Oasis vs Cloud Skipper

Cloud Skipper stretched her legs atop the brown tiling that was her second story roof. Morning came and went, and the afternoon was steadily creeping forward. At least, it seemed to be. Cloud Skipper wasn't really sure what time it was. Didn't need to know. Better to focus on stretching. Details would just stress her out. She jogged quickly in place before striking a fierce pose, her wings fully extended above her. She was ready.

With a leap, she hurled herself from the roof, free-falling to mere feet above the ground before unfurling her wings and swiftly diverting her course upward. Cotton Candy shot her head out the first floor window. "Cloud Skipper!" shouted Cloud Skipper's mother, now leaning halfway out. "Wait! You're supposed to help me with organizing a dance in Canterlot today, remember?! Rememb--" She overextended herself and fell to the concrete beneath her. As she picked herself up, rubbing her bruised mouth, she eyed her daughter's pink mane disappearing into the forest surrounding Fluttershy's home. Oh boy... Candy internalized. I hope Prism can spare a day...

Returning to the edge of Ponyville, Cloud Skipper began retracing the stone path to Oasis's onsen. She trotted as she did so, hurrying past the trembling bunnies and the beheaded flower stems. She was getting her pre-race cardio in. That was all. However, her hurried pace was brought to an abrupt halt as she spotted Oasis standing just before the path's end. Cloud Skipper smiled instinctively, but her grin was rebuffed by pure indifference, coated in a series of nasty, scabbing wounds. Oasis turned her head back to the onsen and began walking to its steps, a disillusioned Cloud Skipper trudging along behind her. The large doors swung open and sent the hanging 'Sorry, We're Closed' sign bouncing as they rebounded off the walls. A thin layer of steam flourished above the baths and carried with it a positively luscious scent. The natural motif mixed with the building's symmetrical design manifested a delicate but perfectly balanced sense of feng-shui. Cloud Skipper checked Oasis's expression again, and the feng-shui died a brutal death.

"This way," Oasis stated. Cloud Skipper nodded and followed.

The hallway proved uncomfortably long, but led to a fortunate destination. A rather large, outdoor hotspring, its water shining clear blue in the beaming Spring sun. "Oh yeah!" cried Cloud Skipper, jumping past the open paper screen and diving into the refreshing warm water. She resurfaced and squirted a stream of water from her mouth. "A little hotspring time to unwind? That's fine with me! In fact, let's just forget about the race. We could just hang-out and--"

"I think you misunderstand," interjected Oasis. "This is where our race will commence, and also where it shall finish."

Cloud Skipper blinked. "The spring?"

"Yes," Oasis stated. "It is one of our larger springs, both in width and depth. I know you'll throw caution to the wind regardless of the danger for the sake of victory, so I decided to even the odds. With a pool of water to cushion my landing, I needn't slow myself to avoid injury. I refuse to lose for thinking of my own well-being, and I will no longer be hindered by considering the well-beings of others." She turned her head to the paper screen behind her. "Much like you, I suppose."

Oasis kept her view fixated on the screen, hiding her face from Cloud Skipper. Cloud Skipper climbed out from the steps and quickly shook herself dry. She looked at Oasis, but found only her back. "Oasis... I--um..."

"Our referee should be arriving soon," said Oasis, still facing the screen. Cloud Skipper continued looking on, then lowered her head. After a period of silence, a shadow moved across the paper screen, continuing along it until it reached the open door. A white pegasus with light brown hair entered, a single golden feather peeking out from her folded left wing and a pair of binoculars hanging around her neck. Oasis graciously bowed her head. "Thank you for coming, Angel Feather."

Angel Feather smiled. "Well," she started, resting a hoof on Oasis's shoulder. "I suppose someone has to make sure you two don't hurt yourselves too badly. Just be sure to keep a high elevation over the Bog. I know you want to keep the race a secret from your parents, but it's dangerous over there. I don't want to see anyone being grabbed by some over-sized plant roots."

She walked to the center of the floored area, then turned to face the two opponents. "I'll be keeping track of you with these," she explained, lifting the binoculars. "So no cheating, either of you. Over the Everfree, any foul play can end disastrously, and will probably cost you a lot more than just a disqualification, so be careful, okay?" The competitors nodded. "Good," complied Angel Feather with a content smile. "Follow a linear route to the Bog and back. First to pass me is the victor, and the loser must perform as an assistant to the winner in the next 'Best Young Flyers Competition', as per the stakes in the bet." Cloud Skipper checked Oasis, who remained a serious deadpan. So that's how she convinced her to do this...

"Now," continued Angel Feather. "Are the both of you ready?" Oasis nodded ardently, and Cloud Skipper, somewhat less so. Angel Feather raised a concerned eyebrow. "You alright, Cloud Skipper?"

Inhaling deeply, and after performing a quick, in place jog, Cloud Skipper struck another fierce pose. She met Angel Feather's eyes. "Does it look like I'm not?" She extended her wings high above her head. "We starting this thing or what?"

Angel Feather studied her a moment longer, then, after extending her own wings out, ascended to an elevation just above the roof. Oasis lifted herself as well, leaving Cloud Skipper alone on the ground below. Cloud Skipper peered down into the clear blue water, reading her reflection. Her face was not that of a fierce racer; not the strong, courageous visage of a Wonderbolt like her grandmother's. It was sorrowful. She feared losing her friend, not simply in the mornings, but entirely. Oasis rarely acts this serious, or so... distant. Her eyebrows softened, then, with a grimace, tightened themselves over her eyes. She slammed a hoof into the water and scattered the reflection into disjointed layers. All the more reason to win, she concluded. A day of pranks will be just what they need to rekindle their friendship. She was certain of it.

"Cloud Skipper!" echoed Angel Feather's voice from above. "Are you sure you're alright? We can take another day, if you need us to." Oasis kept her back to the spring, facing the Bog. Gritting her teeth, Cloud Skipper reeled back and took off with momentous force. She flew up within a near millisecond and upon arrival shot both Angel Feather and Oasis a pompous grin. "Of course I am! Who do you think you're talking to?"