On paper, Lightning Streak has everything. A wonderful boyfriend, a healthy lifestyle with a body to match, and he's one of the fastest flyers in Equestria, as signified by the flight suit he proudly wears. But every day, he still pushes himself harder and harder, continuing to go to the very brink of his limits just so he can be good enough. Thunderlane worries about him, sure, and the other Wonderbolts don't have the same thought process for some reason. But that's not his problem, it's theirs. After all, only winners get rewards. Failures get nothing.
Written for the M/M Shipping Contest 2022!
Featured 11/19/22
Popular 11/20/22
thank youuu. this hurt me but also it was good
11430084
Glad you enjoyed!
Great story. I love the way you handled the transitions. At first, I thought that it was a bit imbalanced, with the memory sections being a lot longer than the present-day sections, but then I realized how much sense that makes: Lightning Streak probably spends a lot more time in his head and his traumatic memories than he does in the present moment. It's all-consuming for him.
I wish the ending and resolution had more room to breathe, as I thought it felt rushed and tied up a little too neatly. That said, using food as a theme throughout and letting him finally have some soup was a great touch.
Excellent work. Have a fave and a follow.
11442890
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I agree the ending I rushed a bit, but I wasn't sure how else to end it, and I wanted to give Light a happy resolution
11442947
I'm glad he got one, too.
11442956
Yes, I felt he deserved it
honestly just love the name and cutie mark for this character. it just feels like a seamless part of the world of these ponies
augh that sounds so wonderful and nice! i would have to be crowbarred out of that cuddle if i were Lightning
and oof, always awful to see :(
i would also definitely be concerned
there is something extra sinister in a whimsical worldbuilding element being used like this. a great touch
hoowee i do not feel good about how this will end!
honestly surprised Lightning is even alive, combining such a brutal training regimen with so few calories…
love AJ just being a background pony in this
and of course Winning Streak would be awful about this, but i’d bet if Lightning had gone to the mall with a mare Winning Streak would have found reasons to criticize that as well. Lightning just can’t win or be happy in his eyes…
gottem
ehehe nice
i mean of course he is, that was incredibly smooth
augh that is so nice! i also wish it could never end because i am sure Winning Streak did something horrible after it did
oof, Lightning really internalized that no-crying thing at this point
and oof, that is even worse. Winning Streak didn’t even have to find out about the kiss, what Lightning internalized from him was enough
hehe love the canon references
and that Fire Streak also ended up in the Wonderbolts without Winning Streak treating him this way really just underscores how needless and awful this all is
very Winning Streak line
that is cinema
oof…
aww, what a nice ending! and the other Wonderbolts chiming in reminded me of the ending of “Newbie Dash”, as well as something needed for Lightning to accept that what he was told growing up was not acceptable or normal.
i don’t think it’s bad at all, what a wonderful headcanon!
11505050
Thank you for all the commentary! I'm really glad you liked this story, and I'm also glad that someone caught all the nods to the internalized trauma Lightning has, I was worried it was a little too subtle
Out of the whole story, I think this is the line that got to me the most. Something about it - so simple but it manages is to perfectly encapsulate a lot of Lightning's character and feelings here. It works so well.
11733689
Thank you!!