The Universal Race

"Oh, Darlings! You simply must see what I've gotten at the stores! These outfits are just lovely!", Rarity said to her friends. It was one day after tryouts and the six ponies had been in the shopping district for the past few hours to celebrate Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy for qualifying. Each of them went into their own kind of store. Twilight went into the book store to read books she's never read before. AppleJack was dragged with Rarity to the clothing shop to try out new outfits. Pinkie went to the party store to see all the new silly party decorations she's never seen before, and what to see what she could use for her next party. Fluttershy went to the pet shop to look for food that her pets would enjoy. Rainbow Dash followed each of her friends, she didn't care too much for shopping. She had a lot to think about.

After hours of shopping, they decided to take a break. They went back to the cafeteria and decided to get something to eat for lunch. They found a table and sat down. Each of them got their usual vegetarian meal, while Pinkie got the desert tray filled with cupcakes, candy, and brownies. Twilight still had the book floating in front of her that she had been reading for hours. AppleJack turned to Twilight.

"Sugarcube, ah think the book can wait for now.", She said in a polite voice, trying not to sound rude. Twilight kept scanning the book for a little longer and finally placed it down.

"Sorry, I just got hooked into this book. James Patterson sure does know how to keep the reader into the book. Every chapter he ends it where you're wanting more.", She said putting the book down. The girls laughed together as they told each other some stories of what they've been up to, as well as discussing more about their room mates.  Rainbow Dash was listening on, as AppleJack told them about her room mate and how they became good friends. Rainbow Dash felt something tap her shoulder. She turned to see Sonic.

"Hey, I just wanted to congratulate you on qualifying.", He said giving her a smile. Rainbow Dash started blushing again, she turned slighty.

"Oh, t-thanks.", She said shyly. Sonic looked at her confused.

"Are you okay?", He asked concerned. A voice behind him called out.

"Sonic? What're you doing?", A fox figure with two tails a few tables behind him asked. He was sitting with a few other friends of his with an empty seat next to him. Sonic turned to his friend waiting at the table.

"Sorry about that Tails, just wanted to say hello to someone.", Sonic said, rubbing the back of his head. Sonic turned back to  Rainbow Dash

"I'll catch up on ya later Dash, see ya!". Sonic said giving a wave, he turned back around and ran back to the table with his friends. Rainbow Dash waved and turned back to the girls at the table. Each of them had a smirk on their face. Rainbow Dash jerked her head back a bit.

"What?", Rainbow Dash asked. The girls raised an eye brow, with the same smile. Rainbow Dash started to blush again and get frustrated. "WHAT?", Rainbow Dash asked more demanding. Rarity spoke up.

"Oh darling, don't try to hide it.", She said giving her a sly smile. Rainbow Dash looked down at her food, trying to hide her face.

"I'm not hiding anything..", Rainbow Dash said, feeling more and more embarrassed by the second.

"Sugarcube, ah know fer a fact that you're into that Sonic feller.", AppleJack said patting a hoof behind Rainbow Dash's back. Rainbow Dash pulled away.

"What?? Not at all. He's just a friend. That's all.", Rainbow Dash said looking at AppleJack, then looking at the girls as if trying to get them to believe her. They weren't buying it. Pinkie Pie spoke up.

"Really? Let me ask what he thinks of you then!", Pinkie Pie said with a cheerful smile. Rainbow Dash's pupils shrunk. She heard her heart beat suddenly beat faster than ever.

"Oh, Pinkie, I d-don't think that'll be necessary.", Rainbow Dash stuttered. Pinkie Pie didn't hear her, she pushed the tray in front of her and got off her seat. Pinkie started to bounce her way to Sonic's table. "Pinkie! Wait!", Rainbow Dash said trying to get Pinkie's attention. Pinkie heard none of it, she was humming a tune to herself as she made her way to Sonic's table. Rainbow Dash started panicking. Rainbow Dash's next move was a blur, she didn't quite think of what to do. All she knew was that she had to stop Pinkie from reaching Sonic's table.

Rainbow Dash launched herself from the table towards Pinkie to tackle her. Rainbow Dash slammed into Pinkie. Both of them tumbled and rolled over a few times before the both of them stopped. Suddenly, the cafeteria went silent... Rainbow Dash flicked her eyes open. Rainbow Dash stared at a pair of Pinkie's terrified blue eyes, directly in front of hers..

She looked down to her lips and jumped up from her position. Rainbow Dash looked around her, all of the eyes in the cafeteria staring at her. She turned and saw Sonic at his table with his eyes open, holding a chili dog in his right hand. Her face felt hot, she started to hear whispering all around her. Rainbow Dash turned in circles, looking at everyone who was now whispering in each others ears, still staring at the scene that just occurred in front of them. Rainbow Dash lowered her head and put her hoofs over her head. She couldn't take it anymore. Tears started to fill her eyes.

Rainbow Dash launched from her position and flew out of the cafeteria, straight into her room.

Rainbow Dash spent the rest of the day on her bed holding a pillow to her chest, she heard the knocks of her friends, asking to open the door. Rainbow Dash didn't reply to any of their requests. They claimed it was no big deal, and that Pinkie Pie was fine. Rainbow Dash didn't care about Pinkie at this time. After minutes of no response, they gave up and left. Rainbow Dash screamed into her pillow. She just made a complete foal of herself in front of Sonic. She wanted to stop Pinkie from reaching Sonic, but instead ended up landing lips with each other. Rainbow Dash heard the door open.

"I told you! I wanted to be alo-.", Rainbow Dash stopped and saw Buttercup walk in. Rainbow Dash gave an annoyed look, she was in no mood to deal with her. Rainbow Dash turned around in a huff. Buttercup put her equipment down, she looked like she came back from working out. Her hair was a little messy, she was wearing a tank top and wrist bands, with shorts. She seemed pretty worn out.

"What's with you?", Buttercup asked in her usual harsh tone. She wiped her head with a towel. Rainbow Dash turned around with a surprised look. How is it that Buttercup hadn't heard of what happened? Was she not there at lunch? Did she not hear anyone else talk about it when she came back? Rainbow Dash shook those thoughts off her head and turned back around.

"Nothing, nothing at all.", Rainbow Dash said. Her voice made it obvious that she was lying. Buttercup crossed her arms and glared.

"Look, I'm not going to deal with any of this drama shit. Just tell me." Buttercup said in a strict tone. Rainbow Dash was shocked, did a little girl just say that?? Rainbow Dash turned to Buttercup.

Rainbow Dash took in a deep breath. "Fine... Might as well tell you. You'll probably just find out anyways..", Rainbow Dash said, muttering the last sentence, turning her gaze to the end of her bed. Buttercup lifted up and slowly floated to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash shot her gaze at Buttercup, this is the first time she saw Buttercup actually flying. Dash's eyes widened as she got closer, still with her arms crossed.

"Stop.", Buttercup said, as she gently landed on her bed with the same position. Rainbow Dash realized what she was doing and snapped back into reality, she shook her head.

"Okay, okay... I.. Well..", Rainbow Dash started to stutter. Buttercup snapped.

"Just tell me! I don't want it sugar coated, just tell me what the hell is wrong with you.", Rainbow Dash said, her eyes glaring harder. Rainbow Dash leaned back as if Buttercup was about to attack. Rainbow Dash held her breath for a second, and finally released.

"Okay, I accidentally kissed one of my friends when trying to stop her from reaching Sonic.", Rainbow Dash blurted out all at once. Rainbow Dash turned away, she didn't want to see her room mates reaction. Rainbow Dash kept her eyes away, she was expecting a chuckle, or a sigh, or anything. After a few seconds she turned to see Buttercup still had her arms crossed, except she had a confused look on her face. Buttercup raised an eyebrow and asked.

"This Sonic guy. I've heard of him... I heard he was super fast. He has blue spikey hair right?", Buttercup asked. Rainbow Dash was taken back a little, this was the first time Buttercup wasn't actually saying anything mean to her. Rainbow Dash gulped and replied.

"Y-yeah.", Rainbow Dash blurted a little loud. Buttercup tilted her head.

"Soo... Obviously you like this guy... Then why don't you confront him and tell him it was all a misunderstanding and tell him your feelings?", Buttercup asked. Rainbow Dash shook her head.

"I wish it was that easy.", Rainbow Dash said lowering her head.

"It is.", Buttercup said softly. Rainbow Dash shot her head up at the response. "Time flies by too quick. Do not wait seconds, minutes, to hours each day wishing to say something you wish you could have said.". Buttercup said. She turned around and hopped off the bed, she started to walk to the bathroom. "Time does not show mercy, you must take advantage of it every day and make sure you don't regret any second of it.", Buttercup said before turning into the bathroom door and closing the door behind her. She turned on the water for the shower to get the smell off her from working out earlier.

Rainbow Dash sat there with those last words in her head. Rainbow Dash remembered the story from Double D as to how Buttercup lost her father. Rainbow Dash didn't want to go through thinking that she might not ever get to see Sonic again. She felt a connection to him. A connection unlike she felt with anyone else in the whole universe. He made her laugh, made her feel comfortable, made her smile...

A few minutes later, the door from the bathroom opened. Buttercup came out with her night clothes and a towel wrapped around her head. "Now that we're done with this drama crap, can we watch something a bit more uplifting?", Buttercup asked grabbing the remote on her bed. Rainbow Dash smiled and gave a nod. "Good, wasn't going to give you a choice anyways.", Buttercup said, she turned her head to look at the tv as she flicked it on, flickering through the channels. She turned it to what looked like a cheap rip off of The Muppets. It was called, "Puppet Pals". The entirety of the show consisted of one puppet "bonking" another puppet on the head with a bat. It went on for 30 minutes straight, with the commercials in between.

Rainbow Dash didn't pay much attention to it, she turned on her bed to the window. She looked out at the stars, taking in what Buttercup said earlier. Rainbow Dash wanted to tell Sonic her true feelings, but after what just happened? How can she? She thought to herself. Rainbow Dash started to get tired from all these thoughts. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and got some shut eye.

She had one last thought before drifting off to sleep

Time waits for nobody, never regret a single second of it

-END OF CHAPTER 5-