The Connection

Terras was lounging, or maybe sleeping on his balcony. For a few days he felt a little heavier than usual, it was probably a short side effect of the spell placed on him. After his slight doze, he roused himself quickly. He had been having dreams about Crystoria and how he could have saved his family. Normally when he had dreams like this, he would go for a quick fly. This felt, to him completely different.

The only difference is that there are feathers. Can't be that hard. Could it? He tried not to overthink flying. Again. The balcony was a great place to start, but he would rather be closer to the ground in case his prediction was incorrect. *Wow, you never realize how big places are.......*

After finally finding his way to the main entrance, Terras made his way to the castle gardens. And he had to admit, whoever made the topiaries paid excessive attention-not in a bad way-to detail. After finding what he thought was a wide enough space to get a running start, he checked his surroundings and made sure nobody saw him when he (may) take off. Both sides were clear, and he started to run to the other end of the long walkway.

He spread his wings and flapped his wings one time, and then he felt weightless. Theory correct. Terras thought contently. Flying was this easy, now was the fun. He flew faster and faster, feeling the wind pelt his face. He almost never got a chance to do this, have this much fun, since the force destroyed his planet. And in the moment, he did something that only vintage Terras could do.

He broke the sound barrier.

Terras had never felt so alive in his life. He could stay here forever just for feelings like this. This place, Equestria, it was so......peaceful. Any and all violence was only necessary. And even then there would always be a way to solve issues without it. *What a way to live....*

His moment of peace was interrupted, really abruptly, as he slowly opened his eyes to see clouds coming towards him. *Ah.....clouds...I haven't felt clouds in-*

Terras slammed headfirst into a cloud, lodging his head in it.

He was surrounded in white, fluffiness and was in a daze. He heard a muffled voice in the distance, but was too tired to move towards it. His daze kept him from moving, but his lings kept him from breathing until he-*"Pull-your head-out!"*

The world was blurry, and he could just make out a light blue shape with surprisingly colorful hair. His vision finally became clear and another pony who seemed like a female was peering over him and he sat up quickly.

" Wow dude, you took a wicked crash into that cloud!"

"You don't say...." Terras said. She was definitely a female from her tone of voice.

"Are you gonna be ok? You were kinda zoned out when I got here."

Terras sat up slowly, "Yeah, I'll be fine, thanks"

"Not a problem. Name's Rainbow Dash." She held out her hoof.

"Terras."

"Terras? Not a normal name, but it's fine with me. Unique kind of."

Terras saw Rainbow Dash looking behind him, and he spun around to see what she was fixated on. In the distance were the remains of a blue and white circle spreading out and dissipating.

"Did you do that?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I think so" Terras answered.

She looked at him in amazement and admiration. The only other pony who could perform a sonic rainboom. She had to challenge him to a race.

"Heh, you're pretty fast aren't you?" she asked.

"I used to pride myself on being the fastest flier when I was younger."

This was true as he was a very strong flier in training. Flying was the last resort if a Crystorian was cornered, and everyone had to know how to fly fast. Terras was without match, the fastest flier of his generation. He knew this and prided himself on it. He was challenged to races almost every week. When not training for battle, he was training his wings to be in top shape. He was about to meet his match.

"So what do ya say to a little race?"

"A race? Why?"

Rainbow Dash had a arrogant grin on her face. "I want to see how fast you are. It'll bee to that cloud about two miles away."

Can't be that hard. It'll be like training days. Yeah, just like training days. I can beat her.

"Alright, let's do it" Terras replied.

"Excited are we? Well, get ready to have your butt handed to you!"

"Oh? And what makes you say that?" Terras asked.

Rainbow Dash crouched into her starting position "You'll see."

Because I'm the fastest flier in Equestria.

Rainbow Dash started her countdown, "On your mark, get set......."

She began pretending to start, prompting Terras to get paranoid about when she would really start.

"Stopp that, no false starts!"

"Scared you'll lose? GO!"

Rainbow Dash took off with her prismatic trail behind her. Terras followed close behind a blue and white trail following him. He began to catch up with Rainbow Dash, who didn't seem to be breaking a sweat. He was nearly at his limit, and Rainbow Dash was just getting started. Terras, the Sonic Crystal was going to lose his first race in his life. He remembered the same scenario similar to this in his village where he almost lost because of his arrogance. The instinct to win kicked in.

No, I won't lose

He clenched his teeth, mustering all his strength. He closed his eyes and pushed himself farther than ever. Soon he saw more than Rainbow Dash's tail. He saw her cutie mark, then her mid section, then her face, which was in surprise at such a comeback.

They were neck and neck. The cloud was approaching fast. Terras was in the moment and so was Rainbow Dash.

If one sonic rainboom didn't catch the attention on Canterlot below, two certainly would've.

And they did, the ponies of Canterlot looked up to see two trails zooming past them, both seeming to be the sources of the rainbooms.

Back in the skies, Both Rainbow Dash and Terras saw their finish mark approaching. They glanced once at eachother and put as much strength in their wings as possible.

And both ponies blasted through the clouds.

Instead of landing on that cloud, Rainbow Dash and Terras landed on the cloud directly underneath it.

"Oh yeah! The Dash proves once again she is the fastest in Equestria!"

"Pfft, please, we both know it was a tie." Terras said.

"You're just angry you lost!" Rainbow Dash retorted.

"Either way, that was a good race."

"Yeah, we should do it again so I can kick your butt again."

Terras rolled his eyes and flew back to the castle, wondering if he would ever see her again for that second race.