The World-Wide Adventures of Dash and Pinkie

It was a beautiful day in Ponyville.  The weather team had decided to work extra hard and gotten rid of every clout in the sky, and Celestia's sun was high in the sky.  A small breeze was cooling the town, making it the perfect day for work, a walk, or even simply to lie outside and enjoy the day.  Every pony in the small village was outside doing one of these things, wondering why the weather team didn't make more days like today.

Even Twilight, the purple pony known to stay inside most days reading, was doing her studying outside in the park, unable to resist the allure of such a beautiful day.  She was lying down comfortably on a bench, an open book before her.  Every now and then she would get up and take a quick walk around the park, stretching her legs and saying hello to all the other ponies she saw.

It was on one of these walks that she saw her friend Rainbow Dash.  The light blue pegesus was busy bouncing a ball on her head, deep in concentration.  Her red, yellow, and orange hair was in a slightly bigger mess than normal from all the sweating she was doing, trying to keep the ball in the air.  She was doing a great job, until she hit the rubber object at a funny angle, causing it to start to bounce slightly erratically.

Rainbow did everything that she could to stabilize it, not wanting to start over.  Eventually, though, she fell flat on her face, the ball bouncing once more on her head before rolling away.  Irritated, the pegesus started to go after the ball until she noticed Twilight looking at her.

"Hey Twilight.  What's up?"  The rainbow pony asked, her unkempt green, purple, and blue tail swaying slightly behind her.

"Why were you bouncing the ball again?"  The purple unicorn asked, getting right to the point.  "You are already in the Equestrian Book of World Records.  Remember, Pinkie threw you a party to celebrate?"

"Yhea, I remember."  Rainbow said, letting out a small shudder at the memory.  "I don't think I'll ever forget that party.  Where did she even MAKE a bouncing cake?  This time, I'm aiming for a WORLD record, one everyone everywhere can see!"  This got the winged pony excited enough to start flying around in circles, getting higher and higher until she ended it with a small flourishing twirl.

Twilight facehooved herself as Rainbow made her descent, unable to explain the flaw in the pony's logic.  "Rainbow, it was a fluke you got the ball bouncing record for Equestria, the world record is way out of your reach.  If you want to get into the world records, try something you know you are good at, like racing."  Twilight smiled at her friend and turned back to the bench.  "If you want, I can help you find something to try in the library.  Meet me there later, during lunch.  I'll prepare a sandwich and some tea."

Rainbow Dash thought the offer over for a moment, before deciding it was probably a good idea to listen to the smartest pony that she knew.  "Make it soda and I'm there."

"O.K., see you later, then."  With that, Twilight walked back to her bench, turning her head just in time to see the winged pony start to fly around the sky, attempting another one of her tricks.  A few ponies stopped what they were doing to watch the pegesus perform her stunts.  A few other pegasi in the crowd flew up to set up rings of clouds and make a small flight obstacle course.

Twilight played with the idea of watching her friend, but decided against it.  She instead opted to head for the library and look at some records Rainbow Dash could possibly break.  It may have been a silly task, one that the light blue pony would loose interest in quickly, but she had never let down a friend before, and had no intentions of starting now.

__________

Twilight was setting the table for a small lunch in her library home.  While it was open to the public, most people stopped coming in since she snagged one for an experiment a few weeks ago.  Twilight honestly thought it was silly to fear the building for one single loss of control.  Besides, the pony had come back alright, if her coat was permanently dyed a new color and she was unable to speak for a week.  Since then, everyone had simply asked her about a book on the street and came to pick it up before quickly exiting the building.

As soon as Twilight let the final plate out of her levitation field, the door was opened by Rainbow dash.  Twilight sometimes wondered how everything in her life seemed to work out just right.  It was almost the life of her and her friends was some kind of script.  Shaking her head at the notion, she approached Rainbow to invite her in.

"Hey Rainbow, glad you could make it."  Twilight said cheerily, inviting her friend to come further into the library with an outstretched hoof.  "You ready to find out what you are best at?"

Rainbow nodded her head eagerly, taking a seat at the wooden table with the plates on it.  "Yep, time to get into the world's history books!  I do have one rule, though."

Twilight was expecting this, knowing her friend incredibly well.  "Don't worry, I highlighted only the ones that I know you would find cool, awesome, and radical.  Non of the dull ones are in there."

"That's great, thanks for doing that."  Rainbow said with a grin, but lost it in the next moment, getting extremely serious.  "But the other rule is that I will break no record put in place by Lightning Bolt."

Twilight was not expecting this, thinking Rainbow would love a good speed record to break.  "Why not?  Speed is your best asset that can get you a world record!"

Rainbow just looked at her plate, unable to look Twilight in the eye as she explained.  "Bolt is the one that gave me the encouragement to be fast.  If it weren't for his records, I may have never even tried racing.  I am not about to let my inspiration be lost to time, least of all in my dust."

Twilight thought for a moment, and then levitated her list in front of her face.  To her dismay, nearly every single record was set by that one pegesus Rainbow wouldn't even try to beat.  As she crossed each one out, she noticed Rainbow's smile drop a little.  By the time that she finished crossing out all the records that this new rule made unbreakable, only a few remained.  Twilight looked back at her friend, deciding now was as good a time as any to serve lunch.

With her horn glowing, Twilight made the daisy sandwiches float out onto the plates.  As she walked over to the table, she let go of the sandwiches, and then sat down herself.  Looking across the table at her friend, Twilight explained the situation.  "While your rule is very noble, Dash, it isn't very practical."  With this said, she levitated the list in front of Rainbow Dash to add visuals to her speech.  "Nearly every record you have a chance of breaking was set by Bolt.  You either have to do a less-known record, or break your rule."

Rainbow just sighed and looked Twilight straight in the eye.  "I'm not going to have my inspiration forgotten.  I guess I'll have to do one of the odd ones."  Taking a closer look at the list, Rainbow was terrified at the choices left (who would even want to be remembered for the longest without bathing!?).  As she was about to rethink her rule, her eyes lit up upon one record that seemed perfect for her.

"What about this record, Twi?"  Rainbow asked, pointing a hoof at the record in question.  Twilight took a look at it, and then levitated a book over to her.  Rainbow quickly glimpsed the title Records In Depth as it floated over her head.

"World record for traveling around the world."  Twilight read aloud.  "This record was set by the first pony to go all around the world, doing so in a shorter time than anyone thought possible.  The most amazed were the Wonderbolt's, who were so impressed with the pony's ability to go all around the world, they made him an honorary member, and made it a rule that any pegesus that can do the same will become a full member as long as the record stands."

At the mention of her hero's, Rainbow Dash's interest went from mild interest to exited energy.  "So I can become a Wonderbolt by breaking this record?  Then what are we waiting for, what do I have to do?"

Twilight continued to read, almost as if she hadn't heard her friend's remark.  "The last person to beat it was a pegesus named Flyright, who managed to make the trip in 80 days."

Rainbow, still on a euphoria high after learning of a way to obtain her life-long dream, just started pacing, unable to keep still.  "Yhea yhea, broken by a lameo.  What do I have to do?"

Twilight heard her friend this time, and decided to listen to her plea, flipping over a few pages that talked about Flyright's time breaking the record and his inspiration to break the record (apparently had something to do with a bet), going straight to the part that explained the record for future breakers.

"The World Trip Record requires you to go to a number of places across the world, grabbing one thing that can unmistakably be from there.  Any object is permissible, as long as it can pass an authenticity test upon arrival at the finish line.  Any object found to be fraudulent and knowingly so placed it as proof of stop is grounds for immediate expulsion from the event."  Confused, Twilight flipped through the pages.  "Odd, there is nothing in here about where to go or how many stops to make.  You would think they would keep that constant for all people that want to break the record."

While this irked Twilight to no end, Rainbow had barely heard anything after the description of how to break the record.  She already was planning on what to pack, how many days of vacation she had on the weather team.  It took Twilight calling her name, banging a gong, and eventually dumping some cold water on her head to finally snap her back to reality.

"We need to focus, Rainbow."  Twilight told her friend, who was now shaking her mane and coat dry of the water used to bring her back to earth.  "We need to plan your route around the entire world!  Not to mention get reservations set up in all your stops, get all your tickets.  Oh, and you need travel guides!  I'll lend you a few of mine."  With that, Twilight's horn began to glow softly, dozens of books floating down from the shelves to the floor.  Rainbow was amazed at how many books could be dedicated to a single topic, wondering what one said that the others didn't.  Shaking her head, she noticed where this was going and took a now excited Twilight by the shoulders and holding her still for a few moments.

"Twilight, settle down!"  With this, Rainbow dash shook the unicorn a little bit, bringing her back to her senses.  "I know how you are always happy to plan things out, but this is going too far too fast."  As Rainbow continued to talk, she started to push her friend towards the table, lunch still prepared on it.  "Now, lets get some planning done over this nice lunch.  We all think better on full stomachs."

Embarrassed by her sudden outburst, Twilight slowly sat down to eat lunch.  "O.K. Rainbow, but we should at least plan your stops around the world.  That is, I assume you're going to do this?"

"Hmm, lets see."  Rainbow said, the sarcasm in her voice hard to miss, but not at all patronizing.  " This record not only has to do with speed, but also has a good chance of letting me join my hero's?  Why not."  With that, Rainbow took her spot back at the table ready for a planning session with the best pony she knew for the job.

__________

"So where are you going again?"  A pink pony with   curly pink hair asked, tilting her head to the side?  "It sounded like around the world, but how can you be around the world at the same time?"

Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked at each other, wondering how to explain it better.  Finally thinking she cracked it, Twilight tried again to explain what was happening.  "No, Pinkie.  Rainbow is trying to get around the world in 80 days, not be around the world."

This just seemed to confuse the pink pony further.  "But if the trip isn't for 80 days, why are we holding the good luck party now?  The good luck will wear off by then, and Rainbow won't be lucky."

Rainbow decided to try one last time to explain the idea to her friend.  "I am leaving tomorrow for Appleoosa.  From there, I plan to go around the world, one place at a time, until I have made my way back here in 80 days.  I'm not going to be in two places at once, just one at a time."

This seemed to finally register with the party pony, whose eyes lit up like a light bulb, finally able to grasp the idea.  "Oh, I get it now.  Best of luck with your trip, Dash."  Pinkie said, wandering off to continue hosting the party.

While the pair was unsure that the hyperactive mare had a clue, they decided that it didn't matter that much in the long run.  After being questioned by Pinkie Pie as to the place she was going, Rainbow and Twilight took a moment to look around at Pinkie's decoration.  It was the usual set-up for one of her parties.  The entire bottom room of Sugarcube Corner was don up with streamers and balloons, mostly pink with some blue and yellow thrown in.  A small table was set up to the side, holding an assortment of cupcakes, drinks, and other small snacks.  In a small corner of the room were a bunch of speakers, playing a happy tune that was almost impossible not to dance to.  It was obvious that some ponies were trying to disprove the myth that you had to dance to the music, but so far the one closest to proving the myth false was tapping his hoof on the floor, and looked about ready to burst out in an elaborate move.

Rainbow decided it was better to simply enjoy the party.  Deciding this, she went and mingled with the townspeople, knowing that she may not see them for a while.  As she was walking around, a pegesus touched down next to her.  The pegesus was a mare with a deep blue coat and red mane, with golden eyes that seemed to be unable to leave Rainbow at all.  Her cutie mark was that of a cloud obscuring the sun, proof enough to all that she was part of the weather team for Ponyville.

"Rainbow, ma'am, we need to talk again."  The pegesus stated, obviously not in the mood for idle conversation.

"Relax, Sunshine.  I'm sure you can handle the weather for a month or two while I'm gone.  Just keep the clouds clear and make it rain on time."  Rainbow was obviously trying to diffuse some of the stress she was feeling from the mare.  She knew it was to be expected, of course.  She had been the leader of the weather patrol for Ponyville for years.  It was by no fluke that she was the leader for so long; Rainbow knew more about the weather than anyone.

Sunshine, however, was not content with that.  "I was actually making sure I had the weather schedule right.  Something about it seems a bit odd."

Rainbow just put a hoof up before she could go much further.  "Listen, pal.  I went over that schedule with Applejack, the mayor, and even Fluttershy to make sure it wouldn't disrupt anything anywhere.  You follow my schedule to the letter, and everything will work out just fine."

Before Sunshine could say anything else, Rainbow walked into the crowd over to the yellow pegesus by the snack table, sipping punch and looking around.  She had a pink mane that matched the butterfly wings on her cutie mark.  As her eyes fell upon Rainbow Dash, she let a small smile find its way to her face and walked over.

"Hi, Rainbow."  The pegesus said sweetly.  "Thanks again for trusting me with your house.  Don't worry, it will be cleaner than it's ever been by the time you get back."

"That's ok, Fluttershy."  Rainbow said, clearly not against the idea of her home getting cleaned.  "I mainly want you to look after my plants and Tank.  You don't have to clean my house.  Thanks again for doing it, by the way."

"Oh, no trouble at all."  Fluttershy said, her small smile growing at the thanks she had received.  She looked like she wanted to say more, but another mare, clearly caught up in the song, took Fluttershy by the hooves and dragged her to the crowd of ponies dancing to a DJ P0n3 song that just came on.  Rainbow was sorry for the pegesus, knowing that she disliked dancing with anyone she didn't know that well.

After that, the party went on for a little longer.  Everyone agreed that it was fun as they walked out the door, walking tiredly back to their homes to rest for the next day.  As Rainbow was leaving, however, a voice called out to her.

"Hey Rainbow, can you help me clean up?"  Pinkie called, a pair of brooms leaning against both sides.

Rainbow would normally have declined, feeling that cleaning was way too boring.  Looking at the party pony, however, she felt that there was more to it than a simple request for aid.  Pinkie looked troubled by something, and clearly wanted to talk it over with somepony.

"Sure thing, Pinkie."  Rainbow said, taking a brook in her hooves.  At first it was awkward, Rainbow Dash unsure whether the broom was to be held in her mouth or her hooves.  After dropping it a few times, one of which drops hit pinkies head hard enough to cause a bump to slowly grow, Rainbow finally got the hang of it.

As she looked around, however, she saw that it was a pointless effort.  In the time that it took the rainbow pegesus to figure out how to work the broom, Pinkie had apparently managed to clean everything to a shine, having two heaving trash bags by the front door.  Rainbow finished in time to see Pinkie place the last bit of sparkle on the floor.  Looking around, Pinkie blushed.  "Sorry Dashie, guess I worked a bit fast.  There was something I wanted to ask you, though."

Rainbow had an idea what it was, and braced herself to hurt the pink pony's heart.  "Sorry Pinkie, but I'm afraid I don't share the same feelings for you."

This caused Pinkie to look up, confused.  "What in Equestria are you talking about, Rainbow?  Are you feeling ok?"  The pink mare suddenly became worried.  "Please don't tell me you caught party fever, and on the night before your trip, too.  I knew I shouldn't have let that pony in, he was showing all the symptoms!"

Rainbow Dash cut her off quickly before things got too out of hoof.  "Sorry, guess my mind's elsewhere."  Rainbow mentally berated herself for thinking of that, when there was no proof.  An awkward pause took residence in the room, only being kicked out by Rainbow finally asking "so why did you want to talk to me?"

Pinkie looked up and into Dash's eyes, showing how serious she was trying to be at that moment.  Taking a deep breath, Pinkie finally got it all out.  "I was wondering if I could join you on your trip."

Rainbow had no clue how to respond to that.  She had no idea what she was expecting, but this was definitely not it.  "Uh, I don't know Pinkie.  I mean, why do you even want to in the first place?"

Pinkie seemed to become a bit less lively at the question, making Rainbow feel it was a matter of great importance.  "It's something I overheard one of the ponies say at the party.  They said that my parties were all the same."  This seemed to break the gates for Pinkie, as se started to lay everything down for her friend.  "I mean, sure the layout is the same, but everypony still has fun.  That's the important thing, that everypony has a good time.  My party set-up is made to maximize fun!  You don't fix something that works, you may end up breaking it!"

Rainbow, while always happy to help a friend, was also known to have a small attention span and a harder time empathizing with others.  "I understand what you mean, but how will coming with me around the world help?"

Pinkie got a bit more cheerful at this; clearly happy her friend hadn't simply said no right off the bat.  "If I travel with you, I can see other places, get new ideas.  I guess I can stay here and think of things, but that wouldn't be me.  I do best with inspiration, and what's more inspirational than going around the world?"

Rainbow wasn't sure what to do.  "I'm grateful you would think of joining me Pinkie, but this is essentially a race, and you would mostly slow me down."

"I've proven to be just as fast as you any day of the week."

"Twilight already helped me with the budget, I'm not about to mess it up by doubling room and tripling food allowances."

"I'll pay entirely my way."  Rainbow looked about ready to make another point, but was stopped by Pinkie putting up a hoof in protest.  "Look, we can do one of two things.  We can either knock out the list of reasons and be here all night, making you tired and groggy for the start of your adventure, or we can agree I'm coming and enjoy a tasty slice of apple pie."

Rainbow's argument was forgotten as she weighed the choices given to her.  On one hand, she had no intention of letting Pinkie tag along.  On the other…

"With ice cream?"

Pinkie smiled, knowing that the fight had been won by looking at Dash's eyes alone.  "And whipped cream."

__________

Ponyville had been as busy as it was the day Rainbow was set to leave for her worldwide trip once before, and that was when the Summer Sun Celebration was held there.  The most prevalent ponies were by far the reporter ponies, or reporties as they called themselves.  A small circle of them was around Rainbow and Pinkie, the pink pony in her balloon.  Rainbow, already able to fly by her self, decided that it would be better to do just that.  Plus, it left plenty of room for all the supplies that the pair was taking with them.

At least it would if there was anything to take.  So far the only thing the two could think of to take was bits, and those fit better in the saddlebags that pinkie wore on her back.  The only other things in there were some snacks, a few first-aid pieces, and some things Pinkie felt would keep her occupied during the dull parts of the trip.

The mayor got onto a podium that was set up nearby, wanting to give the two residents a quick sendoff speech.  "Today we say goodbye, as our friends Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie set out to-"

"Yhea yhea, great speech.  Award-worthy, for sure."  A pony interrupted, walking up to the podium.  Once the offending pony got up there, she nudged the mare away, taking up the stand herself.  She was wearing an official-looking black suit, with sunglasses that hid her eyes.  Her mane was green as grass, with a little of her blue coat peaking out from her suit.  "I represent the World Record Committee, and basically here to make sure the contestant knows the rules.  First, you must meet up with a representative in each place you touch down."

Rainbow looked up at the podium, eyes suddenly wide.  "Wait, the book said that I needed to get some objects, not meet stuck-up ponies!"  This was more an inconvenience than an issue, but Rainbow still didn't like it.

The dressed-up mare sighed, obviously not happy with having to waste time explaining what he saw as simple.  "You have to do that too.  The rep stipulation was added after somepony tried to steal everything he needed for proof.  Led to getting Celestia herself into a lot of trouble, and us more so!"  Taking a calming breath, the representative looked back at Rainbow through the glasses.  "The representatives will see you within 24 hours of you arriving in your destination.  I assume you already told us of your route?"

This was another thing Rainbow Dash wasn't expecting.  "um, uh…"

The rep facehooved at how unready this pegesus was for breaking a record.  "Let me guess, you're one of those guys that figured you would simply try to break a world record and decided this was the most fun?"

Rainbow smiled a little, feeling a small amount of pride.  "This one just seems the coolest.  Going all over the world, what's better than that?"

The rep thought for a second.  "Lets see, there's skydiving, wrestling, jousting against the dragons with giant salami on-" The rep shook her head, cheeks turning a slight shade of crimson.  Coughing, she continued.  "Anyway, everyone here already came by, so here's what we'll do.  Tell me your stops, and I'll relay them to all the reps there.  I can only pray that you have a guide at all?"

This question made Rainbow a bit angry, wondering what made this jerk think she was that unprepared.  "Of course I do!  I may have missed some red tape, but I never would have done this without planning a route."  Suddenly feeling an icy chill on her neck, Rainbow turned around to see Twilight standing next to Fluttershy, glaring at Rainbow with a look that could have frozen the sun.  Turning back to the rep, she rubbed the back of her head.  "Although I may have had help in that department."

"O.K. then, just tell me your stops then, and you can go."  The rep took out a notepad and placed it on the podium.  He next pulled out a pencil, only to find the tip had broken.  "Of all the lousy…" Coughing, the mare looked out at the group of ponies.  "Anyone here have a pencil I can use for a bit?"

All the ponies looked around, wondering what to do.  Most shuffled in place nervously, asking themselves how they could have pencils without pockets, or even clothes for that matter.  One pony, with a light brown coat and darker brown hair, took out a strange, cylindrical object from seemingly nowhere.  About to offer it to the rep, it was then that he noticed that, while his tool could do many things, leaving a mark on paper was not one of them.  Putting the tool back where he found it, he began to mutter to himself about upgrading it with a pencil attachment.

Just as somepony was about to leave and get one, Pinkie decided to help.  "I think there's one in my bag somewhere…" With that, the pink pony took her saddlebags off and hopped out of the balloon.  Looking around, she turned her bags upside down.

As soon as the bag was flipped, everything started to come out.  Rope, blocks, books, and a mountain of other random things three ponies high was made in a matter of seconds.  On top of this hill of stuff sat Pinkie Pie, who looked down at the awestruck ponies.  "Just give me a moment, please."  With that, the energetic pony began to dig into the pile, hunting for the tiny pencil.

The rep, obviously wanting to just get this tiring ordeal over with by now, threw her hooves into the air.  "Forget it!  Who helped you?  Surely they have a copy somewhere!?"

Twilight stepped forward nervously, careful not to incite the mare's growing rage.  "That would be me, ma'am.  I'll send you a letter as soon as I can."

"Good!"  The rep said, her anger easily apparent.  "In that case, you may take off when the clock strikes noon!"  The rep stormed away, not even staying to see the take-off.  The last thing any pony heard was "All the ponies…" the rest was lost to the wind, except for a clearly shouted "CRAZY!"

Looking at the clock tower, Rainbow saw that she still had about five minutes.  While she was tempted to go now, her good-sportsmanship spirit told her to wait.  Instead, the light blue pony opted to talk with Twilight.  Walking over to her, she noticed the strange brown pony was busy collecting rocks and pointing his strange device at them.  Deciding she didn't have time, Rainbow just decided to talk with Twilight.

"Hey Twi, I have a question."  Rainbow said, looking around.  "Where is everypony else?  I thought for sure they would see me off."  Twilight looked at her with a tilted head and a look showing pure confusion.

"We talked about this earlier, remember?  They all had things to do elsewhere.  Really, Rainbow, you would think you have only been listening for a few minutes."

Rainbow had more that she wanted to ask of Twilight, but got cut off by a bell.  Head going up, she looked at the tower to make sure Ringer hadn't made a mistake again.  Sure enough, it was indeed noon, meaning the race had begun.  Flying into the air, she hovered above the assembly of ponies, hoping to give out a final speech.

Unfortunately, Rainbow was too impatient to wait for the bells to stop, so all the ponies heard was "Bye, Every- DONG!- I will be back- DONG!!- Sunshine, remember to- DONG!- Otherwise the town will- DONG!- See you all in a few weeks!"  With that, she darted off, Pinkie's balloon in tow, leaving a nervous Sunshine calling out, asking what it was she wasn't supposed to forget.

__________

The din of a roaring crowd could be heard just outside the locker room occupied by six pegesi, all getting out of their blue jumpsuits.  The first one out, a mare with a yellow coat and orange hair, let out a sigh of relief.  "These costumes don't breathe at all.  Think we should get new ones, Soarin?"

The addressed pegesus just got out of his suit, his grey coat and black mane matted with sweat.  "Yhea, but the place that made these worked so hard on them.  It would be a shame to throw them out."  This got a raised eyebrow from the other mare.  Sheepishly, Soarin added "plus it would be a pain to design new outfits.  You understand, right Spitfire?"

Before the yellow pegesus could respond, a seventh Wonderbolt walked into the room.  She took her suit off quickly, revealing the white coat and red hair.  Looking around, she spotted Soarin and stepped up to him.

"You're getting sloppy, Soarin."  The strange mare said, looking down at the stallion.  "You need to step your game up.  Stop eating so many pies and start training more!"  With that, the mare walked over to her locker.

Annoyed with the mare, Spitfire walked up and began a lecture.  "Look here, Flyright.  You are not the leader of this group, I am.  I say that Soarin did fantastic this performance, like every single one he does.  You had better work on your attitude, or you will find yourself without a position!"

Flyright, obviously not caring about what the "leader" had to say, walked away to shower off.  Turning on the shower, she could faintly hear the conversation between the two friends.

"You know, laying off the pie may not be a bad idea."  Spitfire said with a giggle.  "You're starting to make it show."

Soarin, however, was not amused, still hurt by Flyright's words.  "Why do we keep her around again?"  Soarin asked, not for the first time?  It was well known why she was kept around, but Flyright still strained to hear, always happy to hear her accomplishment said aloud.

"She broke that darn record."  Spitfire said, hatred heavy in her voice.  "The way the rule is written, she's a member as long as her name is the one in that book."

Flyright took a moment to relish that.  While she knew that she had broken the record (she still had all her objects on a wall back home.), it was still nice to hear somepony say it.  Sure, she had cut a few corners, but that didn't make the record any less official, just harder for the following pony.

Flyright was about to tune out her co-workers, when Spitfire said something that caught her interest.  "Don't worry, though.  I heard that Rainbow Dash is trying to break the record.  Judging by what I've seen of that girl, she'll be flying with us pretty soon."

While this would frighten most ponies in Flyrights position, the pegesus was fairly calm.  She knew that the record was harder than it looked.  Heck, she had been forced to steal the last object she needed.  She bet that this… Plainbrow, she called her?  Whatever her name, the white-coated pegesus wasn't worried.  Turning the shower off, she grabbed a towel and dried herself off quickly.

"OK, guys.  Lets all get ready for the next show.  I expect to see you all in the exercise room with me in an hour."  With that, she left the locker room, a seething Spitfire helping a now-depressed Soarin through the doors, if not to help then to keep away from that jerk.

Left without anything else to do, the other Wonderbolts just shrugged and began to take off their own suits.  One, with a body a blue so light it could be easily called white at first glance and a make to match, looked to one of his fellow Wonderbolts, a black-coated mare with navy blue curls in her mane.

"Why are we never talked to, High Winds?"  The blue pegesus asked.  "They only seem to care about Spitfire and Soarin.  We live interesting lives, don't we?"

High Winds just looked at her friend, thinking about it for a second.  "No idea, Ice Winds.  Maybe we don't stand out?"

This made Ice Winds look at her friend with shock.  "We are so much more than part of the background!  At least I know I am.  You don't really stand out that much, to be honest."

High Winds simply chuckled.  "Really, I don't stand out?  I get fillies and colts begging for autographs after every show!  You only get them when a fan wants them from all of us."

"I get way more autograph requests than you, feather-brain.  I hear that some skip you, even those that want them all!  You're that much of background!"  Ice Winds slammed her locker shut, starting to get into the argument.

"Oh yhea?"  High Winds retorted, slamming her own locker.  "I hear Spitfire asks some of the foals to go ask for your autograph after the show, just so you don't feel left out.  Face it, I'm far more popular with the crowd than you can ever be."

"Wanna bet?"  Ice Winds asked, her eyes now pinpricks.

High Winds tilted his head to one side, confused.  "Bet on what?"

Ice Winds face quickly went from anger to smugness.  "I propose we bet to see who can get the most autograph requests between now and the last show of the season.  That's three more, in case you fell asleep during your boring moves."  High Winds shot a glare at Ice Winds, but was ignored.  "Winner will get the losers vacation days for the next season."

A gasp escaped High Winds mouth.  "No way, Ice.  I use every one of those days to visit family.  It isn't worth it just to show you something everyone else knows already"  With this, High Winds began to walk away to the exit.

"What's wrong, High?"  Ice said, her smug look deepening with a devilish smile.  "Chicken?"

This stopped High Winds in his tracks.  Walking back, she stared Ice Winds straight in the eye.  "Bet accepted.  Let's see who calls who chicken when I'm laying on a beach near Ram and you are stuck here!"

With that, the two Wonderbolt's nopony remembered made it their mission to become popular.

XXXXXXXX

Hey, Thar here.  hope you enjoyed the story!  If you are reading this, then this is a call for help.  I have the majority of the story written out in my journal, but I like some ideas more than others.  If you can figure out a great local to put in here, let me know!  I can probably swing it in somehow.  Also, comment or message me or something if you find problems in the story.  I only glance over it before submitting, so I know it isn't perfect.