Lightning Dust looked over the paper once more, to ensure the opportunity she had just been given was in fact genuine.
Hello, Lightning Dust.
It has recently come to my attention that your family, aside from yourself, was recently jailed due to tax evasion. I also noticed that, before you were kicked out of the Wonderbolts academy, you set numerous academy records, including being the fastest to complete their obstacle course and the fastest to recover from their "Dizzitron" on it's extreme mode. Yes, I have been watching many pegasi for the past year, but very few really catch my attention. You happen to one of them, and, as I can understand, the proposition I'm am about to offer you would benefit you greatly in your current family matters.
I am offering you a chance to compete in Adrenaline, a pegasi race that spans around Equestria in it's entirety. The grand prize? seventeen million bits. I can assure you you read that correctly. Now, you may be wondering what the prize is for any position other than first place. There is none. Adrenaline may have a high reward, but there is one teensy little stipulation; only one pegasus can cross the finish line. That's right; only one pegasus makes it out of this race alive, with seventeen million bits.
The race will start at the Crystal Mountains, going through the range. Following the edge of Equestria, You'll go through Vanhoover, pass by Smokey Mountain, go through Los Pegasus and through the San Palomino desert where you will pass over the Macintosh Mountains and through the Badlands. Continuing the trend you'll be passing through Baltimare, Fillydelphia and Manehatten. However, at this point you'll cut southwest and head through Canterlot before finishing the race at Ghastly Gorge. Well, you might finish, if you aren't dead.
Now, you may be wondering; why would this happen? Who would put such a horrible thing together? It's quite simple. Adrenaline is for betters; fifteen of them, to be exact. These fifteen ponies have a lot of money, and they will be able to bet on one pony for the race. Every pony will have a contestant, and, depending on how much they bet, they get even more money for the one that wins the race. It's a very good way for me and my...associates to earn some cash while at the same time have some fun.
A few last things you'll need to know, Lightning;
1) There will be fifteen racers (including you). All of them are the fastest pegasi in Equestria, and all of them have a motive for entering and would kill to have that prize money. Literally.
2) We have no control if Celestia or Luna's guard get involved and try to stop the race. That's your problem, not mine, as we won't be bailing you out of trouble if you are arrested. If you are arrested by authorities you will receive a letter upon your release with detailed instructions on what to do.
3) If two or more pegasi cross the finish line, they will all be killed, end of story.
Now, you may want to decline this offer, which is perfectly okay. just send a letter back saying you do not want to participate. We'll send a unicorn to your location to preform a memory wipe spell on you and you'll be on your way. However, if you don't send a letter back and don't show up at the Crystal Mountains when the race begins, just know that we have your address and informants around Equestria. I hope you're a smart pony, Lightning, and put that together.
The race will begin in a week and, since you're in Cloudsdale, you'll have about six days to prepare before you should begin to head to the mountains.
Yours Truly,
Cobra
Ponies continuously walked by Lightning in different directions as she stared out into space. She was outside Equestrian Courtroom #10, where her parent's trial was currently taking place. She had stepped outside for a moment so she could read that letter for the ten-billionth time. If she could win this race, she could save her parents.
She could save her parents.
Did she really want to? Lightning Dust had flown away from her home in Ponyville to pursue her career; her parents told her every night that she would never be a Wonderbolt, and that she was destined to be what the rest of her family was; Weather Ponies. They never seemed to make enough money. Lightning didn't know why then, but her parents would make her and her sister hide when there came a knock at the door. She was an adult now, and she knew what they were running from; Taxmares. They hadn't been caught.
That is, until now. And, better yet, they wanted her to bail them out.
They had never done anything to encourage her interest, and had never saw her as anything other than another worker. They wanted her to pay to bail them out with money she didn't have, and she hated her whole family for it.
And yet, here she was. Awaiting the verdict, even though everypony knew what it was going to be, sitting on a bench in a bland courtroom with the opportunity to get her family out of trouble, with her death more than possible. And yet, here she was.
She was going to win that race and get her parents out of trouble, and she didn't know why.
Lightning supposed it was instinctive, as weird as that sounded. They were her family, and they were in trouble. They were never there for her, and they never supported her. But, for some reason, she felt compelled to make sure they were free, even though she knew they deserved what they were getting.
"Miss Lightning?" said a voice. Lightning, startled, jumped up a little bit. She looked up to see the court bailiff. Why she wasn't in the courtroom right now, Lightning couldn't guess, but she had a feeling she knew what the bailiff was about to say.
"They're about to hand down the verdict, although I'm sure you already know what it is." Lightning continued to stare at the ground.
"Yes...I'll be right in, Bailiff. Thank you." The bailiff went back inside as she continued to stare off into space. Her vision seemed to get a little blurry as the the room became distorted. This was the moment of truth, as Lightning still held that speck of hope that her family wouldn't be found guilty. But of course, they would. And, although she knew she shouldn't, she felt as if it was her fault.
Lightning entered the courtroom and sat down in her front row seat. There was her family, all sitting at the defendants table. Her sister, Stormy Dust, who had just reached adulthood that year, looked genuinely frightened. Of course she would, she was always scared of something. She looked over to where Lightning was and gave a weak smile.
"They won't find us guilty, right?" Stormy mouthed.
Lightning shook her head with a cold glare. Stormy, who was seeking consolation from the sister she hadn't seen in fourteen years, began to tear up and tried her hardest not to cry. Lightning immediately felt bad; Stormy was the only one in the family she didn't dislike. She had been meaning to get into contact with her, but then this happened. She got what she wanted, at least.
"The jury has come to a verdict." said the judge, looking to her right; the jury were all standing up, staring intently at the defendants. One of the jurors, a pony with a blond coat and a red mane and tail, spoke up.
"We find the Dust family guilty on all accounts of tax evasion." The mare finished. Lightning gave a sigh; she knew it was coming. Tartarus, they knew it was coming. Even Stormy, who always tried to look at the cup as half full; today, the cup was drained of anything it had in it.
"Very well. Dust family, you will be contained without visit for a total of seven hours; visiting hours start at one o'clock in the morning. You are all dismissed."
Ponies fanned out of the courtroom in hoards; not one sound escaped their mouths, as it was a courtroom, and soon the whole court room was empty, save two ponies; the judge who resided over the case, and Lightning Dust. She still remained in her seat, staring into space and lost in her thoughts again.
"Mam? You need to leave the Courtroom." said the judge, but Lightning didn't hear her, because the paint on the Courtroom wall prevented her.
The paint on the Courtroom walls was the same shade of cobalt as her house was, back in Ponyville. It was the cheapest house you could get, so it wasn't very nice. It was packed, and only one story. There were only four rooms in the house; the living room, the kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom; her mom and dad slept in the same bed, and so did Stormy and Lightning. She remembered comforting her sister in their hiding place, and telling her that everything would be fine. And today, everything wasn't fine.
"Mam? The case is over. Leave, or we'll have to take you out ourselves."
Lightning snapped out of her daydreaming and looked around. The courtroom was indeed empty. The case was over. Their verdict was final.
"Thank you...I'll be on my way."
* * * * * *
Lightning Dust's alarm woke her up at 12:30; she slowly awoke and styled her mane, getting read to head to the Courtroom; visiting hours would begin soon, and she would have to confront her family.The only communication they had previously shared had come in the form of a letter, begging her to bail them out for a cost of 130,000 bits; money she didn't have.With Adrenaline, she get that and more; much more. She grinned to herself as she exited her house.
Cloudsdale was certainly much more spectacular at night than it was during the day, as the rainbows that seemed to embrace the city shone brilliantly across the night sky. The buildings and the factories were much more different without life bustling within them; now that all was quiet you could truly take a look at the architecture that made Cloudsdale world famous; it was certainly a sight to see.
After she was kicked out of the academy she settled here. The academy Lightning was reckless, and nearly costs many ponies their lives; the academy Lightning didn't care about anyone but herself; that was the Lightning Dust that needed to re surge within her, except this time without recklessness. She needed absolute precision and to be in top physical shape. She needed to make sure no pony could keep up with her; just like the academy mentality she once held.
Before Lightning knew it, she had reached the Courtroom. It wasn't very big, oddly, and wasn't as intricately designed as the rest of Cloudsdale. Lightning gave a little chuckle; the architect must have had a little run in with authorities and seen too much of a Courtroom. Thus, he or she made it as seemingly unimportant as possible.
Lightning trotted up to the visitor center, which was close to the door entrance. An obviously bored pony with a red mane and tail and purple coat was reading a magazine behind the counter. Taking a second to notice Lightning, she quickly put down her magazine and tried to look professional.
"Hello. Are you here to see to see somepony?" asked the mare.
No, I'm here to order pizza, Lightning thought as she cleared her throat.
"I'd like to see the Dust Family. They were just acquitted yesterday and the judge told us that the visiting hours started at one. Here I am." Lightning said. The mare nodded and pointed to the satchel Lightning had strapped on.
"I'm going to need to search that, mam." the mare said. Standard protocol, of course. Lightning emptied the satchel, which seemingly contained nothing but some fruit and a manebrush; at one in the morning, tired and bored ponies don't usually check for false bottoms or question why somepony was carrying a satchel with barely anything in it. The mare yawned and gave the satchel back.
"Alright. Let me take you to them." the mare said.
Lightning followed her to the holding area. On the walls were many pictures of what Lightning guessed were judges who have looked over many cases. Most of them were female, but Lightning could pin down why, nor did she care; she was going to talk to her family for the first time in a long time. and she was going through the motions of what she wanted to say.
"Alright, here you are." the mare said. They rounded a corning to the room where the Dust family was being held.
The walls of the very large room were brown, but the cell that her family was being held in was clear; the little room they had contained a clear wall, so they could see who was walking by. Lightning, and her family as well, she presumed, knew well that this was a freedom that wouldn't last. There were benches that line the perimeter of the inside, which is where Lightning's family sat.
As soon as Stormy Dust looked up, her eyes widened and a smile formed across her face; she was jovial at the sight at her older sister. Lightning couldn't help but give grin.
"LIGHTNING!" Stormy shouted, the glee obvious in her voice. At this, her parents, Thunder Dust and Rainy Dust, looked up as well. They gave smiles; not as big as Stomry's wide beam but not as small as Lightning's grin. That grin quickly vanished from Lightning's face at the sight of her parents.
The mare opened up the door for Lightning, who entered the cell and sat down.
"You have thirty minutes." she stated before closing the door. Lightning was caught by surprise as her sister hugged her in a rather violently; Lightning wasn't sure how you could hug a pony violently, but Stormy was doing it.
"Alright, S-Stormy." Lightning choked out, before being blissfully released by her sister.
"Thank Celestia you're here! You're going to bail us out now, right? That's what you came to do, right?" Stormy said, smiling. Even Lightning's parents, who were the ultimate pessimists, gave a hopeful smile. Lightning gave a melancholy countenance.
"I don't have it yet. But I will. All I have to do is win this race, and I'll not only be able to bail you out but make sure you guys never get in this kind of trouble again. I don't know why I'm doing this for you bastards-" Lightning looked towards her parents. "-But I'll make sure you're all okay." Lightning pulled out the letter she received from a false bottom in her satchel and pulled out the letter, giving it to Stormy.
Stormy began to read. Of course, her eyes widened and she smiled even bigger than she already was, if that was possible, but that smile quickly faded when she read the stipulation.
"Lightning...y-you aren't actually going to do this, are you? You're going to die!" Stormy said, looking up at her sister. Her parents eyes suddenly widened.
"What do you mean she's going to die? Give me that!" Her mother Rainy commanded. Stormy obliged and handed her the letter.
Her parents, too, read over it. They both looked up at her in the same expression that Stormy did; Lightning wanted to say that it was weird but remembered that they were Stormy's parents. Of course it would look the same.
"While you guys were hiding from the Taxmare, I got accepted into Wonderbolts Academy. I...kinda screwed up, but I set numerous records there. I'm the fastest one in this race, I can say that as much. With how the course is set, the death's probably won't come from the opponents, but from the complexity of the course and hazards that run it. I'm going to work on precision during my drills, so don't worry. I'm going to win this race, and everything is going to be okay,"
* * * * * *
"Okay, take the blindfolds off of them."
Sunset Shimmer finally got to her destination. It seemed like hours since they put the blindfold on her,and it probably had been, but she had finally arrived. The room where the betting would take place was colored a dark navy blue on everything; the walls, the door and the floor were all painted that color. There was a screen in the center, but nothing was on it right now. She was sitting at a table, also the same color, with fourteen other ponies who were as anxious as she was, with another pony at the center. He had a gold mane and tail that seemed to glint in the light with a night black coat; his eyes matched his mane and tail.
"Hello, mares and stallions. My name is Cobra. I would go around the table to introduce ourselves but I already know everything about you all, so lets cut to the chase; the activities that are taking place in this room are highly illegal and, if we were to get caught, would not only be charged for illegal gambling but I would get charged for murder and you would be charged for encouraging it. Does anypony want to leave now?" asked Cobra. Not one of the ponies said anything.
"Excellent. Now, here are the fifteen contestants. If you want to bet on one, raise you hoof. In the event of a tie a game of rock paper scissors will be played, unless it is a tie of three or more; then I will play eeny-meeny-miney-mo. So mature for stakes like this, huh? Let us begin."
The names of the pegasi were called out with a short biography. Hooves were raised and tiebreakers were held, but it wasn't until the eleventh pony was displayed until Sunset Shimmer was interested.
"Lightning Dust: twenty three years of age, Lightning is the youngest pony in Adrenaline this year. She was also the youngest to be accepted into the Wonderbolts Academy where she was the fastest to recover from their Dizzitron on extreme mode. The Dizzitron is a device that launches a pony into the air at high speeds, with a gyro twist to make sure it simulates a spin out. Lightning is very good in terms of speed, probably the best of this year's competitors, but she has a fatal flaw; Lightning is very cocky and shows little to no concern about making mistakes. To rephrase that, she's reckless, and it got her discharged from the academy as a result. She will most likely have trouble during the Ghastly Gorge portion and the two Everfree runs which are the most important parts of the race. Any takers?" Cobra asked. Nopony raised a hoof, except for one.
Sunset Shimmer, with a confident glare, kept her hoof raised. Cobra looked amused.
"Wow. I didn't think anypony would take her and she'd have to be assigned. I'll put you down. How much do you want to bet on her, exactly? Remember, if she would win you would be getting three times the amount you bet." Cobra stated.
"700,000 bits." Shimmer answered. Cobra nodded; not as much as some were willing to pay, but even if Lightning were the third-to-last to die she would still get a nice amount of cash.
"Okey-dokey. You're set. Wind Flare, twenty eight years of age-"
Sunset Shimmer didn't hear the rest. She had picked her kind of mare, and she knew that Lightning would be training all this week. She was fast and she had to be aware of her recklessness, she would be training this week, so she seemed like the best pick in Shimmer's eyes. No matter who came next, she knew she had the right pick.
Now, if she could just find a way to obtain that money she had just used to bet...
Lightning Dust slammed into the wall, spiraling downwards at a high speed. The world began to spin rapidly around her, with specks of the blue and white sky dashing across her eyes.
Alright, any second now...
She could tell that she was getting closer to the ground now. She had purposely hit herself on the wing to have something injured with a high speed collision (a unicorn doctor could fix it before the race if it was that bad, which it most likely wasn't) to simulate what would actually happen during Adrenaline itself. At this point in the fall she could estimate she was coming up on thirty feet to the ground and rapidly descending.
Alright, Lightning, pull up!
That she did, but it was futile; her wing,sporting a mere bruise that would be barely noticeable when unused, refused to work at such high speeds and triggered a pain which made lighting grunt. That pain, she knew, was nowhere near the pain that would follow next when she hit the ground.
She did. Hard. Somewhat akin to a slapstick cartoon she would watch early in the morning, Lightning Dust slid for about ten feet before finally stopping.
This was the fifth time she had tried the drill; she was hoping, with time, that she could build her Stamina and strength so that she wouldn't have to worry about it. She only had two days left to train, and so far the results were not satisfactory. Growling with rage, Lightning slowly climbed out of her dirt trail.
Her wing was fine, as usual. She would still have to see a doctor, however, as it would hurt immensely the next morning. She did the drill more than once per day, in doing so creating a different level of pain for a different situation every time, and thus went to the doctor yesterday to get it healed; she would need to go to another one to avoid suspicion today.
Ponyville was how Lightning Dust always remembered it, with the greenest grass in Equestria and the quiet rural energy the town always seemed to emit. It was very big with very little residents, as usual, so it was a little difficult finding things. Once or twice, she came across the house of the newly crowned Princess Twilight Sparkle, and made sure to get past the house undetected. However, Lightning had finally made the decision to see an Element of Harmony while she was here; the reunion would be a cold one, but she needed flight lessons now more than ever.
* * * * * *
Sunset Shimmer sat at the very far table of a Canterlot restaurant, cloaked in a black hood that did it's job well; no pony knew who she was, and no pony had too. As far as the ponies who did know who she was were concerned, she was still stuck at that blasted high school in whatever universe it was, and she wished to stay that way.
Shimmer had tried. She wanted to fit in with the universe, and make the friends that had been assigned to her. She tried to change her ways, become saintly in character, but she couldn't. The world in her eyes had always been exactly that; hers, and nopony else's. It had become a habit, and like any habit, it was hard to break. That universe was not her home; Canterlot was, and that persona was not her own either. Just doing enough, and not the right way. Being dealt three's and seven's, and doing something with them, was who Sunset Shimmer was.
The wallpaper that lined the restaurant, elegant floral patterns among a violet backdrop, assured her that she was home. the checkerboard floor only sought to remind her of her lifestyle; in a world of Pawns, you must strive to be the Queen. Adrenaline, with the money it would present her, would put her on top. With bits like that, she could make a name for herself; having just entered Canterlot, Shimmer barely had any funds at all. Certainly, she didn't have the 700,000 bits she bet on one Lightning Dust.
That, not her hunger, was the reason Sunset Shimmer sat in a restaurant in Canterlot.
* * * * * *
The house of Rainbow Dash, the element of Loyalty, was massive.
The cascading waterfalls of multiple colors, the clouds stacked in multiple arrays, it was unbelievable. How much something akin to this would cost was beyond Lightning Dust. Having lived in a house in shambles when she was a child only helped to boost the image of the giant home. It seemed to be the only thing in the air for miles!
"You havin' fun there?" a familiar voice suddendly said.
That's right. Lightning had knocked on the door.
There stood Rainbow Dash, with an unamused look on her face. Lightning could already tell that this would be difficult. She cleared her throat before speaking.
"I need flying lessons." Lightning explained. "I need to have whatever it was that let you stay at the academy. I need it in two days."
Dash still looked unamused, something that worried Lightning greatly.
"You're an excellent flyer, Lightning, and you don't need any lessons. What I had at the academy was all mental. That being character, timing, and knowing when you're pushing it too far. Now, I have no idea why you would need flying lessons in two days, but you're not going to get them from me. Maybe Twilight can help you with your issues or whatever." Rainbow began to close the door on her when Lightning spoke up.
"The Rainboom."
Dash stopped in her tracks. It took her a moment to open the door again. Since she wasn't too keen on saying anything, Lightning decided to continue.
"You say my problem is going too far, my mental state, all that. But look at the Rainboom. How do you not go to far? What mental state is that? You know better than I do that flying isn't an activity; it's a state of mind. The Rainboom is a perfect blend of skill and character. Sense, and prowess. I have that skill, Rainbow. I think I have an idea about what state of mind I need to have...after a few days ago, I have nothing I need to prove. I have to succeed in the situation I'm in, but it's no longer for my self esteem or to prove them wrong; if I can't do this, I'll have no one I can prove anything to anymore. I have the skill. I think I have the mindset. I need to combine the two!"
Dash stared at her for a moment. Lightning stared back.
"Come inside." Dash remarked, breaking the silence. "You're just in time for lunch"
* * * * * *
It's lunchtime, Fleur. Aren't you hungry?
Sunset Shimmer still sat in wait. She looked at the clock. It was twelve twenty five. Any minute now.
It's your favorite restaurant. I even know what you order here.
Shimmer was getting impatient now. It was short lived, as her target waltzed through the door. Fleur De Lis had arrived.
There we go. Go ahead. You have reservations, I made sure of it. You'll sit down at table four, as always. There you go.
With her husband Fancypants, Fleur sat down. That was Shimmer's cue.
The Bannered Mare of Canterlot operated their waiters in shifts. At twelve thirty, the waiters and waitresses were cycled out and in. At twelve thirty, Sunset Shimmer took on her first, and last, shift at the Bannered Mare in Canterlot.Removing her cloak revealed standard uniform.
It didn't take much to get the job. The restaurant needed new waiters to meet the demand of the customers, and she was willing to work. what they didn't know was that Sunset had obsessively studying Fleur De Lis and her habits for four days; where she worked, where she like to hang out, who her friends were, all of it. All in preparation for a heist.
Quickly grabbing a notepad, Sunset walked over to the couple at their table.
"Welcome back, Fleur! I'm Glow, you're server for today. What can I get you?" Shimmer mental kicked herself for saying "Welcome Back" but Fleur seemed to take no heed of it. Instead, she sat upright in a classic Canterlot manner before ordering.
"I would like a daffodil and daisy sandwich-" Fleur began. the rest of her order, along with Fleur's voice, was in Sunset's head.
-with a slice of pickle and half a tomato. Water will be fine.
"Let me get that down for you!" Sunset enthusiastically remarked, using her magic to bring up a pen. However, unknown to Fleur, the pen wasn't the only thing affected by magic. As the spell was being performed,Sunset ran over all the details in her head for utmost concentration.
I'm running three spells at once-the first is to write with the pen, the second is to mute the sound of the third and the third is to make Fleur's checkbook disappear from her purse. I need to envision what it looks like so I can transport it to my room in the inn I am staying in. This will require magic talent and concentration beyond that what a normal unicorn would practice- you are not a normal unicorn. I will not know if this spell fails unless the book appears at my bedside when I get to my room-
"Alrighty! And you, good sir?" Sunset finished. She had to use all she could to make it appear as if she wasn't extraordinarily fatigued by such a high level spell in combination with two others.
"Ah, yes, I would like-"
* * * * * *
"-water, if that's okay." Lightning answered. Rainbow Dash had offered her a variety of drinks but, in preparation for the race, the only thing Lightning would drink was water.
They sat at the table in Dash's living room. It was a round table, made of cloud like everything else in Dash's house, but the still seemed to manage sitting as far away from each other as possible. Lighting took a sip from her glass before speaking.
"Did the academy work out well for you?" Lightning asked her. Lightning had quit the academy even though she wasn't dismissed after her tornado stunt. She had no idea if Dash had stayed or not.
"First in class, actually. You know how Spitfire is about Wonderbolt selection, so I doubt that she'll be making a decision anytime soon. Especially after the whole incident which I still didn't get an apology for." Dash explained.
"Oh, you know I'm sorry." Lightning said, rolling her eyes. "Or else I wouldn't be here. You're the best, Dash. I'm here to learn. If we have problems, we can talk about them now." Lightning said. Dash rolled her eyes.
"Listen." she began. "I don't like you. You almost killed my friends, who mean more to me than anything in the world. You held total disregard for anyone but yourself, even when we were "friends" for that short time. That being said, you're a really good flyer. You have talent that rivals mine. It's your personality and mindset that needs work, as I already explained. You fixed that, as you already explained. I'm going to tell you what I know. I have never taught anyone in this field before, save a filly in the middle of grade school. Now, I ask you this; are you ready?"
Lightning looked into Dash's eyes. She could sense hatred in them, though she didn't know why. Her countenance revealed that she was determined, however, and that was good enough for Lightning Dust.
"Yes. I'm ready."
