Firefly

One day ago, Rainbow Dash challenged Firefly to a race, to see who was the best flyer. Firefly accepted. Rainbow Dash has never trained herself so hard.  She trained and trained and didn't let anything slow her down, not even her own exhaustion.

The time had finally arrived. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy set up a racing track for them the previous day, and Rainbow Dash had to make time to study it.

When Rainbow Dash arrived, she heard everypony cheering for Firefly as she made a grand entrance.

"Firefly! Firefly! Firefly! Firefly!" they cheered. The ones who weren't cheering for Firefly had their mouths closed.

Soon it will be me they're cheering for, thought Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie was in a hot air balloon with Rarity. "Hello, everypony! Today we'll be having a super spectacular race between Firefly-" the crowd went screaming and cheering, "and Rainbow Dash!" a few ponies clapped, but no cheers.

Rarity spoke, "We will have some volunteers follow to make sure neither of them cheat." she pointed at three pegasi.

The crowd cheered as the pegasi waved. Rainbow Dash recognized none of them.

"Ponies, get to the start line!" Pinkie Pie shouted.

Rainbow Dash and Firefly walked up to the start line.

"Ready..." Pinkie started,

"Set..."

"GO!"

The second Firefly and Rainbow Dash heard that word was the same second they took off like rockets, each making themselves go faster no matter what.

I have to win, Firefly thought as she made her wings beat faster, I'm the best, always have been, always will be. she looked at Rainbow Dash, who was exactly by her side, I will win. Firefly flapped her wings and went ahead Rainbow Dash.

***

Rainbow Dash had similar thoughts, but her main focus was not on Firefly, but rather the flapping of her wings. Can I do it? she thought, Can I do a sonic rainboom? Wait, of course I can! I'll beat Firefly in a snap! She's no competition. Rainbow Dash then realized Firefly was ahead her. And flapped even faster.

***

After the Forest Flight part of the map, came the Sky Rocket. Rainbow Dash was next to Firefly now, and the three pegasi were nowhere to be seen. Rainbow Dash assumed they fell behind and were trying to catch up. Then the two soared up into the air. Rainbow Dash was determined to get in front of her. And so she flew.

Realizing Rainbow Dash was in front of her, Firefly caught up. The pain on her told her to stop but every time she thought of stopping, she made herself go faster. Firefly knew Rainbow Dash was experiencing the same pain. There's no way anypony could fly like this painless. Wait, I'm thinking about pain. Time to go faster.

After being in the Skyrocket came the next part, which both the ponies dreaded the most; The Everfree Obsticale.

Rainbow Dash was the first to get into the forest, and watched as she passed the unnatural trees and plants.

***

Firefly stayed behind. She defentily did not want to get hurt in that forest. Besides, she could easily catch up. Firefly swooped into tthe entrance at a fast speed, but not too fast.

***

Rainbow Dash watched as Firefly slowed down. Ha! What was going on in that head of her's? I'm so going to win this! Maybe she's just running low on energy. I knew I was the be-  Rainbow Dash's thoughts were interrupted as she realized she was heading straight for a large thorn tree.

She tried to stop herself but she was already too close. She hit the tree.

She fell, holes had been poked in her and she was bleeding in various parts of the body.

I can't believe I didn't see that coming! Stupid, stupid stupid! Rainbow Dash hit her hoof on her head to find out it was bleeding. She checked her wings, only to find out they were stained red.

She then felt a sudden gust of wind as Firefly soared past her.

"Wait!" she yelled, but Firefly was already gone.

***

Firefly flew out of the forest and the finish line came into view.

Where's Rainbow Dash? she thought, I probably just flew past her without her seeing. She's probably right behind me! Flap, Firely, flap!

Firefly crossed the finish line, let herself slow down and turned around but nopony was behind her.

***

Rainbow Dash tried to fly, but the pain was too great. She was going to have to wait until one of the three pegasi found her. Suddenly,   cheers came from the west. She won, Rainbow Dash thought, She won because of your stupid mistake.

Suddenly, a pegasus came by and spotted Rainbow Dash. He made no comment, but immediately picked her up and soared out of the forest, and to the nearest place that could help her.

***

Rainbow Dash awoke and grumbled, "Where am I?"

She looked around and saw her.

Her. Firefly. And she didn't look to happy- in fact, not happy at all.

Rainbow Dash's eyes opened wide and she backed up against the bed, "What are you doing here?"

Firefly still had the mad look on your face, "You hurt yourself in the forest. I finished the race, I won." she said.

Rainbow Dash got angry then, "Why didn't you help me?!"

"Because I didn't see you," Firefly said, "I thought you were out by the time I got out."

Suddenly the door opened and Fluttershy walked in.

"Oh, um, am I interrupting anything?" she asked, worried.

"Not at all. Come talk to Rainbow Dash." Firefly said.

Fluttershy walked up to Rainbow Dash, "Oh Rainbow Dash! I was so worried! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Rainbow Dash said, still annoyed with Firefly.

"Oh thank goodness! I brought you this- it's from Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy brought out a card and handed it to Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow opened the card, and confetti sprayed out of it. Rainbow Dash jumped in surprise. Then she jumped again when she heard Pinkie's voice from the card-

"GET BETTER RAINBOW DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!"

She closed the card, "I guess she really wants me to get better."

Fluttershy chuckled, "Well I have to go. I have to take care of some animals." And she made her way for the exit.

"I'll go, to." Firefly said, and she followed Fluttershy.

Firefly stopped before she left, "Hope you get better."

And she closed the door behind her.