Only Down

Six ponies are gathered in a field, one clad in bandages. In the center of them is a tarp covered object, arousing intrest from passing ponies. Finally Rainbow Dash asked the question. "What the buck is that thing?"

"It's your chance at the Derby. And, it won't hinder you huge ego!" Replied Twilight, slightly annoyed at her friends rashness. "Pinkie, will you please do the honors? Pinkie? Pinkie!" Twilight repeated ferself as her quarry faced the wrong way, waving at seemingly nothing. "You know what, Applejack, go ahead." The purple pegasus said as she promptly facehoofed.

After rolling her eyes, the indicated earth pony obliged and pulled off the tarp. Under it was one of the strangest pieces of random junk thrown together junk Rainbow had ever seen. Even more so than the troublesome Flim and Flam brother's Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6,000. "That doesn't answer my question." Said a still very confused pegasus.

"Well, it's a machine that will allow a flightless pony flight!" Twilight pointed out exitedly, gesturing to Applejack and a still waving Pinkie.

"Hey!" Yelled a disgruntled AJ. "Y'all would all but starve it weren't fer me an the other Apples!"

Ignoring her friend's outburst, Twilight went to explain to Rainbow how it worked. "See, you step in here," Guiding her onto a seat not very different from a bicycle, "and you peddal to move those." Indicating two cloth wings attached to ropes in turn attached to the peddals.

"Like a bird!" Piped in an excited but usually subdued Fluttershy.

"Has it been tested yet?" Asked a concerned RD, obviously suspicious of the device.

"Yes, Lyra volunteered because she thought it was similar to something she claims the humans use for flight. Frankly, I don't see why they just don't evolve wings, like us." Answered Twilight.

"Okay, well, thanks, I guess." Said a still confused Cyan pegasus, still inspecting it, confused.

-A COUPLE HOURS LATER-

Back in her hospital bed after 3 hours training with the new construct, Rainbow Dash finds herself bored yet again. She finished all the books Twilight had brought her, and lost the only ball she brought, RD started thinking about the upcoming derby. It was a total of 100 pegasi, all the most elite fliers from all over Equestria, and Rainbow Dash was the first ever from Ponyville, and was excited to represent them. "But how can I win with that cumbersome machine?" She thought. It wasn't fast, it wasn't agile, and it certainly wasn't graceful.

"Odds are the others will all hit something or get lost and be disqualified." She thought smugly, "But then again, so might I." Plus, no other first timers had ever made it, the earliest winner won on his 9th time, and it's and ever changing cource, different every year. As the moon set, all she could think was; "Am I good enough?"