Into the musty yonder 2

(This is an offshoot from Roulette/Elix/Spring Shower in the topic of the same name.)

Storm Runner walked happily into the tavern. She was happy because for the first time since her accident, her wings didn't ache half-way through the flight from Cloudsdale to Ponyville. Normaly she would be required to take a break and recover, which meant possible delays in much needed weather around equestria. Not today though, today she had arrived a few hours ahead of schedule, so she decided to have a drink to celebrate.

"Surprise me." She said to the bartender, in a bit of a gambling mood, she just hoped it wouldn't be too strong. Showing up for work drunk wasn't usually a good idea.

"I don't really like forests, Roulette," Spring admitted after being asked to accompany the herb gathering expedition, "There's no room to really fly around-- and all the trees block the beautiful sunlight."

Spring looked at her drink again and glanced away a little trying to figure out a reason to not drink the rest of it. It was during this time that a white pony walked past with a black lightning bolt on her hit. Spring's brain went into overdrive as she remembered that cutie mark from somewhere.

For some reason, she couldn't quite place her hoof on it right away. She blamed the alcohol that had entered her system, regardless of how little it actually was. After a moment of thinking her head shot up and her eyes went bright with shock and excitement.

"Hey, Roulette, I've gotta go--" She said, leaning in towards the other ponys, "It was great hanging out with you, and I hope we can go flying again-- but-- but-- that pony that just walked in-- that was Storm Runner!" She said in near panic.

Spring Shower hoped to her hooves and tried not to run towards the pony that was now sitting at the bar, after she had gotten up next to the white pegasus, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. She cleared her throat a little bit and tried again, "uh-- excuse me..." she said quietly, and probably not loud enough to be heard in the tavern, "M-Miss Storm Runner...? My name is Spring Shower-- I'm a huge fan of yours..."

M-Miss Storm Runner...? My name is Spring Shower-- I'm a huge fan of yours..."

Storm turned to see a mare standing behind her. She felt a smile spread on her face.

"Well hello miss Spring Shower," she said, "it's always nice to meet a fan." Just then, the bartendered arrived with Storm's drink. she took a quick sip to taste the concoction.

"Good, not to strong." She mumbled to herself before looking at Spring "do you want anything to drink? Don't worry I can pay for it."

"Oh no, I don't drink," she told Storm with an off smile, thinking about the apparent weak drink Roulette had just had her try, "I was here with some friends but when I saw your cutie mark when you walked by-- I just had to meet you..." She said honestly.

Spring is a young mare, still full of innocence and energy, and it certainly would not be past her to let the child in her come out some when something such as a childhood hero walks right by.

"I looked up to you so much when you were in the Wonderbolts," she began to geek out again, "like any little filly in the speedster camp I wanted to be just like you-- of course I'm just an average flyer so I knew I'd never be able to be in the Wonderbolts."

"I remember when my parents and I flew to Manehatten for a Wonderbolts performance..." she said, she paused and then looked down as her voice became very somber, "I cried the whole way home..."

"I looked up to you so much when you were in the Wonderbolts, "like any little filly in the speedster camp I wanted to be just like you-- of course I'm just an average flyer so I knew I'd never be able to be in the Wonderbolts."

"I'm sure you could have," Storm said, trying to encourage Spring, "I thought that myself, going through my filly years, you just have to belive in yourself."

"I remember when my parents and I flew to Manehatten for a Wonderbolts performance...I cried the whole way home..."

Storm's mind went back to that day, one mistake, and she was on the ground surrounded by ponies, her wing a useless pile of feathers, and then darkness.

"So you were there huh?" she asked Spring, her voice becoming emotional, "I don't know how many times i have wished I could go back, correct my mistake that led to that accident, but the past is past, and there's nothing I can do about it." She drank some of her drink. "That accident's the reason I'm here actually." She added in a more happy tone, "I'm celebrating a milestone in my recovery."

Spring Shower laughed a little at Storm's pep talk, "Don't worry Miss Storm Runner, I'm perfectly happy bringing in the weather," she said with a smile, "I was a very understanding filly and knew when I should stick with what I am good at. Because, only the best 1% ever become a Wonderbolt."

Spring lowered her gaze a little, a bit nervous that bringing up Storm's accident would upset her. She raised her eyes as Storm said she was actually celebrating her recovery. "I'm very happy to hear your recover is going well," she said, the bright smile returning to her face, "You're not able to still fly with the Wonderbolts, though, are you?" she asked, a bit nervous by bringing up something that Storm may not want to answer.

"You're not able to still fly with the Wonderbolts are you?"

"Not anymore." Storm replied. "I retired from the Wonderbolts a couple years ago after the accident." She paused to take a drink. "Lying around in a hospital for days gives you time to think about things. Luckily I was able to find a job as a weather monitor though, so I won't be strugling for bits anytime soon."

Spring's head shot up at the mention of a weather monitor. With some of the issues she's had with hiding rain clouds to keep storms from being too bad, only to have them find their way out a few days later, she's had a few warnings from weather monitors about her mistakes. None of them were from Storm Runner though.

"weather monitor, huh?" Spring asked with a nervous smile, "are you going to be participating in the winter wrap up in a couple days than? I'm going to be with the weather team like I have been for years" she said.

"I apologize if I ask anything inappropriate concerning your accident or being with the Wonderbolts," she said, rubbing the back of her head with her hoof, "its just-- its not every day you get to meet your hero-- I mean, when I was a little filly-- you weren't just someone I admired-- you were who I wanted to be! I had a poster of you-- My parents even let me put dark blue coloring in my hair one year so I could claim to be you for Nightmare Night." she said with an adoring smile.

"It's quite all right," Storm said "I don't mind talking about my years as a Wonderbolt, as for the accident, well it made me learn to appreciate life a little more than before, and I'm flattered that you admired me so much." Storm smiled.

"Now to answer your question, yes I am participating on the weather team as well."

Spring Shower nodded, listening to everything the mare had to say. I'd love to be able to go flying with you at some point," Spring said with a bright smile, "Perhaps we can take a minute to take a flight during winter wrap up," Spring suggested.

"I mean, I'm sure we'll get a chance at some point to get away, I'm doing cloud clean up mostly but that'll be pretty easy work," She told Storm, "it really depends on whose in charge this year-- I don't know who yet but I hear we have a new pegasus in charge of the weather team this year, so as long as she isn't a jerk we'd probably be able to have the chance." Spring said with a bit of a hopeful look in her eyes.

"I'd love to be able to go flying with you at some point,Perhaps we can take a minute to take a flight during winter wrap up."

"I think that would be awesome," Storm replied, "it's been a while since I've been able to just rellax in the air. As long as my wings don't tense up of course." She added with a hint of saddness.

"it really depends on whose in charge this year-- I don't know who yet but I hear we have a new pegasus in charge of the weather team this year, so as long as she isn't a jerk we'd probably be able to have the chance."

Storm chuckled at this, "your're looking at her," she said, "and I don't plan on being a jerk at all, as long as everypony pitches in and gets the job done, we're going to be fine." She drank some more of her drink, a smile on her face.