The Passing of Harmony

Chapter One – Rainbow’s Pride, Part One – A Challenge is Issued

It was another fine day in Ponyville as usual thanks to none other than Rainbow Dash who was relaxing on a cloud after an exhausting morning of getting the weather just right, Scootaloo was trying to chill out next to her idol but her anxiety was getting the better of her and she found it impossible to relax while the Pegasus she idolised was sleeping just one cloud over, she thought about saying something in order to ease her anxiety but didn’t want to disturb her hero. This was rendered a moot point however as a Pegasus shot past surprising and waking Rainbow Dash, he circled back landing on the same cloud as the young filly, his coat was bright orange and he had a mane and tail that resembled a flame, bright yellow with red at the tip and his cutie mark was an arch of fire, however his most peculiar was his face with dark lavender irises and a wide grimace across his face, Scootaloo almost jumped in frightened anticipation when he looked in her direction.

“Excuse me young filly, is that cyan Pegasus you're gawking at really Rainbow Dash?” The Pegasus asked with doubt in his voice, Scootaloo’s nerves got the better of her and she found herself unable to speak so she remained perfectly still.

“Yeah, I’m Rainbow Dash, what’s it to ya?” Said Rainbow Dash finally stepping out of her waking daze to acknowledge the Pegasus.

“Nothing, I just didn’t think you’d be so small, If you are the Rainbow Dash those ‘Wonderbolts’ were at least right about one thing...” The mysterious Pegasus said still grinning away Rainbow Dash was shocked.

“... You know the Wonderbolts?” Dash said, eyes wide at the claim of the orange Pegasus.

“Well of course, I just left a race with them...” He said gazing in the direction of the Canterlot race track.

Rainbow Dash scoffed “Oh, and how did that turn out for you?” she said, confident in the ability of her idols.

“It was over before they were even out of the starting gate, for your information.” He said laughing, through his words.

“What are you saying, you weirdo?” Rainbow Dash said unsure of what she just heard the orange Pegasus laughed out loud at Rainbow’s question.

“Do I really need to spell it out, maybe I should use terms you’ll understand... I beat them in ten seconds flat.” The Pegasus said mimicking Rainbow Dash’s voice for the latter portion of his statement.

“Just who in Equestria do you think you are?” asked Rainbow Dash getting aggressive.

“I thought you’d never ask, my name is Solar Flare. Oh, but you can call me Sol.” He said, smirking. The Pegasus named Sol said never dropping his giddy smile.

“...and what do you want?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I came here because I’m looking for the fastest Pegasus in Equestria, the winner of the Best Young Flyers competition, who performed a Sonic Rainboom when she was just a filly, according to Spitfire of the Wonderbolts that Pegasus is you.” Sol said pointing his hoof at Rainbow Dash.

“Well you found her, now what do you want from me, advice from the greatest?” Rainbow Dash asked incredibly smug that Spitfire acknowledged that she was the fastest Pegasus in Equestria .

“Well, you got cocky all of a sudden, no nothing as trivial as advice. I have a question and a challenge.”  Sol said putting his hoof down and looking into Rainbows eyes.

“So... what is it?” Rainbow asked confident that she knew what he would ask her.

“So... do you think you’re faster than the Wonderbolts?” Sol chuckled while spreading his bright orange wings wide, each feather with a red tip.

Chapter One - Rainbow’s Pride, Part Two – The Sunburst

It only took Rainbow Dash a few seconds to put together a makeshift starting line out of the clouds

“Now where should we race to?” Sol asked.

“What do you think? First one to Sugarcube Corner or maybe the Everfree Forest?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

Rainbow Dash Sol began laughing “Are you kidding, I like a good laugh but I thought you of all people would take racing seriously, first one to Las Pegasus is the winner. And to make it fair I’ll even give you a five second head start!” He said, yet it was barely coherent through his uproarious laughter.

Rainbow Dash was simultaneously shocked and insulted “Okay buddy, two things. First I don’t need your pity when it comes to flying. Secondly Las Pegasus is halfway across Equestria.” Sol just laughed harder every time Rainbow Dash opened her mouth “This dudes like some crazy, flying version of Pinkie Pie. There’s no way I can race somepony to Las Pegasus” Dash thought to herself as Sol composed himself.

“I knew you wouldn’t be up to it, that's why I offered you the head start... but if it really is too much for you...” Sol said gently kicking a tuft of cloud.

“She can take anything you throw at her, smart guy!” Scootaloo shouted apparently finding her nerve “Rainbow Dash is the fastest, strongest, coolest and most awesomeist Pegasus in the world and there’s no way she’d ever lose to a citrus coloured creep like you!”

Sol just laughed at the little fillies shouting “Quiet back there in the nosebleed section.... plus you realise that you’re “citrus coloured” too right?” Sol shouted back at Scootaloo, but the fillies cheering had reignited the spark of Rainbow’s confidence.

“Hey nobody treats my number one fan like that, you’re on! First one to Las Pegasus is the fastest flyer in Equestria.” Rainbow Dash said taking her mark at the starting line.

“I know I am but how flattering it will be to hear it from you.” Sol said taking his mark beside her “Half-pint, if you’ll do the honours... Be sure to use your outdoor voice.” Sol said motioning to Scootaloo.

“Ready... On your mark... GO!” Scootaloo shouted and instantly Rainbow Dash exploded from the starting line with her trademark rainbow afterimage trailing behind her... however Sol remained motionless Scootaloo hovered over to him “Umm... I said go. Hello?”

“One.” He said out loud to nobody in particular.

“What are you doing. GO!” Scootaloo shouted in frustration.

“Two.” He continued.

“She said she didn’t want a head start, didn’t you hear her?” Scootaloo was losing her patience with this weird guy who was treating Rainbow Dash like a child.

“Three. Neither did the Wonderbolts and that turned out to be no fun at all. Four.” He said keeping his smile. Rainbow Dash hadn’t even noticed that Sol was yet to take off she turned her head to see how close he was AND HE WAS STILL JUST STANDING THERE! Rainbow Dash wanted to choke him, she stopped in mid flight she would’ve shouted but she was too far away by now.

“Whatever, his stupid rule, his problem.” Rainbow Dash said flapping in place.

Sol stretched out his wings and said “... and five.”

Solar Flare took off with an afterimage that resembled flames trailing behind him which was all that was left for Scootaloo to look at back at the starting line, Sol almost instantly caught up to Rainbow Dash and tapped her on the nose “I didn’t think it would be enough of a head start, all of you Pegasus nowadays are so slow...” Dash was speechless this pony was right now, literally, flying circles around her.

“What... but... how did you... ARGHHH!”  Rainbow Dash took off once again but this time Sol wasted no time in catching up to her.

“Hey, let me read your mind.” Sol shouted as he caught up to her,  barely trying “Ahem, How is he so fast? There’s no way I can beat such a sexy and impossibly fast pony.” Sol was mimicking Dash’s voice again but she was just focusing on the race, he continued taunting. “Now, how about you take off the kid horseshoes and whip out the Sonic Rainboom so you can leave me in the dust and I can go home defeated? Hmm?”

“Like I’d need that.” Rainbow said, smiling as she built to top speed managing to get some distance between her and the smug Pegasus, Sol just began laughing to himself and veered off course “Ha, giving up?” Dash shouted and continued on.

Rainbow Dash must have been flying straight for half an hour without so much as a glimpse of the orange pony, "Maybe I can take it easy for a bit." Dash thought to herself but what she saw ahead made her stop dead in her tracks. Spelled out in the clouds ahead of her was ‘Who’s giving up now?’ with Sol lying on top of the question mark, he got up and flew down to  Rainbow Dash “Oh hi, It’s about time you got here, what do you think of my little cloud sculpture, it was originally just going to be “Giving up?” but I just had too much spare time so I decided to add to it.” Sol said managing to speak through his laughter and gestured to the sky writing, Rainbow Dash was trying not to look horrified and managed to choke back some tears of frustration before taking off at top speed and approaching the sound barrier Sol was in hot pursuit leaving behind a trail of flames as he flew after her “Have I waited long enough now, are you finally going to do the Sonic Rainboom?” Sol said as Rainbow Dash shattered the barrier and blew everything within a five kilometre radius away destroying Sol’s sky writing and even knocking him back “BEAUTIFUL!” he exclaimed his hoofs held wide laughing like mad cow.

Scootaloo could see the Rainboom from way back at the starting line as she was checking for a referee cutie mark “YEAH, WOOHOO! Show that orange freak what for, Rainbow Dash!’’  Scootaloo cheered ecstaticly.

She was flying at maximum speed her mane and tail flowing so fast behind they looked almost immaterial she soared over Lake Horseshoe between Ponyville and Las Pegasus “There’s no way, there’s no way, there’s no way, there’s no way, THERE’S NO WAY HE CAN CATCH UP TO ME NOW!” Rainbow Dash screamed.

“We’re about halfway there now, if you want to quit and call it a draw, I would totally understand” Sol shouted flying well behind Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah, you would say that, you’re losing!” Dash said, she was the one that was laughing now. “Sonic Rainboom, eh?” Sol asked “Yeah I invented it, isn’t it the most awesome thing you’ve ever seen?” Rainbow Dash said guessing that this idle chatter was meant to distract her while flying at this speed.

“Don’t get me wrong it is beautiful, but I liked it better when it was called a Sunburst.” Sol said as he began to approach the Sound Barrier.

“Sunburst? What are you talking about?” Dash asked when suddenly she heard a very familiar bang but instead of a rainbow, flames spread out in every direction as Solar Flare shot past her looking just like she did whenever she performed the Sonic Rainboom, Rainbow Dash was caught up in the blast and began to lose speed.

“But I’m the fastest...” Rainbow Dash choked out while slipping into shock caused by the concussive blast caused by Sol’s Sunburst and the last thing she heard was his roaring laughter, before plummeting into the lake below.

Chapter One - Rainbow’s Pride, Part Three – Crushed

Rainbow Dash regained consciousness washed up on the beach of Lake Horse Shoe she assumed she had been out for several hours because it was evening now, she suddenly remembered why she ended up unconscious on the beach “He could’ve been to Las Pegasus and back seven times over by now. I guess I should just head home.” She started to fly but her wings were so stiff “I really overdid it this time, maybe I should just walk till my wings feel better... let’s see east side of the lake... I’m five hours from Ponyville walking! I guess I better get moving.”  Rainbow Dash collapsed on the beach still in exhaustion.

About twenty minutes must have passed until she heard a familiar gentle voice on a boat out on the lake “Oh my... Girls I think I see her...” A timid yellow Pegasus said.

“Where? All I see is water.” An orange pony with a southern drawl asked looking out other the lake .

“Rainbow Dash! Darling where are you?!” a fancy white Unicorn asked.

“Water, water everywhere and not a Rainbow Dash in sight.” An energetic pink pony sang out.

“She’s over there on the coast, quick Applejack, Fluttershy get to rowing, Rainbow Dash, we’re coming to get you!”

A purple unicorn using her horn as a searchlight shouted to Rainbow Dash, She got up on two legs and shouted back to them “Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Rarity and even Fluttershy... wow, I thought you were scared of open water?”

“I’m terrified.” Fluttershy responded.

Soon enough all six friends were reunited and after having a group hug on the beach the colourful ponies herded back onto the boat and began rowing to the other side of the lake “How did you guys know where I was?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

Pinkie Pie spoke up “Scootaloo said you got into a race with some hotshot Pegasus... isn’t that a fun thing to say... Scootaloo, Scootaloo, Scootaloo, Scootaloo, Scootaloo, Scootaloo, I’m adding that to the list, pickle barrel, kumquat, chimicherrychanga and Scootaloo...” Typical Pinkie Pie.

Rarity decided to take over the story telling “... Right... Scootaloo (the little dearie) said that you were “chilling out” and some rude Pegasus came along and challenged you to a race all the way to Las Pegasus of all places, when he came back without you, she asked where you were and he told her to check the bottom of Lake Horseshoe and he took off laughing. The poor little filly traumatised by what that horrible Solar Flare said came running to us for help. So we arrived at the lake rented a boat and set out to scour every detail of the lake until we found you.” Rarity finally stopped for breath as Rainbow Dash felt tears welling up in her eyes again.

“Thanks guys, so I guess I lost the race, huh?” Rainbow Dash said looking out on the open water.

“Ah reckon y'all should consider yourself lucky to even be alive after falling like that, from Celestia only knows how high.”Applejack said trying to comfort her.

“I don’t even want to think about if you had been flying over land, or if the fish in the lake hadn’t broken the surface tension for you.” Fluttershy said through gasps as if she was about to start hyperventilating, Twilight Sparkle was the only pony not to say anything as she was lost in thought about similar encounter she had earlier how these two incidents might be related...

Chapter One – Rainbow’s Pride, End