Eyes on the Roadby Art InspiredChaptersPreludePart One: ConfrontationPart Two: CompetitionPart Three: AffiliationEpiloguePreludeThe area was almost black with fog for a good couple of minutes. The crowds watched in anticipation, waiting to see who would emerge from the smoke that surrounded the finish line. It’d all lead up to this; the finale in which only one pegasus would earn the right to be officially initiated into the Wonderbolts as an honored, fully fledged member. Thick dust drawn up by the sheer speed subsided into the relatively close distance, giving way to the two mares that stood side by side, panting vigorously, and eyeing each other. The scorn was so intensive that some members of the audience could see tiny lightning bolts battling with one another between their foreheads. But, which pony won the match? Who would be standing among the ranks of their idols after such a gripping race? It was no such surprise that this was a photo finish. Several moments that turned into minutes wandered by. The whole stadium, stands leading along the track and cloud sitters up above remained utterly silent, waiting for the officials to announce the winner. This was the moment of truth, when all this training would either pay off for one of the two, or prove seemingly pointless. Rainbow Dash, the spectrum division’s lead pony, and Lightning Dust of the rain section. These two had kick-started their rivalry early on in the most basic of training days, but after the freak accident that befell and nearly killed Rainbow Dash’s very own friends, Lightning was removed from the Wonderbolt recruits. She was back at square one, having no choice but to beg Spitfire for atonement. Her deeds were foolish, she knew this by then, and swore to never let herself go down that route ever again. And even though Spitfire knew Rainbow wouldn't like it, the Wonderbolts had an unwritten policy. So long as a pegasus is willing to put forth her best to achieve greatness, they would be given a second chance. Lightning Dust was once again among familiar wings, though unwelcome by some. Spitfire made well sure of keeping her eyes open, seeking for trouble this mare might potentially cause. One might say, along with giving Lightning Dust extra tedious assignments and tests, Spitfire intentionally kept her within visual distance. If there was a problem spawned on by Dust’s erratic behavior, Spitfire would know about it. That was almost three years ago. three contests had gone by, and for all those years, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust trained at a distance for when their scheduled time would come. It wasn't so much of Lightning Dust trying to keep well enough away, but Rainbow refusing to even speak with this pony who she still considered a threat to not only herself, but friends, too. It was at the height of their preparations that they would cross paths again, and share some words with one another before heading out into that wide stage, being cheered on by the masses from all over Equestria. This is where the story starts, with a small conversation, followed by the yearly race neither could afford to lose. Part One: ConfrontationHoof steps just beyond the preparation lockers entryway… The sudden whip of a washcloth, a sigh, some grumbling… and then silence. Soon after that, Lightning Dust heard brisk wipes smearing across the glass of what could've been goggles. There was some scrubbing being done around the metal rims, too. She was all too hesitant, but this was her final chance. Rainbow Dash heard a creaking noise from beyond the hallway, the darkness hiding whoever occupied it. “Who’s there?” she asked, placing her headgear on the table in front. “I’m kinda busy in here, getting ready for the race. I’m sorry, but I don’t have enough time for fans wanting autographs at the moment. Maybe after…” Lightning Dust walked out of the shadows, head slightly lowered, and trying hard not to break eye contact. However, it wouldn't be her to do so. After Rainbow dropped her jaw slightly, she huffed with an annoyed shift of the head, getting back to work. Ignoring the intruding mare wasn't going to work, though. “Rainbow, we need to talk.” No reply; just more streaking noises from the rag. “Please, I’m coming to you as a friend.” Rainbow stood and walked in the opposite direction along the locker doors. “Don’t call me that.” “Then what am I supposed to call you? This is ridiculous!” She quickly turned back, glaring at Lightning Dust, and then silence. It was the kind that becomes so awkward, one wishes nothing more but to break it with anything. A joke, or a compliment, but doesn't, knowing that if they say anything, things would hit the fan in a matter of moments. However, that’s exactly what Rainbow wanted all along. “You know what’s ridiculous, Dust?” She took a step back, gulping. “Uh, no… Wh-what?” “My friends being thrown into danger the way they were.” Rainbow froze Lightning with those words alone. After all these years of avoidance, waiting, hoping, and wondering, Lightning was pretty much informed of her mistake still being fresh within Rainbow’s mind. Two long years went right out the window with almost every day of her life, Lightning Dust wanting desperately to apologize, but never could work up the courage to do so. She looked down, and asked, “You’re still mad about that, huh?” Rainbow approached, brought her enemy’s stare back up, and said, “Furious…” Her hoof lowered back down to the floor, and she just stared menacingly. “I've tried to tell myself it’s wrong to hold a grudge, but what you did all those years ago almost costed me nearly everypony I love and care about.” Becoming that much more animated, Lightning nodded, looking away again. “I’m sorry about that… If you’d let me, I’d like to-” “What?!” Rainbow asked threateningly. “Say sorry? You've had two years to do just that! Why now? Not just the day before the big race, but right when I’m getting ready.” “Because,” Dust said quickly. “I won’t have another chance! You know how many times I've wanted to do this, but couldn't? Too many to count! If you or I win, we’ll never see each other again, not as equals. If you win, you’ll be too busy with new assignments, stage performances, autograph signings, and so much more. I won’t even get the time of day from you!” Rainbow sighed, glancing at her goggles. “And vice versa for you if I lose… Still, why take so long?” She looked back, a remaining hint of anger still showing. “Why now? Was I really that unapproachable?” Lightning looked Rainbow in the eyes. “You've seen me try… I’d come right up to you after Spitfire gave us our daily agenda, but you’d fly away, or give me this glare! How could I even think straight with you doing that? Just let me talk, and maybe, you’ll see I’m not a bad guy. I want to be your friend, not somepony who’s always in your way!” Rainbow scoffed, and turned back around, facing her open locker. A picture was quickly snatched out from within and presented to Lightning Dust. The image showed her a spectrum maned filly and a brown coated, white feathered gryphon looking over at the camera smugly while the pegasus smiled, showing a bit of an attitude. Lightning looked at Rainbow, and asked, “What’s this?” Rainbow looked down. “It’s my ex-best friend. Her name was Gilda. The pony you see next to her is me. It was taken about eleven years ago when we’d parted ways. I had just graduated flight school, but a few months before that, she did what you’re doing right now.” Lightning returned the picture to its rightful place, and sat with Rainbow for the first time in what seemed like forever. “What happened?” Reluctantly settling her nerves, Rainbow gave Lightning a dark expression as she said, “Gilda appealed to me with forgiveness, and made me lose one of the most important races of my life.” She caught her companion off guard. “Is that what you think I’m doing?” Dust asked, almost offended. “Trying to make you lose this race?” “That’s exactly what I think you’re doing!” Her word echoed in the partially empty room. “Gilda came to my school and took command of the cool kids by storm! How? She bullied me for a good couple of weeks before this really big race, and then, guess what she did.” The mare was speechless, mumbling over her words. “She came to me, and… and she told me everything she’d been doing was a simple, harmless joke.” Rainbow shivered a little. “I was lead on to believe she wanted to be my friend! Do you have any idea what the reward was for winning that race?” “I’m g-guessing… Uh…” Interrupting, knowing Lightning wouldn’t be able fathom the correct answer, Rainbow said, “Enough bits for a house, furniture, and much more! Not to mention a day with Spitfire herself; that's what I truly wanted. The prize was won by Gilda instead of me. Why’d she win? Because I let her! Right at the final moment, it could’ve gone either way. If I kept pushing myself, I would've beaten her by a few inches. Instead…” She huffed, and jerked her head away. Lightning could just barely see what looked like a tear being wiped away. “You slowed down, and let her win. Didn't you?” Taking a deep breath, Rainbow nodded. “I can’t let that happen again. I might be paranoid, or I could end up being right, about you coming to me like this is all just a ruse. So, I’m sorry, but unless you've got something you need from your locker, leave.” After her spiteful words left Rainbow’s lips, she came back around the small, wooden table, and got back to work on her equipment. Having been rejected like this was something Lightning Dust could barely handle. She’d come to Rainbow with honestly sincere intentions, but was seen the same way Rainbow views Gila: like somepony who’s unworthy of her friendship. Just before leaving Rainbow be, Lightning offered, “After the race, whoever wins or loses, I’d be grateful if you’d consider being my friend anyway.” She started walking to the exit when Rainbow called her back. “Hey…” Lightning stopped momentarily, tilting her head and pointing her ear at Rainbow’s direction to listen. “I’m not gonna hold back. Until this race is over, I’m still gonna see you as a rival rather than a friend. But, if I see you racing respectfully, and making an actual effort without cheating or taking shortcuts, then I’ll think about it…” The mare gave a small huff, and said, “Thank you, Rainbow Dash.” However, just for good measure, Rainbow instructed her possible future friend, “Don’t get your hopes up, though.” And then, she left. Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash wouldn't see each other until the line up, when Soarin' would announce this year’s competitors. They’d be standing side by side, and this time, both mares would understand there mustn't be any holding back. Though, just before that, Lightning Dust had some problems with her emotions, tempted to simply allow Rainbow Dash her victory. Were it not for Spitfire, the Wonderbolt’s leader, and a friend who’d finally started trusting Lightning Dust more often, Dust might’ve done just that. She was startled by the leader when she came around the corner, slouching onto her shoulder with a hoof, and asking, “So, how’d it go? Did Dash lighten up or what?” Her head lowered at the question. “Not exactly,” Lightning said. “I was accused of trying to make her soft so I could win the race. You were right when you said I should’ve gone to her a long time ago. Now, I’ll be lucky if she ever even speaks to me again.” Spitfire chuckled. “That’s Rainbow for you. I never really would've expected her to be the type to hold what happened all those years ago over your head, but after hearing about what she’s gone through all her life… Y’know? I can’t really blame her.” As they trotted to the left, rounding a corner, Lightning asked, “What happens now?” “You race,” Spitfire said rather bluntly. "Rainbow Dash has the right idea. Letting your emotions stand in the way isn't what the Wonderbolts are about. Sure, ethics count for more questionable situations, but this competition’s not about that. It’s to test your speed, skills, and will; to see if you've got what it takes to become this year’s newest member.” “But,” Lightning countered, ”I might want Dash to win. If I let her, maybe I’ll be forgiven.” Spitfire shook her head in disagreement. “Or, you’ll just show her you’re weak, and that you were no match for her in the first place. That’s not what I've been training everypony to do, especially not you! I've gone weeks, struggling with you, Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, and all the others special! I did that so you’d all be ready. Don’t disappoint me by letting yourself be defeated without a fight..” With an improved posture, Lightning Dust turned around to salute her mentor, and say, “Yes ma’am!” Once they parted ways, Lightning quickened her pace, allowing Spitfire’s words to run circles in her head. Everything she told Lightning Dust was true, that in order to prove to Rainbow she was genuinely sorry, she’d either win, or give Dash the most difficult time of her life without causing any mischief. She let everything that would’ve held her back be released from her thoughts, and walked hastily towards her door. In only five to ten minutes, give or take, the curtain would open up. Number Four, right next to Rainbow Dash. She was already getting pre-performance jitters along with second thoughts, but Dust shook all that away, blowing a breath of air down her chest to cool herself off. It’s what she always did when nervous, or anxious about something. Just being on that stage would be a treat for anypony, standing where so many other new Wonderbolts once did, only a few hours before they took off flying with each other. And then, Soarin’s voice boomed through the walls, vibrating Lightning Dust’s ears. “Fillies and gentlecolts! Welcome to the sixtieth annual racing of recruits! This year’s line up consists of only five pegasi, all of which has trained day in and day out for much longer than anypony before. They've completed a wide variety of tedious tasks, competed in all sorts of challenging competitions, and proved themselves ready for this very day!” Lightning Dust said it with him, “Chosen contestant number one.” The first to enter the stage was Thunderlane, the hardest worker of his bunch. The stallion's accomplishments involved clearing out one of the densest overcasts Manehatten had ever witnessed, among other deeds that went renown throughout many rural areas. He was recommended by Soarin’ himself, who watched him from a distance, admiring his performance. The next two were a pair of friendly rivals, formally known as Cloudchaser and Raindrop. Though acting friendly when off duty, whenever they’d be doing a job, One out of the two would persevere more and more, trying to prove herself better than the other. Time and time again, Spitfire observed this and eventually came to the decision that this year’s race just wouldn't be enough without the two. That, and the other possible candidates just weren't ready for such events. “And finally,” Soarin’ said after announcing everypony but the remaining two, “We have a pair of very familiar faces! The first is a pegasus some might not enjoy hearing about, especially after what happened two years ago. But, those events have crafted her into one of the greatest recruits I've ever seen! Please, put your hooves together for the one, the only, Lightning Dust!” Part Two: CompetitionShe floated through the opening curtains and into the blinding light that shined non-stop. Before her, hundreds upon thousands of ponies cheering, shouting, yelling, chanting and screaming either for her or the others that had already been introduced. She warily looked up at the stadium, at the black tracks made of asphalt, the clouds above head holding even more attendees, and heard some praise mixed in with insults. It was no surprise to Lightning Dust that some still chose to show resentment towards her, it’s what came with the package of past mistakes. No matter how much Lightning Dust would try, others would never even consider letting that day slip from their memories. But, at the same time, she still had a good amount of fans sticking by her side. It’s one of the things that helped her keep at it, really. Not only did the loathing from others push her even further, but the praise also made all the difference. Once she had her few moments filled with applause and outbursts, Soarin settled everyone down. “Now, for our final flyer. This mare is unlike anypony I've ever met. She’s got attitude, vigor, looks, charm, and a flight pattern unique to anything we've ever seen. Her reputation has been built from the mere rumor of the Sonic Rainboom, said to have been pulled off at only filly age, all the way up to just recently breaking through a tornado! Let’s hear it for Rainbow Dash!” The audience erupted with the phrase, “Rainbow Dash,” being celebrated by almost everypony in the stands and clouds. If the other racers didn't have sore ears by then, they sure did once contestant number five entered. Unlike Lightning Dust, who glided her way out, Rainbow trotted through the opening, her mane shielding her eyes, and an intimidating aura surrounding her whole frame. She turned her head right at Lightning Dust, and the two locked sights. With both mares giving each other the angriest of expressions, Soarin’ rallied the crowd, “Look at those sparks fly!” Lightning looked away, facing forward, and Rainbow did the same, but said, “No holding back.” She was just loud enough that Lightning could tell what she was telling her. “Understood.” Soarin’ resumed, “It’s no secret to anyone around these parts! These two have a grudge unlike anything we've seen in a long time, folks! Lightning Dust herself almost brought infamy her way when she put Rainbow’s friend’s lives at risk, and ever since then, the two have kept at arms length. It’s even been spread around the others that Lightning hasn't quit trying to rejoin the recruits. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof has thrived in favor of her superiors, and talent, giving Lightning Dust a run for her money the whole way here.” At that, the crowd exploded with even more excitement. Rainbow tilted her head to say, “You hear that? They’re rooting for me.” Lightning nodded. “I know, but after this, it’ll be the other way around.” Once again, Soarin’ spoke up. “But let’s not forget how much effort Lightning Dust has put forth. She’s done her fair share of jobs, too! Escorting traders, and repairing windmill after windmill with nothing but her sheer speed and determination. I don’t know about you ponies down there, but that deserves some recognition in my opinion. And that’s not all she’s done for the land, but if I took the time to tell you all about every little deed done through these years, we’d be here forever! So, without any further delay, let’s get this race started already!” Down and off the stage the pegasi went, lining up at the starting point. Raindrop stood on top of the yellow line that blinked in and out of sight. Over their heads, the lights that shone could be seen going for what looked like miles. That’s probably exactly how far this race track stretched, long enough for everyone to gather speed, and then slow way down for that first turn. After that, not even Rainbow Dash knew where it’d take them. Up, down, looping in circles? It was unpredictable. The course always changed every year, to keep things fresh. Thanks to unicorn magic, the structure could be realigned in over a thousand different ways. Only the audience knew for certain what to expect, but the recruits down below would have to figure it out for themselves on their first lap. After that, it was up to memory and skill, strength and cunning. One false move, and they’d be out of the race. There was no room for flaws in this. Soarin' began explaining the rules while Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust bowed down at the start, spreading their wings a bit. “After each of the four laps, the one who is left behind in last place will be disqualified, and the remaining racers will have just one less pegasus to worry about. By the last lap, there will only be two left, so let’s cheer them all on so we've got a nice, thrilling race!” Rainbow scuffled her front hooves on the pavement, looking at Lightning Dust as she did. “You ready?” Once the announcer spoke again, she reluctantly returned her gaze at the road. “The losers of this event will have no choice but to train that much harder for next year’s instance. Either that, or give up and go home! Shortly following this will be the returning racers from last year; same rules will apply, but due to such a huge, clustered crowd we've got this time around, that will have to be postponed so everyone who doesn't wish to stay can take their leave.” Finally, Spitfire took control of the mic. “Is everyone ready? Get set… Go!” In a fury of speed, enough to bring a barn flying into the air, all five racers were off. Rainbow immediately took the lead while Lightning Dust decided on the strategic approach, falling behind, just like Thunderlane did. He came close to her, smiled, and then sped back up. She followed suit, but remained in perfect alignment, right behind his body. A little something she learned a few month back was how to use and manipulate force that’s exerted along the route another is going by. This way, Dust could go just as fast without even giving half the energy. Even that was a dangerous action to take. Fifteen minutes into the straight, dark road, the turnabout came, and Lightning Dust almost didn't make it. Curving way up and going for a loop in the air, widening every second of the way, the road didn't seem to ever turn back into a straight path. Instead, it wound the opposite direction. Again, and again, Lightning soared in circles, almost getting dizzy. If it wasn't for the practice she’d gotten with the dizzatron, She might’ve been unable to keep going at such a high velocity. The course finally stabilized into a slanted slope, descending towards the surface below. Now was Lightning’s chance to catch up with the others. She flapped her wings more vigorously than before, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her line of sight, and saw hundreds of ponies to her right sitting at the stands quite a ways off. When she looked forward again, she was stunned to see the road going straight up, into the sky. That was new, they’d never tried that before. Nearly scraping her torso along the rough edge, Lightning flew right along the yellow line. There wasn't much lighting to help her see what was to come next. She seemed to just keep going up, and up, ascending into nothingness. Soon, however, jumping out of the void was the road again. In order to prevent herself from slamming face first into the oncoming street, Lightning barely made the cut without breaking her back in the process. Down again, a dead drop into what looked like pure nothingness save for a few spaces dots of light, almost invisible thanks to the shadows. Just then, things started to feel out of place. Lightning scraped the left portion of her waist along the road, and came to the realization that the road was twisting. She adjusted her flight pattern to cope with the change, and twirled three times total before, yet again, noticing the ground coming at her. Straightening out combined with a pair of zig-zags later, and she finally caught up to one of the other ponies. It was Cloudchaser, panting with exhaustion already. Lightning zoomed by with little regret, and took fourth place, but Cloudchaser wasn't finished with the mare yet. She streamed right next to Lightning Dust, muzzle to muzzle. Until now, Lightning had been doing her best, holding back for as long as possible, but she had little choice by this point in the race. Taking a deep breath and squinting her eyes, Lightning Dust stormed on, leaving her current rival in the dust. A few more turns would catch her by surprise, though the rest of the course turned out to be fairly memorable. Just before reaching the place where they all started, Lightning took a chance and checked to see where the last place pegasus was. She couldn't even see her by then, so lap one was her’s. Cloudchaser had been disqualified. That left three more to beat. Raindrop, Thunderlane… and Rainbow Dash. Who knows where she might've been. More than likely at the very front, cruising along like this was nothing, but Lightning Dust would fix that. Now was the time to find the next place holder, and pass them by, just like what she did with Cloudchaser. So far, this was no stroll through the park, either. A lot was riding on this victory, and it wasn't just that way with Lightning Dust. The conditions of losing weren't bad, but they weren't good, either. Another whole year of training and doing piddly errands any pegasus in this race could do doesn't sound all that horrible. Not at first, but when they've already been doing them for two years straight, adding yet another twelve months isn't bringing much joy for the future. That’s how the Wonderbolts weeded out the strong roots, though. No matter what, if one sticks with it, even if they lose every stadium race year after year, they’ll be welcomed once putting up with the conditions for so long. There’s a total of five races, four of which are made for the returning pegasi that lost last time. Eventually, if somepony just can’t win for some reason, and the leaders think they put their all into every single match, they’re brought in by default. It’s happened before, and it can happen time and time again. Snapping out of the thought, Lightning assured herself she wouldn't be beaten, and then have to wait another year just for another shot. Eventually, with enough work exhausted, she reached Raindrop at the turning point. She didn't seem too winded, but there was definite signs of her inability to keep up her forced speed. During almost all of the second lap, Raindrop and Lightning Dust maintained momentum until the final run. To Lightning’s surprise, Raindrop fell back at the last few minutes, and was disqualified. She’d made a good attempt, but in the end, she just wasn't fast enough. Thinking about how now, Raindrop would have to wait another year before trying this again, Lightning gave even more willpower to catch up with the last two. She did not want the same thing happening to herself. Nopony wanted that, but as stated before, that’s how everypony’s tested, and it’s proven to be quite efficient, too. Just ahead, riding along the lamp posts that illuminated her way, Lightning Dust could just barely see what looked like a tail waving in the gusts of wind. Was it Thunderlane, or Rainbow Dash? From where she flew, Lightning Dust couldn't tell. She was betting on Thunderlane, but with being so far behind throughout the entire race, the possibility of it being Rainbow was still very high. A few seconds before the lap’s first sharp turn, Lightning Dust was finally able to reach far enough ahead to distinguish who it belonged to. It was, indeed, Rainbow Dash. But, what was she doing in second place? Part Three: AffiliationFor a split second, Lightning Dust was tempted to try something new. It wouldn’t really be cheating, but at the same time, she figured Rainbow Dash wouldn't really approve of it. She was already disappointed with Lightning Dust, so what would've been the point of progressing that emotional frustration even further? She wanted to see if Rainbow would be willing to cooperate long enough so the two might pass by Thunderlane, but the idea was abandoned. She knew it wouldn't succeed. Instead, Lighting decided her best shot at this point would’ve been to keep Rainbow Dash within close quarters. That way, when the two finally did get caught up to Thunderlane, wherever he might be, they could both fly by him in a heartbeat. He’d probably not even realize they were gaining on him, so long as Lightning Dust did everything correctly. This was her plan, and there could be no errors. One wing out of beat, and it would be very likely she’d fall into last place the same way Raindrop did. At the rounding corner, the two mares locked position. Lightning Dust rode directly next to Rainbow Dash, almost pushing her up against the beam. However, she wanted Rainbow to stay with her. It wasn't so much that she needed things to turn out like that, but rather, would enjoy the experience more if the final lap was spent with Rainbow. Something about that alternative seemed like a better way to go for reasons unexplained. Not right then, that is. In order to ensure Rainbow wouldn’t hurt herself along the edges, Lightning had to fight the winds, pulling her side partner away. Then, the next sharp turn came at them faster than ever. Picking up on Lightning’s actions, Rainbow mimicked her step by step, yanking against the currents and guiding Dust well away from the walls. At that time, they reached the peak where their descent would inevitably lead them to Thunderlane. While accelerating, Rainbow yelled over to Lightning Dust, “Follow my lead! I’ll pull you along!” Shocked by Rainbow’s decision to work together, Lightning fell behind, stayed aligned with the wind patterns, and shouted up front, “Ready!” Just when she gained the signal, Rainbow shot herself forth with extreme velocity, roaring through the atmosphere and keeping Lightning Dust close by. The ponies to the right that inhabited the stands and clouds seemed like one big blur thanks to how quickly they were speeding through. Rocketing down quicker, and quicker, unable to stop, the two mares could see Thunderlane by then. He was just up ahead, but unfortunately, their trick had one small problem. It made more noise than all the ponies in the stands screaming and hollering combined with Soarin’s announcement mic set at full volume. From where most ponies sat, what they saw could easily be describes as a bright streak of white-hot rays shooting downwards, headed right for a tiny, black speck of a pony. Just before coming up to the wall and jolting straight upwards, Thunderlane checked behind him to see his pursuers gaining, and picked up the tempo, throwing himself up the asphalt wall almost as fast as the two mares that were hot on his tail. He huffed and pushed forward as hard as he could, but was no match for the others. They came up right beside him, and then reared backwards at the end of the ascension. He did the same, and the rest was the weightless experience of free falling. Lightning Dust gave way to join the two, neck and neck. All three ponies could be seen dropping right down and curving with the twisted terrain. It was fairly easy to adjust their bodies so accommodations could be achieved, but Thunderlane was on the off angled portion, so he had to do much more than a few, simple strains and stretches. To his dissatisfaction, he just couldn't keep it together. A hoof bumped along the road, and then his wing. Just like that, he was tossed out of perfect sync. the stallion fell further back than even he anticipated, and was left behind by the other racers. He wouldn't receive a second chance to catch up for the rest of the match, and was disqualified because of that one, minor mess up. That was the third pegasus out of five. All that was left now was Rainbow Dash and the only thing standing in her way of becoming an honorary Wonderbolt. Likewise for Lightning Dust. Near the end of the penultimate lap, both Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust glanced back to see Thunderlane utterly gone; out of sight. Once they returned their eyes to the road, Lighting beamed, “Oh, yeah! We did it!” Looking Dash’s way, Lightning was taken back, seeing the stern face Rainbow kept. She thought they’d made a pretty good team, but forgot this was no collaborative mission. It was still a total free-for-all. Rainbow, however, nodded, and chanted, “Eyes on the road!” She took off, almost faster than when the two were working together on the slope. Lightning Dust panted, wiped some sweat away, and sped up as well. For little more than ten minutes, she and Rainbow kept switching spots on the place holder. First, it was Rainbow Dash in front, and then Lightning dust. No, it’s Dash, and now Dust. It went on like this for at least twenty times, every moment of the course consisting of them interchanging the lead. By the middle segment, right before the spiral towards the top, Lightning Dust turned her body so that her stomach would face the wall. She’d wanted to try this, to see if it’d give her an edge, and it did. That is, until Rainbow revealed some hidden potential she’d been reluctant on showing just yet. Around the second turn, Lightning’s challenger was nowhere to be found. She could be anywhere within the twister. In between, or already at the top, way up ahead. Once she arrived at the summit for the fourth time, Lightning quickly became relieved to see Rainbow wasn't all that far off. In fact, if she just kept thrusting long enough, she could catch up and fly right on by. It wasn't like she had any other options, too. So, in a flash, Rainbow’s rival advanced down the flight way, coming closer, gaining speed. But, to Lightning’s immediate amazement, they’d already converged at the height turn. She and Rainbow nearly slammed right into the barrier, but luckily for both of them, they’d become familiar enough to instinctively raise themselves, and coast along. Rainbow’s tail was inches away now, just barely tickling Lightning Dust’s nose. She jerked out of the way and huffed. Bending backwards for the plunge, the mare groaned along with Rainbow Dash. It was a straight declination, and if she wanted to, Lightning Dust had her chance at ramming into Rainbow’s side, throwing her balance off. She was every bit enticed to do so, knowing good and well this would secure her victory. Though, that’s not what she learned to do from Spitfire. Cheating her way through anything had always backfired on her, and though she wouldn't openly admit it, Lightning Dust grew some respect for Rainbow not just over the years, but during this event, too. With a clear conscience, she backed away slightly to give Rainbow some breathing room. Naturally, this didn't go unnoticed by Rainbow one bit. Two spectrum thunderbolts changed directions in the blink of an eye, riveting and curling through the remaining obstacles. The final stretch, the last ride towards the finish line was so close, nopony was able to tell who crossed first. Once the two had made their grand finish, the loudest of streaking noises echoed throughout the stadium, four black lines left from their skidding dragged on. A thick fog cleared the way to show Rainbow and Lightning Dust glaring at each other, rage in both their eyes. Immediately, and at the same time, they shouted up at the podium where Spitfire and Soarin’ watched with open mouths, “Who won?!” Everything fell quiet. Not a single pony wished to miss the announcement. Spitfire had to nudge her partner so he’d snap out of the suspense-induced trance. “Oh, umm,” He began. “Uh, the winner… is…” But, he hesitated, looking over the pictures a few times. “Spits, look at this. You really can’t tell.” Grabbing the mic, Spitfire announced, “We apologize, but we need a moment to analyze the results. We’ll be back in only five minutes, we promise.” Almost everypony in the whole stadium pitched a fit, hardly unable to cope with the wait. In a situation like that, five minutes could easily feel like five years to those who enjoyed some exaggeration… And while they had the time, the two racers sat, Lightning Dust glancing over at Rainbow curiously. After they caught their breaths from what they’d been through, Lightning arrived at a conclusion. Now might be a fine chance to try this again. So, the mare stood back up and slowly but cautiously began trotting towards Rainbow, asking, “Can we talk?” Rainbow stared down at the ground, almost as if she didn't hear her competition say anything at all. Lightning was about to walk back to her spot when Rainbow voiced, “You did good.” Taking a chance, she thanked Rainbow for the compliment. “I still think you won, though.” “I think not.” She finally turned her head to face Lightning Dust. “I remember, at the last second, thinking about how much I wouldn't mind spending another year’s worth of training with Spitfire, and seeing you where either of us could be by tomorrow.” Lightning frowned and avoided eye contact. “You’d… be happy to see me get what you wanted?” A chuckle. “Heck no! But, well, I’d be proud. For now, though, I’m mostly sorry.” Lightning shook her head, and countered, “No, I’m the one who should be apologizing! I nearly…” Rainbow was looking up at one of the stands, the front row seats on the other side of the stadium. Tracing her line of view, Lightning Dust could just barely see about five mares, all ranging in color. Those were definitely the same group of ponies she’d placed in danger two years ago. They’d been watching them race this whole time. “Of course they’re here,” Lightning Dust mumbled. When she looked back down, Rainbow was staring at her for once, a serious expression on her face. “Meet me by the docks, down along side Lake Sunny. We’ll talk there. For now, I think some of the audience members are getting a little suspicious. I mean, you are supposed to be my enemy in this, after all.” Finally, a faint glimmer of hope, something Lightning Dust had been dying for ever since she left that locker room. She hardly realized it, but all throughout the instance taking place, she’d wanted nothing more but to simply sit down and discuss their relationship with Rainbow Dash; to forgive and forget. She was willing to do so by then, but was bewildered if Rainbow felt the same way. As it would seem, considering the race went well, she appeared to hold the same interest. A loud feedback screeching through the whole establishment, nearly loud enough to break glass was followed by Soarin’s voice. “Sorry, sorry. We’ve got the end results. Now, before we declare the winner, Spitfire and I just want to say we’re overwhelmed with this years competition. Neither of us has ever, ever had such a close call. For a moment, we literally thought about rescheduling the whole thing for a rematch, but that would-” Spitfire grabbed hold of the mic, groaning, “Give me that! You’re wasting time! If you don’t say it, then I will!” It was evident enough by the mere sounds of Soarin’s voice that he'd yanked the thing out of her hooves, saying, Okay! Alright… Where was I? Oh, yeah! The winner of this year’s grand, annual race…” Everypony leaned in on their seats. “Is…” This was it. Who would come out on top? Rainbow Dash, or Lightning Dust? EpilogueWith waves of brightly colored, orange water crashing up against the poles that sustained the dock, Lightning Dust watched the sun settling slowly further down towards the golden edge way off. The last time she saw such a marvel was months ago, when she had to deliver some cargo to Shady Shores, just beyond a small town called Ponyville. “Heh… That’s Rainbow’s home, if I’m remembering correctly.” She looked behind her, at the stadium built just beyond the hills, and wondered where Rainbow was. After they announced the winner, the usual ceremony commenced, and then, Lightning Dust left. What was taking Rainbow Dash so long? “She’s probably just catching up with her friends is all… She wouldn’t stand me up.” Lightning Dust skimmed her hoof along the crookedly placed boards, and sighed. No matter how long she had to wait, Lightning promised Rainbow during the party she’d be there. Like she figured, Rainbow was simply running a bit late. A few more minutes later, Lighting kept on watching that beautiful sunset, hardly able to take her eyes off it. “I wonder if Rainbow occasionally does this.” A voice from behind her admitted, “More than you’d think.” Lightning quickly turned around. There she was. Rainbow Dash, her most challenging obstacle in the whole race. “You came!” “Of course,” Rainbow said, smiling. “I told you to wait. Sorry it took me so long, but Pinkie Pie wouldn't let me out!” Lightning Dust laughed, hiding some blush that started forming around her cheeks. “Spitfire was pretty mad at me for walking out, too. I figured she would understand, though. I told her where she could find me, and you, too.” Rainbow nodded. “That’s fine. Race’s over, so there’s no secret to hide, really. Look, I called you here to say… I’m sorry for what I said back there.” Lightning Dust refused to forgive her just yet. “What’re you talking about? I’m the one who should be sorry! I've been thinking a lot about this lately, about how devastated I would be if those were my friends. Even though it happened so long ago, it feels like with every day gone by, I develop more guilt because I know it’s my fault.” She placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, and said again, “I’m the one who should be apologizing right now. You had every right to be mad at me.” Rainbow reacted calmly, holding onto the hoof that rested on her shoulder. “You’re forgiven, but I still need the same accommodations. I’m sorry for yelling at you, and I don’t care if you see that as right or wrong. I still regret acting the way I did.” Lightning pulled her new friend in close, tugging on her other shoulder, and nodded. “I’ll look the other way this time.” The sun completely descended with a new, promising relationship being born that evening. For another minute or two, Rainbow didn't fight Lightning Dust’s firm hug. If anything, she needed it all the same. “I guess,” Rainbow said, “we should hurry back. I think people are happy with the victor, don’t you?” “Agreed, but, we've gotta stay in touch. You either have to come down my way, or I’ll visit you.” Hoof bumping to seal the deal, Rainbow smirked. “It’s a promise!”
PreludeThe area was almost black with fog for a good couple of minutes. The crowds watched in anticipation, waiting to see who would emerge from the smoke that surrounded the finish line. It’d all lead up to this; the finale in which only one pegasus would earn the right to be officially initiated into the Wonderbolts as an honored, fully fledged member. Thick dust drawn up by the sheer speed subsided into the relatively close distance, giving way to the two mares that stood side by side, panting vigorously, and eyeing each other. The scorn was so intensive that some members of the audience could see tiny lightning bolts battling with one another between their foreheads. But, which pony won the match? Who would be standing among the ranks of their idols after such a gripping race? It was no such surprise that this was a photo finish. Several moments that turned into minutes wandered by. The whole stadium, stands leading along the track and cloud sitters up above remained utterly silent, waiting for the officials to announce the winner. This was the moment of truth, when all this training would either pay off for one of the two, or prove seemingly pointless. Rainbow Dash, the spectrum division’s lead pony, and Lightning Dust of the rain section. These two had kick-started their rivalry early on in the most basic of training days, but after the freak accident that befell and nearly killed Rainbow Dash’s very own friends, Lightning was removed from the Wonderbolt recruits. She was back at square one, having no choice but to beg Spitfire for atonement. Her deeds were foolish, she knew this by then, and swore to never let herself go down that route ever again. And even though Spitfire knew Rainbow wouldn't like it, the Wonderbolts had an unwritten policy. So long as a pegasus is willing to put forth her best to achieve greatness, they would be given a second chance. Lightning Dust was once again among familiar wings, though unwelcome by some. Spitfire made well sure of keeping her eyes open, seeking for trouble this mare might potentially cause. One might say, along with giving Lightning Dust extra tedious assignments and tests, Spitfire intentionally kept her within visual distance. If there was a problem spawned on by Dust’s erratic behavior, Spitfire would know about it. That was almost three years ago. three contests had gone by, and for all those years, Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust trained at a distance for when their scheduled time would come. It wasn't so much of Lightning Dust trying to keep well enough away, but Rainbow refusing to even speak with this pony who she still considered a threat to not only herself, but friends, too. It was at the height of their preparations that they would cross paths again, and share some words with one another before heading out into that wide stage, being cheered on by the masses from all over Equestria. This is where the story starts, with a small conversation, followed by the yearly race neither could afford to lose.
Part One: ConfrontationHoof steps just beyond the preparation lockers entryway… The sudden whip of a washcloth, a sigh, some grumbling… and then silence. Soon after that, Lightning Dust heard brisk wipes smearing across the glass of what could've been goggles. There was some scrubbing being done around the metal rims, too. She was all too hesitant, but this was her final chance. Rainbow Dash heard a creaking noise from beyond the hallway, the darkness hiding whoever occupied it. “Who’s there?” she asked, placing her headgear on the table in front. “I’m kinda busy in here, getting ready for the race. I’m sorry, but I don’t have enough time for fans wanting autographs at the moment. Maybe after…” Lightning Dust walked out of the shadows, head slightly lowered, and trying hard not to break eye contact. However, it wouldn't be her to do so. After Rainbow dropped her jaw slightly, she huffed with an annoyed shift of the head, getting back to work. Ignoring the intruding mare wasn't going to work, though. “Rainbow, we need to talk.” No reply; just more streaking noises from the rag. “Please, I’m coming to you as a friend.” Rainbow stood and walked in the opposite direction along the locker doors. “Don’t call me that.” “Then what am I supposed to call you? This is ridiculous!” She quickly turned back, glaring at Lightning Dust, and then silence. It was the kind that becomes so awkward, one wishes nothing more but to break it with anything. A joke, or a compliment, but doesn't, knowing that if they say anything, things would hit the fan in a matter of moments. However, that’s exactly what Rainbow wanted all along. “You know what’s ridiculous, Dust?” She took a step back, gulping. “Uh, no… Wh-what?” “My friends being thrown into danger the way they were.” Rainbow froze Lightning with those words alone. After all these years of avoidance, waiting, hoping, and wondering, Lightning was pretty much informed of her mistake still being fresh within Rainbow’s mind. Two long years went right out the window with almost every day of her life, Lightning Dust wanting desperately to apologize, but never could work up the courage to do so. She looked down, and asked, “You’re still mad about that, huh?” Rainbow approached, brought her enemy’s stare back up, and said, “Furious…” Her hoof lowered back down to the floor, and she just stared menacingly. “I've tried to tell myself it’s wrong to hold a grudge, but what you did all those years ago almost costed me nearly everypony I love and care about.” Becoming that much more animated, Lightning nodded, looking away again. “I’m sorry about that… If you’d let me, I’d like to-” “What?!” Rainbow asked threateningly. “Say sorry? You've had two years to do just that! Why now? Not just the day before the big race, but right when I’m getting ready.” “Because,” Dust said quickly. “I won’t have another chance! You know how many times I've wanted to do this, but couldn't? Too many to count! If you or I win, we’ll never see each other again, not as equals. If you win, you’ll be too busy with new assignments, stage performances, autograph signings, and so much more. I won’t even get the time of day from you!” Rainbow sighed, glancing at her goggles. “And vice versa for you if I lose… Still, why take so long?” She looked back, a remaining hint of anger still showing. “Why now? Was I really that unapproachable?” Lightning looked Rainbow in the eyes. “You've seen me try… I’d come right up to you after Spitfire gave us our daily agenda, but you’d fly away, or give me this glare! How could I even think straight with you doing that? Just let me talk, and maybe, you’ll see I’m not a bad guy. I want to be your friend, not somepony who’s always in your way!” Rainbow scoffed, and turned back around, facing her open locker. A picture was quickly snatched out from within and presented to Lightning Dust. The image showed her a spectrum maned filly and a brown coated, white feathered gryphon looking over at the camera smugly while the pegasus smiled, showing a bit of an attitude. Lightning looked at Rainbow, and asked, “What’s this?” Rainbow looked down. “It’s my ex-best friend. Her name was Gilda. The pony you see next to her is me. It was taken about eleven years ago when we’d parted ways. I had just graduated flight school, but a few months before that, she did what you’re doing right now.” Lightning returned the picture to its rightful place, and sat with Rainbow for the first time in what seemed like forever. “What happened?” Reluctantly settling her nerves, Rainbow gave Lightning a dark expression as she said, “Gilda appealed to me with forgiveness, and made me lose one of the most important races of my life.” She caught her companion off guard. “Is that what you think I’m doing?” Dust asked, almost offended. “Trying to make you lose this race?” “That’s exactly what I think you’re doing!” Her word echoed in the partially empty room. “Gilda came to my school and took command of the cool kids by storm! How? She bullied me for a good couple of weeks before this really big race, and then, guess what she did.” The mare was speechless, mumbling over her words. “She came to me, and… and she told me everything she’d been doing was a simple, harmless joke.” Rainbow shivered a little. “I was lead on to believe she wanted to be my friend! Do you have any idea what the reward was for winning that race?” “I’m g-guessing… Uh…” Interrupting, knowing Lightning wouldn’t be able fathom the correct answer, Rainbow said, “Enough bits for a house, furniture, and much more! Not to mention a day with Spitfire herself; that's what I truly wanted. The prize was won by Gilda instead of me. Why’d she win? Because I let her! Right at the final moment, it could’ve gone either way. If I kept pushing myself, I would've beaten her by a few inches. Instead…” She huffed, and jerked her head away. Lightning could just barely see what looked like a tear being wiped away. “You slowed down, and let her win. Didn't you?” Taking a deep breath, Rainbow nodded. “I can’t let that happen again. I might be paranoid, or I could end up being right, about you coming to me like this is all just a ruse. So, I’m sorry, but unless you've got something you need from your locker, leave.” After her spiteful words left Rainbow’s lips, she came back around the small, wooden table, and got back to work on her equipment. Having been rejected like this was something Lightning Dust could barely handle. She’d come to Rainbow with honestly sincere intentions, but was seen the same way Rainbow views Gila: like somepony who’s unworthy of her friendship. Just before leaving Rainbow be, Lightning offered, “After the race, whoever wins or loses, I’d be grateful if you’d consider being my friend anyway.” She started walking to the exit when Rainbow called her back. “Hey…” Lightning stopped momentarily, tilting her head and pointing her ear at Rainbow’s direction to listen. “I’m not gonna hold back. Until this race is over, I’m still gonna see you as a rival rather than a friend. But, if I see you racing respectfully, and making an actual effort without cheating or taking shortcuts, then I’ll think about it…” The mare gave a small huff, and said, “Thank you, Rainbow Dash.” However, just for good measure, Rainbow instructed her possible future friend, “Don’t get your hopes up, though.” And then, she left. Lightning Dust and Rainbow Dash wouldn't see each other until the line up, when Soarin' would announce this year’s competitors. They’d be standing side by side, and this time, both mares would understand there mustn't be any holding back. Though, just before that, Lightning Dust had some problems with her emotions, tempted to simply allow Rainbow Dash her victory. Were it not for Spitfire, the Wonderbolt’s leader, and a friend who’d finally started trusting Lightning Dust more often, Dust might’ve done just that. She was startled by the leader when she came around the corner, slouching onto her shoulder with a hoof, and asking, “So, how’d it go? Did Dash lighten up or what?” Her head lowered at the question. “Not exactly,” Lightning said. “I was accused of trying to make her soft so I could win the race. You were right when you said I should’ve gone to her a long time ago. Now, I’ll be lucky if she ever even speaks to me again.” Spitfire chuckled. “That’s Rainbow for you. I never really would've expected her to be the type to hold what happened all those years ago over your head, but after hearing about what she’s gone through all her life… Y’know? I can’t really blame her.” As they trotted to the left, rounding a corner, Lightning asked, “What happens now?” “You race,” Spitfire said rather bluntly. "Rainbow Dash has the right idea. Letting your emotions stand in the way isn't what the Wonderbolts are about. Sure, ethics count for more questionable situations, but this competition’s not about that. It’s to test your speed, skills, and will; to see if you've got what it takes to become this year’s newest member.” “But,” Lightning countered, ”I might want Dash to win. If I let her, maybe I’ll be forgiven.” Spitfire shook her head in disagreement. “Or, you’ll just show her you’re weak, and that you were no match for her in the first place. That’s not what I've been training everypony to do, especially not you! I've gone weeks, struggling with you, Rainbow Dash, Thunderlane, and all the others special! I did that so you’d all be ready. Don’t disappoint me by letting yourself be defeated without a fight..” With an improved posture, Lightning Dust turned around to salute her mentor, and say, “Yes ma’am!” Once they parted ways, Lightning quickened her pace, allowing Spitfire’s words to run circles in her head. Everything she told Lightning Dust was true, that in order to prove to Rainbow she was genuinely sorry, she’d either win, or give Dash the most difficult time of her life without causing any mischief. She let everything that would’ve held her back be released from her thoughts, and walked hastily towards her door. In only five to ten minutes, give or take, the curtain would open up. Number Four, right next to Rainbow Dash. She was already getting pre-performance jitters along with second thoughts, but Dust shook all that away, blowing a breath of air down her chest to cool herself off. It’s what she always did when nervous, or anxious about something. Just being on that stage would be a treat for anypony, standing where so many other new Wonderbolts once did, only a few hours before they took off flying with each other. And then, Soarin’s voice boomed through the walls, vibrating Lightning Dust’s ears. “Fillies and gentlecolts! Welcome to the sixtieth annual racing of recruits! This year’s line up consists of only five pegasi, all of which has trained day in and day out for much longer than anypony before. They've completed a wide variety of tedious tasks, competed in all sorts of challenging competitions, and proved themselves ready for this very day!” Lightning Dust said it with him, “Chosen contestant number one.” The first to enter the stage was Thunderlane, the hardest worker of his bunch. The stallion's accomplishments involved clearing out one of the densest overcasts Manehatten had ever witnessed, among other deeds that went renown throughout many rural areas. He was recommended by Soarin’ himself, who watched him from a distance, admiring his performance. The next two were a pair of friendly rivals, formally known as Cloudchaser and Raindrop. Though acting friendly when off duty, whenever they’d be doing a job, One out of the two would persevere more and more, trying to prove herself better than the other. Time and time again, Spitfire observed this and eventually came to the decision that this year’s race just wouldn't be enough without the two. That, and the other possible candidates just weren't ready for such events. “And finally,” Soarin’ said after announcing everypony but the remaining two, “We have a pair of very familiar faces! The first is a pegasus some might not enjoy hearing about, especially after what happened two years ago. But, those events have crafted her into one of the greatest recruits I've ever seen! Please, put your hooves together for the one, the only, Lightning Dust!”
Part Two: CompetitionShe floated through the opening curtains and into the blinding light that shined non-stop. Before her, hundreds upon thousands of ponies cheering, shouting, yelling, chanting and screaming either for her or the others that had already been introduced. She warily looked up at the stadium, at the black tracks made of asphalt, the clouds above head holding even more attendees, and heard some praise mixed in with insults. It was no surprise to Lightning Dust that some still chose to show resentment towards her, it’s what came with the package of past mistakes. No matter how much Lightning Dust would try, others would never even consider letting that day slip from their memories. But, at the same time, she still had a good amount of fans sticking by her side. It’s one of the things that helped her keep at it, really. Not only did the loathing from others push her even further, but the praise also made all the difference. Once she had her few moments filled with applause and outbursts, Soarin settled everyone down. “Now, for our final flyer. This mare is unlike anypony I've ever met. She’s got attitude, vigor, looks, charm, and a flight pattern unique to anything we've ever seen. Her reputation has been built from the mere rumor of the Sonic Rainboom, said to have been pulled off at only filly age, all the way up to just recently breaking through a tornado! Let’s hear it for Rainbow Dash!” The audience erupted with the phrase, “Rainbow Dash,” being celebrated by almost everypony in the stands and clouds. If the other racers didn't have sore ears by then, they sure did once contestant number five entered. Unlike Lightning Dust, who glided her way out, Rainbow trotted through the opening, her mane shielding her eyes, and an intimidating aura surrounding her whole frame. She turned her head right at Lightning Dust, and the two locked sights. With both mares giving each other the angriest of expressions, Soarin’ rallied the crowd, “Look at those sparks fly!” Lightning looked away, facing forward, and Rainbow did the same, but said, “No holding back.” She was just loud enough that Lightning could tell what she was telling her. “Understood.” Soarin’ resumed, “It’s no secret to anyone around these parts! These two have a grudge unlike anything we've seen in a long time, folks! Lightning Dust herself almost brought infamy her way when she put Rainbow’s friend’s lives at risk, and ever since then, the two have kept at arms length. It’s even been spread around the others that Lightning hasn't quit trying to rejoin the recruits. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof has thrived in favor of her superiors, and talent, giving Lightning Dust a run for her money the whole way here.” At that, the crowd exploded with even more excitement. Rainbow tilted her head to say, “You hear that? They’re rooting for me.” Lightning nodded. “I know, but after this, it’ll be the other way around.” Once again, Soarin’ spoke up. “But let’s not forget how much effort Lightning Dust has put forth. She’s done her fair share of jobs, too! Escorting traders, and repairing windmill after windmill with nothing but her sheer speed and determination. I don’t know about you ponies down there, but that deserves some recognition in my opinion. And that’s not all she’s done for the land, but if I took the time to tell you all about every little deed done through these years, we’d be here forever! So, without any further delay, let’s get this race started already!” Down and off the stage the pegasi went, lining up at the starting point. Raindrop stood on top of the yellow line that blinked in and out of sight. Over their heads, the lights that shone could be seen going for what looked like miles. That’s probably exactly how far this race track stretched, long enough for everyone to gather speed, and then slow way down for that first turn. After that, not even Rainbow Dash knew where it’d take them. Up, down, looping in circles? It was unpredictable. The course always changed every year, to keep things fresh. Thanks to unicorn magic, the structure could be realigned in over a thousand different ways. Only the audience knew for certain what to expect, but the recruits down below would have to figure it out for themselves on their first lap. After that, it was up to memory and skill, strength and cunning. One false move, and they’d be out of the race. There was no room for flaws in this. Soarin' began explaining the rules while Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust bowed down at the start, spreading their wings a bit. “After each of the four laps, the one who is left behind in last place will be disqualified, and the remaining racers will have just one less pegasus to worry about. By the last lap, there will only be two left, so let’s cheer them all on so we've got a nice, thrilling race!” Rainbow scuffled her front hooves on the pavement, looking at Lightning Dust as she did. “You ready?” Once the announcer spoke again, she reluctantly returned her gaze at the road. “The losers of this event will have no choice but to train that much harder for next year’s instance. Either that, or give up and go home! Shortly following this will be the returning racers from last year; same rules will apply, but due to such a huge, clustered crowd we've got this time around, that will have to be postponed so everyone who doesn't wish to stay can take their leave.” Finally, Spitfire took control of the mic. “Is everyone ready? Get set… Go!” In a fury of speed, enough to bring a barn flying into the air, all five racers were off. Rainbow immediately took the lead while Lightning Dust decided on the strategic approach, falling behind, just like Thunderlane did. He came close to her, smiled, and then sped back up. She followed suit, but remained in perfect alignment, right behind his body. A little something she learned a few month back was how to use and manipulate force that’s exerted along the route another is going by. This way, Dust could go just as fast without even giving half the energy. Even that was a dangerous action to take. Fifteen minutes into the straight, dark road, the turnabout came, and Lightning Dust almost didn't make it. Curving way up and going for a loop in the air, widening every second of the way, the road didn't seem to ever turn back into a straight path. Instead, it wound the opposite direction. Again, and again, Lightning soared in circles, almost getting dizzy. If it wasn't for the practice she’d gotten with the dizzatron, She might’ve been unable to keep going at such a high velocity. The course finally stabilized into a slanted slope, descending towards the surface below. Now was Lightning’s chance to catch up with the others. She flapped her wings more vigorously than before, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her line of sight, and saw hundreds of ponies to her right sitting at the stands quite a ways off. When she looked forward again, she was stunned to see the road going straight up, into the sky. That was new, they’d never tried that before. Nearly scraping her torso along the rough edge, Lightning flew right along the yellow line. There wasn't much lighting to help her see what was to come next. She seemed to just keep going up, and up, ascending into nothingness. Soon, however, jumping out of the void was the road again. In order to prevent herself from slamming face first into the oncoming street, Lightning barely made the cut without breaking her back in the process. Down again, a dead drop into what looked like pure nothingness save for a few spaces dots of light, almost invisible thanks to the shadows. Just then, things started to feel out of place. Lightning scraped the left portion of her waist along the road, and came to the realization that the road was twisting. She adjusted her flight pattern to cope with the change, and twirled three times total before, yet again, noticing the ground coming at her. Straightening out combined with a pair of zig-zags later, and she finally caught up to one of the other ponies. It was Cloudchaser, panting with exhaustion already. Lightning zoomed by with little regret, and took fourth place, but Cloudchaser wasn't finished with the mare yet. She streamed right next to Lightning Dust, muzzle to muzzle. Until now, Lightning had been doing her best, holding back for as long as possible, but she had little choice by this point in the race. Taking a deep breath and squinting her eyes, Lightning Dust stormed on, leaving her current rival in the dust. A few more turns would catch her by surprise, though the rest of the course turned out to be fairly memorable. Just before reaching the place where they all started, Lightning took a chance and checked to see where the last place pegasus was. She couldn't even see her by then, so lap one was her’s. Cloudchaser had been disqualified. That left three more to beat. Raindrop, Thunderlane… and Rainbow Dash. Who knows where she might've been. More than likely at the very front, cruising along like this was nothing, but Lightning Dust would fix that. Now was the time to find the next place holder, and pass them by, just like what she did with Cloudchaser. So far, this was no stroll through the park, either. A lot was riding on this victory, and it wasn't just that way with Lightning Dust. The conditions of losing weren't bad, but they weren't good, either. Another whole year of training and doing piddly errands any pegasus in this race could do doesn't sound all that horrible. Not at first, but when they've already been doing them for two years straight, adding yet another twelve months isn't bringing much joy for the future. That’s how the Wonderbolts weeded out the strong roots, though. No matter what, if one sticks with it, even if they lose every stadium race year after year, they’ll be welcomed once putting up with the conditions for so long. There’s a total of five races, four of which are made for the returning pegasi that lost last time. Eventually, if somepony just can’t win for some reason, and the leaders think they put their all into every single match, they’re brought in by default. It’s happened before, and it can happen time and time again. Snapping out of the thought, Lightning assured herself she wouldn't be beaten, and then have to wait another year just for another shot. Eventually, with enough work exhausted, she reached Raindrop at the turning point. She didn't seem too winded, but there was definite signs of her inability to keep up her forced speed. During almost all of the second lap, Raindrop and Lightning Dust maintained momentum until the final run. To Lightning’s surprise, Raindrop fell back at the last few minutes, and was disqualified. She’d made a good attempt, but in the end, she just wasn't fast enough. Thinking about how now, Raindrop would have to wait another year before trying this again, Lightning gave even more willpower to catch up with the last two. She did not want the same thing happening to herself. Nopony wanted that, but as stated before, that’s how everypony’s tested, and it’s proven to be quite efficient, too. Just ahead, riding along the lamp posts that illuminated her way, Lightning Dust could just barely see what looked like a tail waving in the gusts of wind. Was it Thunderlane, or Rainbow Dash? From where she flew, Lightning Dust couldn't tell. She was betting on Thunderlane, but with being so far behind throughout the entire race, the possibility of it being Rainbow was still very high. A few seconds before the lap’s first sharp turn, Lightning Dust was finally able to reach far enough ahead to distinguish who it belonged to. It was, indeed, Rainbow Dash. But, what was she doing in second place?
Part Three: AffiliationFor a split second, Lightning Dust was tempted to try something new. It wouldn’t really be cheating, but at the same time, she figured Rainbow Dash wouldn't really approve of it. She was already disappointed with Lightning Dust, so what would've been the point of progressing that emotional frustration even further? She wanted to see if Rainbow would be willing to cooperate long enough so the two might pass by Thunderlane, but the idea was abandoned. She knew it wouldn't succeed. Instead, Lighting decided her best shot at this point would’ve been to keep Rainbow Dash within close quarters. That way, when the two finally did get caught up to Thunderlane, wherever he might be, they could both fly by him in a heartbeat. He’d probably not even realize they were gaining on him, so long as Lightning Dust did everything correctly. This was her plan, and there could be no errors. One wing out of beat, and it would be very likely she’d fall into last place the same way Raindrop did. At the rounding corner, the two mares locked position. Lightning Dust rode directly next to Rainbow Dash, almost pushing her up against the beam. However, she wanted Rainbow to stay with her. It wasn't so much that she needed things to turn out like that, but rather, would enjoy the experience more if the final lap was spent with Rainbow. Something about that alternative seemed like a better way to go for reasons unexplained. Not right then, that is. In order to ensure Rainbow wouldn’t hurt herself along the edges, Lightning had to fight the winds, pulling her side partner away. Then, the next sharp turn came at them faster than ever. Picking up on Lightning’s actions, Rainbow mimicked her step by step, yanking against the currents and guiding Dust well away from the walls. At that time, they reached the peak where their descent would inevitably lead them to Thunderlane. While accelerating, Rainbow yelled over to Lightning Dust, “Follow my lead! I’ll pull you along!” Shocked by Rainbow’s decision to work together, Lightning fell behind, stayed aligned with the wind patterns, and shouted up front, “Ready!” Just when she gained the signal, Rainbow shot herself forth with extreme velocity, roaring through the atmosphere and keeping Lightning Dust close by. The ponies to the right that inhabited the stands and clouds seemed like one big blur thanks to how quickly they were speeding through. Rocketing down quicker, and quicker, unable to stop, the two mares could see Thunderlane by then. He was just up ahead, but unfortunately, their trick had one small problem. It made more noise than all the ponies in the stands screaming and hollering combined with Soarin’s announcement mic set at full volume. From where most ponies sat, what they saw could easily be describes as a bright streak of white-hot rays shooting downwards, headed right for a tiny, black speck of a pony. Just before coming up to the wall and jolting straight upwards, Thunderlane checked behind him to see his pursuers gaining, and picked up the tempo, throwing himself up the asphalt wall almost as fast as the two mares that were hot on his tail. He huffed and pushed forward as hard as he could, but was no match for the others. They came up right beside him, and then reared backwards at the end of the ascension. He did the same, and the rest was the weightless experience of free falling. Lightning Dust gave way to join the two, neck and neck. All three ponies could be seen dropping right down and curving with the twisted terrain. It was fairly easy to adjust their bodies so accommodations could be achieved, but Thunderlane was on the off angled portion, so he had to do much more than a few, simple strains and stretches. To his dissatisfaction, he just couldn't keep it together. A hoof bumped along the road, and then his wing. Just like that, he was tossed out of perfect sync. the stallion fell further back than even he anticipated, and was left behind by the other racers. He wouldn't receive a second chance to catch up for the rest of the match, and was disqualified because of that one, minor mess up. That was the third pegasus out of five. All that was left now was Rainbow Dash and the only thing standing in her way of becoming an honorary Wonderbolt. Likewise for Lightning Dust. Near the end of the penultimate lap, both Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust glanced back to see Thunderlane utterly gone; out of sight. Once they returned their eyes to the road, Lighting beamed, “Oh, yeah! We did it!” Looking Dash’s way, Lightning was taken back, seeing the stern face Rainbow kept. She thought they’d made a pretty good team, but forgot this was no collaborative mission. It was still a total free-for-all. Rainbow, however, nodded, and chanted, “Eyes on the road!” She took off, almost faster than when the two were working together on the slope. Lightning Dust panted, wiped some sweat away, and sped up as well. For little more than ten minutes, she and Rainbow kept switching spots on the place holder. First, it was Rainbow Dash in front, and then Lightning dust. No, it’s Dash, and now Dust. It went on like this for at least twenty times, every moment of the course consisting of them interchanging the lead. By the middle segment, right before the spiral towards the top, Lightning Dust turned her body so that her stomach would face the wall. She’d wanted to try this, to see if it’d give her an edge, and it did. That is, until Rainbow revealed some hidden potential she’d been reluctant on showing just yet. Around the second turn, Lightning’s challenger was nowhere to be found. She could be anywhere within the twister. In between, or already at the top, way up ahead. Once she arrived at the summit for the fourth time, Lightning quickly became relieved to see Rainbow wasn't all that far off. In fact, if she just kept thrusting long enough, she could catch up and fly right on by. It wasn't like she had any other options, too. So, in a flash, Rainbow’s rival advanced down the flight way, coming closer, gaining speed. But, to Lightning’s immediate amazement, they’d already converged at the height turn. She and Rainbow nearly slammed right into the barrier, but luckily for both of them, they’d become familiar enough to instinctively raise themselves, and coast along. Rainbow’s tail was inches away now, just barely tickling Lightning Dust’s nose. She jerked out of the way and huffed. Bending backwards for the plunge, the mare groaned along with Rainbow Dash. It was a straight declination, and if she wanted to, Lightning Dust had her chance at ramming into Rainbow’s side, throwing her balance off. She was every bit enticed to do so, knowing good and well this would secure her victory. Though, that’s not what she learned to do from Spitfire. Cheating her way through anything had always backfired on her, and though she wouldn't openly admit it, Lightning Dust grew some respect for Rainbow not just over the years, but during this event, too. With a clear conscience, she backed away slightly to give Rainbow some breathing room. Naturally, this didn't go unnoticed by Rainbow one bit. Two spectrum thunderbolts changed directions in the blink of an eye, riveting and curling through the remaining obstacles. The final stretch, the last ride towards the finish line was so close, nopony was able to tell who crossed first. Once the two had made their grand finish, the loudest of streaking noises echoed throughout the stadium, four black lines left from their skidding dragged on. A thick fog cleared the way to show Rainbow and Lightning Dust glaring at each other, rage in both their eyes. Immediately, and at the same time, they shouted up at the podium where Spitfire and Soarin’ watched with open mouths, “Who won?!” Everything fell quiet. Not a single pony wished to miss the announcement. Spitfire had to nudge her partner so he’d snap out of the suspense-induced trance. “Oh, umm,” He began. “Uh, the winner… is…” But, he hesitated, looking over the pictures a few times. “Spits, look at this. You really can’t tell.” Grabbing the mic, Spitfire announced, “We apologize, but we need a moment to analyze the results. We’ll be back in only five minutes, we promise.” Almost everypony in the whole stadium pitched a fit, hardly unable to cope with the wait. In a situation like that, five minutes could easily feel like five years to those who enjoyed some exaggeration… And while they had the time, the two racers sat, Lightning Dust glancing over at Rainbow curiously. After they caught their breaths from what they’d been through, Lightning arrived at a conclusion. Now might be a fine chance to try this again. So, the mare stood back up and slowly but cautiously began trotting towards Rainbow, asking, “Can we talk?” Rainbow stared down at the ground, almost as if she didn't hear her competition say anything at all. Lightning was about to walk back to her spot when Rainbow voiced, “You did good.” Taking a chance, she thanked Rainbow for the compliment. “I still think you won, though.” “I think not.” She finally turned her head to face Lightning Dust. “I remember, at the last second, thinking about how much I wouldn't mind spending another year’s worth of training with Spitfire, and seeing you where either of us could be by tomorrow.” Lightning frowned and avoided eye contact. “You’d… be happy to see me get what you wanted?” A chuckle. “Heck no! But, well, I’d be proud. For now, though, I’m mostly sorry.” Lightning shook her head, and countered, “No, I’m the one who should be apologizing! I nearly…” Rainbow was looking up at one of the stands, the front row seats on the other side of the stadium. Tracing her line of view, Lightning Dust could just barely see about five mares, all ranging in color. Those were definitely the same group of ponies she’d placed in danger two years ago. They’d been watching them race this whole time. “Of course they’re here,” Lightning Dust mumbled. When she looked back down, Rainbow was staring at her for once, a serious expression on her face. “Meet me by the docks, down along side Lake Sunny. We’ll talk there. For now, I think some of the audience members are getting a little suspicious. I mean, you are supposed to be my enemy in this, after all.” Finally, a faint glimmer of hope, something Lightning Dust had been dying for ever since she left that locker room. She hardly realized it, but all throughout the instance taking place, she’d wanted nothing more but to simply sit down and discuss their relationship with Rainbow Dash; to forgive and forget. She was willing to do so by then, but was bewildered if Rainbow felt the same way. As it would seem, considering the race went well, she appeared to hold the same interest. A loud feedback screeching through the whole establishment, nearly loud enough to break glass was followed by Soarin’s voice. “Sorry, sorry. We’ve got the end results. Now, before we declare the winner, Spitfire and I just want to say we’re overwhelmed with this years competition. Neither of us has ever, ever had such a close call. For a moment, we literally thought about rescheduling the whole thing for a rematch, but that would-” Spitfire grabbed hold of the mic, groaning, “Give me that! You’re wasting time! If you don’t say it, then I will!” It was evident enough by the mere sounds of Soarin’s voice that he'd yanked the thing out of her hooves, saying, Okay! Alright… Where was I? Oh, yeah! The winner of this year’s grand, annual race…” Everypony leaned in on their seats. “Is…” This was it. Who would come out on top? Rainbow Dash, or Lightning Dust?
EpilogueWith waves of brightly colored, orange water crashing up against the poles that sustained the dock, Lightning Dust watched the sun settling slowly further down towards the golden edge way off. The last time she saw such a marvel was months ago, when she had to deliver some cargo to Shady Shores, just beyond a small town called Ponyville. “Heh… That’s Rainbow’s home, if I’m remembering correctly.” She looked behind her, at the stadium built just beyond the hills, and wondered where Rainbow was. After they announced the winner, the usual ceremony commenced, and then, Lightning Dust left. What was taking Rainbow Dash so long? “She’s probably just catching up with her friends is all… She wouldn’t stand me up.” Lightning Dust skimmed her hoof along the crookedly placed boards, and sighed. No matter how long she had to wait, Lightning promised Rainbow during the party she’d be there. Like she figured, Rainbow was simply running a bit late. A few more minutes later, Lighting kept on watching that beautiful sunset, hardly able to take her eyes off it. “I wonder if Rainbow occasionally does this.” A voice from behind her admitted, “More than you’d think.” Lightning quickly turned around. There she was. Rainbow Dash, her most challenging obstacle in the whole race. “You came!” “Of course,” Rainbow said, smiling. “I told you to wait. Sorry it took me so long, but Pinkie Pie wouldn't let me out!” Lightning Dust laughed, hiding some blush that started forming around her cheeks. “Spitfire was pretty mad at me for walking out, too. I figured she would understand, though. I told her where she could find me, and you, too.” Rainbow nodded. “That’s fine. Race’s over, so there’s no secret to hide, really. Look, I called you here to say… I’m sorry for what I said back there.” Lightning Dust refused to forgive her just yet. “What’re you talking about? I’m the one who should be sorry! I've been thinking a lot about this lately, about how devastated I would be if those were my friends. Even though it happened so long ago, it feels like with every day gone by, I develop more guilt because I know it’s my fault.” She placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder, and said again, “I’m the one who should be apologizing right now. You had every right to be mad at me.” Rainbow reacted calmly, holding onto the hoof that rested on her shoulder. “You’re forgiven, but I still need the same accommodations. I’m sorry for yelling at you, and I don’t care if you see that as right or wrong. I still regret acting the way I did.” Lightning pulled her new friend in close, tugging on her other shoulder, and nodded. “I’ll look the other way this time.” The sun completely descended with a new, promising relationship being born that evening. For another minute or two, Rainbow didn't fight Lightning Dust’s firm hug. If anything, she needed it all the same. “I guess,” Rainbow said, “we should hurry back. I think people are happy with the victor, don’t you?” “Agreed, but, we've gotta stay in touch. You either have to come down my way, or I’ll visit you.” Hoof bumping to seal the deal, Rainbow smirked. “It’s a promise!”
