The Light Behind the Darkness

Everypony is standing outside, where the track is, waiting for Fleetfoot. We have been standing here for who how long, waiting for her. All I hear is annoyed and impatient ponies groaning, one including Melody.

“When is she going to get-” Melody is cut off by an icy blue blur zooming, catching everypony attention.

Fleetfoot skids to a stop, making a screeching noise as she comes to a stop. “Hello, everypony!” she shouts in her raspy voice. “Welcome to speed training. Brought to you by yours truly. Now who is start training!” I hear many ponies cheer excitedly, but I to hold the urge to facehoof, knowing what truly is like.

Fleetfoot eyes me, and smirks. I think I just died inside. “Well, well, well. Long time no see, Rainbow Dash.” Definitely dying inside. “You don’t seem to as pumped up as the other ponies. What’s wrong, not as awesome as were,” and now I’m dead.

I blush at the stares everypony is giving me. “I’m just ready to start training, ma’am,” I say. Fleetfoot nods.

“Good, because you cadets better be ready to train hard!” She then blows a whistle that was around her neck. “Okay, for your first form of training, you will be racing one another. No partners everypony against everypony. Six laps, which will be a mile and a half. I will be keeping score of your time to see how fast you truly are.” She smirks. “And the winner of the race will take me on in a race!” there are now murmurs.

I grin at the task. I got this in the bag. I’m the fastest pony in Ponyville and helped get Ponyville to victor at the Equestria Games!

Fleetfoot breaks me from my thoughts, “Before the race, I want you to stretch for about five minutes.

After stretching with given amount time, Fleetfoot hollers, “In position!” Everyone lines up at the track’s start. “On your mark!” she raises her hoof as I narrow my eyes and feel the rush of determination course through me. “Get set!” She raises her hoof higher. I spread my wings. “Go!” I shoot from the starting line, but make sure not to go over my limit just yet, a lesson I learned a year ago from Twilight not to go over my limit.

I end up beside Steel Wings. He turns to me, “You’re going down!” he laughs.

I grow a cocky smirk, and repeat the same words I once said, “In history!” I push myself a bit more, still not hitting my limit, and speed past him, making me eat my dust.

I pass many other ponies, including Golden Wing, and end up in third place on my third lap. In front of me are Shooting Comet, in second place, and Moon Shadow with the lead.

I strain my wing, now at their limit, as I pass Shooting Comet and gain up on on Moon Shadow. I push myself more, straining my wing as I do so. Now on my fourth lap, I feel I will lose to the pony in front. Then, like always before I accept fate, memories of being tease, bullied, and picked on come back to me. I feel that same rush of adrenaline as I remember what I promised myself, never accept defeat.

I exhale deeply, and push my wings. This action gives me an extra burst of speed, drawing me closer to the finish line. I push harder, harder. My eyes on the target, I push past Moon Shadow, now left in the dust. I see him stop, eyes wide as I speed past him. Faster, faster.

And I finish in first place. I skid to a stop, breathing heavily, as I let my wings fall the ground, not bothering to tuck them in. I turn to Fleetfoot, who is looking at me, shocked.

Soon the other cadets make it to the finish line, with Flare Chaser coming in last place.

Fleetfoot looks at a clipboard, “Okay, Flare Chaser you came last place with 10 minutes.” Flare Chaser kicks the ground, growling. “Hey, you did better than Soarin can,” why did she have to say that. Soarin is still one of the best Wonderbolts around.

“Artistic Melody,” Melody looks up, “ you came in 9th place with a time of 9 minutes and half,” Melody shrugs.

“Tried my best.” I look at her in amazement. How can she handle a time like that, and coming in ninth place?

“Steel Wings came in 8th place with a time of 8 minutes and 3 seconds,” Steel Wings just grunts at his time.

Fleet continues with the names. Golden Wing ended in 7th place and time of seven minute and 52 seconds, her reaction to her time was priceless. Shield came in 6th place and a time of six minutes and 46 seconds.  Sky Blue came in 5th with a time of six minutes. Tickle Feather was 4th place and ended with a time of six and a half minutes. Shooting Comet finished 3rd with a time of five minutes and 20 seconds. Moon Shadow came in 2nd, making a time of four minutes and 12 seconds, he hid his reaction pretty well, but I could see he was disappointed with his result.

Fleetfoot finally calls my name and my results, “Rainbow Dash came in first with a time of three minutes and 37 seconds.” Fleetfoot stares at me, as does everypony else for the hundredth time. “Wow girl, I knew you were fast, but geeze, you’re nearly as fast as me.”

I smirk, “Well then you have some competition for that race.” Fleetfoot nods.

“You ready to start it then?” she asked in an eager, competitive tone.

“Can I get some water first?”

“Fine. Everypony pony, you have ten minute water break. There is three water fountains by the restrooms on the first floor. Make it quick.”

Everypony zooms into the building. We all soon get some water, and are back in time.

Fleetfoot smiles eagerly, “Okay everypony, line up outside of the track to watch. Rainbow, to the starting line.” We walk up to the start. “Two laps, since you just finished one.” I nod and get into position. “Ready,” I spread my wings, narrowing my eyes. “ Set...Go!”

Me and Fleetfoot rocket from the starting line. We are neck and neck as we speed past the other ponies watching. I pass myself, still going at a fast speed though. I can tell Fleetfoot is doing the same, she is barely breaking a sweat.

I speed up a tad bit, making sure not to go at a speed I might injure my wing after straining them so much in the last race. Fleetfoot gains speed as well, making us neck and neck again. I look at her, she looks back with a smirk. I turn my head back, on the track, focusing on the race. I need to win this.

I flap my wings harder, now on the last lap. I now go as fast as I can, Fleetfoot still at my side. I push harder, now the feeling the pain in my wings from earlier. Fleetfoot chuckle, and zooms past me.

My eyes widen, and I gain more speed, but I can’t get ahead of her. I just behind the Wonderbolt, pushing my wing over their limit once more, but this time right after a race that strained to win. I flap my wing harder and harder, but even as I give my all, Fleetfoot still finishes the race.

As I cross the finish, I come to stop, breathing heavily, and feeling defeated.

Fleetfoot walks up to me, “Haha, I won. Good race.” I just fake a smile.

Melody comes up to me, beaming, as Fleetfoot walks away, “Wow you were amazing. I’m surprised you didn’t win, you almost had her beat.” I nod, looking down and defeated. Artistic smiles at me weakly, “You know, if you didn’t just finish a race, you probably would have won.”

I look at up at her and smile, “Thanks, but it still sucks to lose.” My smile fades.

She touches my shoulder, “Well, just do I what I do.” I look at her confused. “Just take your failures, set a goal, and improve.” That is actually a good idea.

“Good advice.” She smiles, happy that she could help me in some way. “I guess my goal is to beat Fleetfoot in a race.” She nods, agreeing.

For the rest of training we just ran laps on the track. Soon Fleetfoot said the training session was over and to go to the mess hall for lunch. I ate with Melody, Shield, and eventually Sky Blue joined us. She didn’t talk much, but it was nice that she joined us.