It had been a long rough day for Lightning and Thorn… Actually, more like long days… and they were just about ready to scream their heads off.
"First we get carried away by some bird like thingies and then get knocked off course by bigger things in the sky, took us hours to find our way back to this farmland on hoof, and then accidentally set off a stampede of those cow like creatures and enrage that monster from earlier… so how long has it been?" Lightning asked with a twitch in her eye.
"Counting how many times the sun has set, I'm gonna say three days… though honestly I didn't keep track, I about lost count after we got chased by that monster again." Thorn replied. "All I know is we've gotten no where with finding Dash."
"Uggghhh… I get dibs on beating Bravo when we get out of here."
"Long as I get Echo I have no problems."
The two mares sat in silence before they heard thunder crack against the sky.
"Oh joy, a thunderstorm, looks like it's the cave again." Lightning said getting up.
"Actually, I think I got a different idea."
Lightning looked to see Thorn was looking off at something from the cliffside. Lightning trotted over to see she was looking at the small town they had seen earlier.
"... I'm guessing it has to deal with going to that town there… Thorn, that's positively one of the worst ideas I've ever heard. Did you forget what Echo and Bravo said? We have to stay out of sight."
"Well at this point I don't care, if they see us then fine, but I'm betting my bits they might be able to help us find Rainbow Dash some how…"
"What makes you say that?"
"Just a hunch… plus, during the times we were hiding from that monster out in the fields I have seen some kinder creatures that actually talk and socialize. I don't care what Echo and Bravo said, I just want to find our friend. Our best bet is to get some help."
"And how are you sure they aren't possibly going to do something to us when they see us? We aren't exactly a native creature as far as I'm concerned."
Thorn narrowed her eyes. "Can we at least try? I'm dead serious."
Lightning sighed a little. "Well… fine. But if we get pulled into some crazy thing that ends with us being captured I'm going to kill you."
"I'm willing to take that risk. Come on!"
Dusty looked outside his hangar. Dash was sitting near the mailbox outside looking at the sky.
As he had promised they had gone to look for her friends about three days ago and turned up with nothing. Dash was starting to worry she may have either gotten left behind or her friends might be in trouble. She wasn't sure what might have happened, but it was driving her crazy. It had become a habit of hers now to just sit by Dusty's mailbox and just search the skies.
Dusty rolled over to her, brushing her back gently with his wing.
"You should come inside, weather report said there was gonna be a major storm tonight."
"I heard the thunder… Dusty, I need to find them now."
"Dash, we'll find them, now is not the time, especially not right now."
Dash stomped her hoof standing up. "NO!"
Dusty rolled back a little, surprised at her outburst.
"They're around here, if they get caught in this storm they could get seriously hurt… I'm gonna find them… no, not just that, I'm gonna be sure they're safe."
"Dash what are you-"
"DUSTY!"
Dusty looked over to see Chug driving on over.
"Chug?"
"We need some help, with that storm coming in we're afraid some of the crops are gonna get damaged, we need assistance in harvesting corn."
"I'll go get my net ready and help as much as I can."
Chug nodded and sped off.
Dusty looked to Dash… only to find her gone, and in her place her two braces. His eyes widened in horror.
Oh no…
"DASH!"
It was too late. Rainbow was already up in the skies. She was a bit wobbly but was able to keep herself up in the air. She still had soreness in her wings but she wasn't letting that stop her. If anything, it was most likely adrenaline that was keeping her from stopping.
I gotta help.
She flew higher until she was in the cloud layer.
Alright… let's do this.
She got herself in position and began bucking at the clouds… only to go straight through them.
W-What the?!
She tried again and again but to no avail.
"COME ON! BREAK! LEAST ONE OF YOU BREAK!"
BOOM!
Rainbow gasped as a bolt of lightning flashed by her.
"Oh Celestia…"
"DASH!"
Rainbow looked to see Dusty was now in the sky as well with a net tied onto him by his wings that had some corn in it.
"You need to get out of the sky right now! It's too dangerous to be flying in this weather!" Dusty called out as he flew around her in circles.
"You're one to talk!"
"I can handle this! I'm not sure about you though, I don't want to guess what might happen if you even get scathed by lightning!"
"I'll be- Ack!"
Rainbow could start to feel the pain in her wings coming back.
Oh come on… not now…
"Dash please! I'm begging you! You need to get back to safety!"
"Dusty I need to-"
Her voice was drowned out as another bolt of lightning ripped through sky… dangerously close to Rainbow and Dusty.
Rainbow felt her heart skip a beat. She felt paralyzed.
I… I can't do anything here… I'm useless…
"That's it! I'm bringing you down whether you like it or not!"
Dusty flew up higher, catching Rainbow in his net. Rainbow didn't resist, she let herself get swept up in the net full of corn. After that Dusty made his way back to the runway and landed as gently as possible. Soon as he was down, Dottie undid the net around him and he made his way over to Rainbow.
"On my wing. NOW." he ordered.
Rainbow quickly made her way onto his wing. It began to rain as Dusty made his way back to his hangar. Soon as they were inside, Dusty had Rainbow sit in front of him.
"What were you thinking, Dash!?" he demanded. "You could've gotten yourself killed up there!"
"I… I…"
"You wanted help, I know, but you can't go risking your life like that, especially when you're still recovering. Your friends would be devastated if something happened to you!"
Rainbow looked at the ground, trying to hide tears.
"... I'm so sorry… I.. I didn't… I… I just wanted to help…"
"Dash…"
She couldn't hold back anymore as she broke down into a sob.
"I'M SORRY! DUSTY I'M SO SORRY!"
Dusty's look softened as he rolled close to her, nuzzling her gently.
"Shhh…."
"I'm sorry…"
"I know… Dash… I don't want you getting hurt… I'm not angry with you… I just… I just would've been devastated if something happened to you. You've had it so rough since you got here… I don't want you ending up like I did in the Wings Around the Globe after the storm... it's not worth it."
Rainbow sniffled a little, hiccuping a bit.
"Dusty…"
"Friends look out for each other Dash… we may not have known each other long… But with how much we've gotten to know about each other… and the time we've had… you're a friend to me."
Rainbow moved closer, nuzzling him.
"And you to me… I'm sorry…"
Thunder was heard again, spooking her a little. Rainbow couldn't believe she was finding herself trembling over thunder of all things. She was so used to controlling it so it didn't really bother her… but here… it just scared her.
She huddled closer to Dusty.
"Dusty?"
"Yeah?"
"It's… It's okay to be scared of something sometimes… right?"
"Well, if something nearly hurt you, it's completely normal, that was terrifying out there."
"But thunder has never bothered me before… I… I guess it's the fact that I can't control it that's scaring me. I felt so helpless up there."
Dusty frowned a little.
"You gonna be okay?"
"I don't know…"
Thunder boomed again, causing Rainbow to huddle close again.
Poor girl… She must be traumatized…
"Dash, grab your pillow and blanket and hop onto my wing, you can sleep next to me tonight."
Rainbow quickly did so, practically leaping to where her pillow and blanket were and onto Dusty's wing. She curled up under her blanket, huddled close to him. He was still warm from running his engine up in the sky.
She felt safer being near him, but kept huddling closer whenever thunder was heard.
Dusty rocked himself from side to side gently to help calm her a little, even humming a little.
"I got you Dash… you're safe here… I promise." he said quietly.
"Thanks Dusty… I'm glad I got you for a friend…"
Dusty smiled softly as he continued on with calming her down. Trying his best to keep her mind off the storm.
I remember there was something my mother used to do for me when I was young… I wonder…
Dusty cleared his throat a little before singing softly to her.
"There's a time… in your life. When the world, is on your side… you might not feel it, you might not see it, but it surrounds you like a light makes you stronger for the fight."
Rainbow felt herself slowly relaxing more as the song continued. Memories of home flooding her mind. Her friends…
They… They were always there. Even when I didn't realize it… They always brought me back up when I was down… made me strong again…
"Never letting go, gotta learn to grow, watch as you touch the sky… still you fly. Now you know it's what you gotta do, find your way on home, give it all you got this time, still you fly…"
Home…
"Feel the wind, all around, all the courage… to be found. Who knows what's out there? I know you'll get there. Oh off into the sun I know you're on the only that's never letting go gotta learn to grow I'll watch as you touch the sky, still you fly. Now you know it's what you gotta do, find your way on home and give it all you got this time… Still you fly.."
Dusty…
"Breathe it in, you're gonna shine, it'll be your moment you gotta live it right… you're flying… flying so strong…"
Rainbow nuzzled him gently. Everything around them faded as he sang on… She found herself at home again with her friends around her. Dusty was there too, as were her teammates. Everyone.
"Never let it go Dash… Never give up."
I won't… I promise.