up.
“Rainbow. You’ve been really mean lately.” The earth pony’s voice lacked its usual peppiness and her mane had started to fall in loose ringlets, rather than the tight curl it usually sported. Applejack stood next to the pink earth pony, her hoof reassuringly placed on her withers.
Fluttershy wouldn’t look at her. She never fucking did. She glared daggers at the other pegasus as the temperature in the room dropped by several degrees.
Twilight finally got her voice back.
“Rainbow, I think you need to go. We can talk about this later- I need to contact Celestia about a new bearer before something bad happens and you need to cool off.”
Rainbow didn’t say anything. She just left.
When well-known storm chaser, Rainfall, was interviewed, the pegasus gave the following quote. “Some ponies chase storms to admire them- I chase storms to become them.”
“You ditched those losers to come to one of my shows? I’m flattered, Dash.” Lightning Dust crooned sardonically.
“Shut up, Dust, I’m here because I want in.”
Lightning Dust blinked, seeming genuinely surprised for a moment, before her cool facade dropped back over her face. “That’s not a funny joke, Dash.” And if she had been paying a little more attention, Rainbow might have noticed the genuine hurt that laced the pegasi’s tone. But she wasn’t, and she didn’t.
“I’m serious,” she continued, her tone dark, “Fuck them. They’re a bunch of disloyal cowards.”
There was a stunned silence for a moment. Something indiscernible crossed Lightning’s face. She stood very still for a minute. Then she spoke.
“You dumb fucking filly.”
Rainbow Dash flinched back. What the hell?
“Why would you do that?” Lightning snarled. “What?” Rainbow Dash replied, baffled. “You fucking ruined it. We had a great thing going and you fucking ruined it.”
For once in her life, Rainbow had no words.
“You bleeding fucking hearts ruin everything. Why do you have to keep pushing? Wasn’t the sex enough? What do you want now- for us to be friends?”
Rainbow sucked in a deep breath. She didn’t say ’I thought we were something else’.
“Leave. Get out of here, before I call security. We’re done. Don’t ever talk to me again.”
“Dust- I-“
“I said fucking leave.”
And so she left.
[Authors Note. Rainfall was killed by a rogue tornado two years later.]
