At the Edge of the Rainboom.

by PonyBlue

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Tragedy, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash
Length: 6300

Time travel: Rainbow Dash meets her grand daughter.

Rainbow Dash has always been driven to be the best and fastest pony in Equestria. Little did she know that speed would become an obsession that would plague her family for generations to the point of ruin.

**** Something I use to occupy my time when i don't know what to do with my other stories.***

Published 2012-05-28 23:24:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-05-28 23:24:01 UTC

The long shadow of the past

Chapter 1
The long shadow of the past.

“Good morning sports fans and welcome to the 50th Annual CloudsDale Pegasus race. I am your hostess Winter Flake and out in the stands is my co-hostess Summer Bubble. Together we will be providing life commentaries for what promises to be an exciting race over the Equestrian Broadcasting Channel, EBC Radio 1.”

“Great to be here, Winter. To our listeners, I have to say, the sky is the bluest I have seen in weeks. CloudsDale Weather ponies have done a marvelous job keeping the sky cloud free over the be-utiful CloudsDale Hippodrome.”

“A good thing they have, Summer. If a single stray wisp gets caught in the wings of our racers, it could mean a terrible tumble, quite likely putting a pony out of the race and onto a one way trip to the hospital.”

“And nobody wants to see that happen. Certainly, not the large crowd that you can see around me. And when I mean large, I mean CloudsDale’s Racecourse is packed. Over forty thousand pegasai have arrived, some coming as far as Manechester, Trottingham and Las Pegasus to see this race, the fastest race on Equestrian.

“Security at the CloudsDale race course has been especially tight this year. I understand that Her Royal Highness Princess Luna of Equestria will be officiating this year’s race. This will mark the first official appearance of Princess Luna since she began mourning the death of her husband, Royal Consort Pipsqueak who passed away in his sleep five years ago. On a more pleasant note, Princess Luna will be accompanied by her son, Prince Abacus. This will be the first official engagement for the young Prince, heir apparent to the Night Court. And I must say he is an adorable young colt. I would even say some ponies are here simply to see the young princes.”

“Oh, sure there is the trill of seeing royalty. When was the last time anypony saw a young alicorn? But lets us be honest here, Winter. Most ponies aren’t here for the Prince, they are here to see Sonic Rainbooms! If you are wondering what a Sonic Rainboom is, you are either a very young foal or a pony so deprived that you must have lived your entire life on a rock farm. Why a rock farm you ask, because there is no other place in Equestria which could be that isolated or depressing. To the latter I offer my pity and a promise that after today you will see colour and rainbows to wash away the grey in your life. To the former and little fillies in the crowd, a Sonic Rainboom is the rainbow wave produced when a pegasus flies fast enough to splits the light barrier. It is spectacular burst of light, colour, magic and sound! The Sonic Rainboom has been known to shake mountains, split boulders and give young ponies their Cutie Marks! The awesomeness of a Sonic Rainboom is simply too awesome for anypony to convey with words.”

“Summer Bubble, you might want wipe off that foam around your mouth. You are likely scaring the foals in the audience and quite likely a few stallions too. Also stop spreading that urban legend, there has been no reliable evidence that Sonic Rainbooms gives Cutie Marks, let alone split boulders. But I have to concede, my co-host is right on one point. The Sonic Rainboom is indeed an ‘Awesome’ spectacle, and one that will forever be associated to the name Rainbow Dash. It was 56 years ago to the day, at this very spot where CloudsDale Race Course now stands that the first Sonic Rainboom was heard. Still in her early twenties Rainbow Dash made history when she became the first pony to split the light barrier. She turned what was then an old mare's tale into tangible reality. Sadly, there are few pictures that captured this key moment in ponykind’s history.”

“Enough of the school lessons, Winter! Ponies are falling asleep. You folks at home and in the crowd are in for a special treat, because today marks a very special race. In front of our eyes, on this bright morning we could be seeing the crowning of the first Triple Tiara in nearly 20 years, Rainbow Lightning. If you don’t know who she is, you should be banished to the Moon! Debuting just a scant 10 months ago, Rainbow Lightning has been on the mouth of every pony as she set the racing world on fire. This young mare has come to CloudsDale Pegasus Race with fire under her hooves, thunderclaps in her wake and the promise of Awesome!”

“Undoubtedly so, Summer. Should Rainbow Lightning win this race today, she will be the youngest Triple Tiara winner in history. This remarkable pony is the daughter of Rainbow Flash, the fastest mare in Equestrian history and granddaughter of Rainbow Dash, the first mare to split the light barrier. Her sire was Thorny Sparks, famed for being the only stallion to have won the Annual Rarikini Canyon Race on three consecutive occasions. With a pedigree like hers, Rainbow Lightning is certain to put a strong showing at this year’s race.”

“Are you putting bits on that Winter because I sure am.”

“Most certainly, Summer. Who can forget the nimble agility she displayed as she flew through the Rarkini Canyon Race? Only a pony without fear could have weaved those tight turns of the Rarkini Canyon system, missing the dangerous cliff faces by what could only be described as a feather length distance. This race is not for the faint hearted to watch, let alone participate. Amazingly, Rainbow Lightning shaved off a heart pounding 2 minutes and 23 seconds from the previous record.”

“Or…” Summer Bubble joined in. “the unforgettable moment when Rainbow Lightning crossed the finish line at Pacifica Marathon, an epic event better known by fans as the Ocean of Fire. I am sure most race fans would be familiar with this demanding 1500km marathon. But for those deprived few living on a rock farm, try imagining a cloudless expense of sky, over open-ocean and the sun beating on your back.”

“I shudder at the thought.” Winter Flake added. “With no place to rest, either in the air or on the ground, the Pacifica Marathon is a single non-stop flight. All a pegesus can do is sleep on the wing while riding a thermal or not sleep at all. It is the ultimate test of pegasi endurance and clear sky navigation. Over the decades and despite improving safety precautions, this marathon has claimed more than a few lives. The most famous was Vanilla Airheart, a noted long distance flier and the first mare to cross the skies over the Lantian ocean.”

“Yet Rainbow Lightning’s first attempt at this marathon has already shattered a record that has stood for more than a decade. Mind boggling isn’t it not, Winter?” Summer Bubble prompted. “The amazing pace she set trimmed 2 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes and 3 seconds off the previously record. No pony was even close to this young athlete when she crossed the finish line. Rainbow Lightning has thus shown agility in the Rarkini Canyon Race, endurance in Pacifica Marathon and now all she needs to win her Triple Tiara is Speed from the CloudsDale Pegasus Race.”

“Fitting isn’t it,” Winter Flake said. “Rainbow Lightning has broken the records held by her parents. The record for the Rarikini Canyon Race was held by her father and the Pacifica Marathon by her mother. This pony will not be standing in the shadow of her herd.”

“But such a sad shadow it has been.” Summer Bubble joined in. “Tragedy as well as greatness has haunted the Rainbow herd for two generations. In the small town of Ponyville, stands a statue marking the spot where her grandmare, Rainbow Dash was killed while training for the 534th Annual Canterlot Airshow. Even to this day, the death of this pioneer of Sonic Rainbooms has remained one of the enduring mysteries of pegasi flight. Rumors range from an undiagnosed medical condition leading to a midair heart attack, to a rumored attempt at combining the Sonic Rainboom with another stunt of her own design.”

“A mystery indeed,” Winter Flake finished. “While tragedy overtook Rainbow Dash while she was away from the public eye, the same cannot be said about her daughter and son-in law. What we are about to hear is the radio recording on that tragic day nearly 14 year ago at the 1042 After Discord Trottingham Airshow. Please be warned, some parts of this recording is unsuitable for the ears of young foals. Listener discretion is advised.”

** *** **

What a performance that was, a perfectly executed double inside-out loop by Rainbow Flash. Judges are now awarding their score. Misty Bubble has awarded a 9.9. Sunlight Delight has awarded a 9.8, Moon Pie has awarded a perfect 10. As usual Moon Pie is a pony generous with her points.

Now for her last performance of this evening, in the freeform flight category Rainbow Flash has a display entitled ‘Surprise’. No description has been given but from what we have already seen this evening, I look forward to the surprise she has prepared for us.

As I look across the cloud field, I can see that the judges have waved their flags, signaling the start of the performance. From my telescope I can see Rainbow Flash in the clouds above. With a hop skip and a jump she leaves the cloud which is then followed by a gentle barrel turn as she begins her dive. Her wings beat fast as she gathers speed. Wind whips around her distinct rainbow coloured mane. It flows behind her like a living rainbow.

Wing beat by wing beat, her speed continues to increase. The tracking talisman of my telescope can barely keep up with this mare speed. Rainbow Flash’s speed is unparallel and yet she continues to drive harder, gathering even more speed. There is only one aerial stunt that this poor unicorn can think off which requires such tremendous velocity. It is a feat so rare and unique that it is a signature stunt known to every filly and colt in every town across Equestria.

Even as I speak, the air strains to hold this tremendous athlete back. A shock cone has built around the nose of Rainbow Flash. Something must give, but it will not be this mare. Not today. Not the fastest mare in Equestria.

…static…

…Sonic…

…static…

Sonic Rainboom!!

My ears are ringing and the crowd around me is cheering at the top of their lungs. A Sonic Rainboom has exploded across the sky. The air is awash with the titanic rings of the seven colours of a Sonic Rainboom. The sky is a blazed with light as rainbow rings explodes into the darkening evening sky. The seven colours of rainbow pours froth from her tail as Rainbow Flash cut a swath through the air.

Bit by bit, little by little her flight path has begun to straighten. She begins to rise up into the dark backdrop of the evening sky. Hard angle turns. A double barrel, then a triple loop. What is she doing? By Celestia horn, Rainbow Flash is sky writing at Sonic Rainboom speed! It is as if this mare has transformed her tail into a living paintbrush of rainbow colour. It spells ‘Welcome to the 1042 Trottingham Airshow.’

Before the rainbow contrails can fade, Rainbow Flash is making one more pass. I see something new, a corona of blue lightning building up around her. The blue glow shimmers around her like a living storm of blue lightning. Waves of energy spill over her like…Wait… there is some kind of commotion at the tent of the Rainbow team. Thorny Sparks has left the ground!

What is he doing?

Officials are flagging him for safety violations. This might see point being deducted form Rainbow Flash’s breath taking performance. A second please…, it is unfortunately confirmed. Points have been deducted. Thorny Sparks’s mysterious actions may just have cost his wife’s the victory cup at this air show.

The mid-flight rescue pegasi have scrabbled off their cloud decks!

Something is rather odd. The rescue pegasi are not diving toward Thorny Sparks, they are climbing? They are climbing higher into the sky? Something is very odd. Where are they going?

I am reaching for my telescope to get a closer view. This is not good. Rainbow Flash is shaking like a leaf in a storm. Her whole body is fluttering violently. It’s as if she has been caught in severe turbulence. I don’t know how much more of these violent gyrations she can take. A pony’s body can only withstand so much before… By Celestia mane… just before my eyes Rainbow Flash has just made a misstep. She is tumbling head over hoof. Her limbs are flailing. She is falling from the sky, throwing off Sonic Rainboom as she falls

Thorny Sparks has flown into view. He is racing upwards, high into the sky on a course to intercept the falling Rainbow Flash He may not be the fastest pony in Equestria but Rainbow Flash did not pick a slow stallion for a husband. Despite their initial lead in altitude, the mid-air rescue pegasi team has just been passed by the iron bullet that is Thorny Sparks. These ponies simply cannot keep up with this red stallion.

As the two ponies approach, I can see Thorny Sparks flashing hoof signals. But Rainbow Flash is unresponsive. I think she is unconscious. A normal rescue recovery cannot be made. Thorny Sparks has flipped himself over and entered a steep dive, doing all he can to match her pace and line up in parallel with her. I believe Thorny Spark is attempting a text book inverted flip midair rescue. The dangers are immense. The wake vortices of a speeding pegasus can feel like a buck to the face to any nearby pony.

Rainbooms flash into his face, but this stallion is undaunted.

He is reaching out with his fore hooves…

He is almost there. A pony can only image the grim determination on this stallion's muzzle.

Thorny Spark has caught her!

Thorny Sparks has caught Rainbow Flash with both his fore hooves. This is pegasi flight at its best. A text book rescue! Thorny Sparks is flaring his wing…no…by Celestia’s grace no. They are not slowing down. Sparks can not slow their descent. His wings are beating with all his might but they are still moving too fast and the ground is simply too close. Sonic Rainbooms continue to spill off Rainbow Flash’s tail and wings. The mid air rescue pegasi just can not reach the distressed couple. No pony is fast enough. They are coming up to the ground… Sweet Celestia... Let go Thorny!”

…Static…

“We are experience technical difficulties with our field correspondent. Reel Tape can you here me? Reel Tape?”

“I’m here… cough…cough… I’m okay Daffodil. I don’t know how. I’m bleeding. I’m okay. I just need a moment to get my legs back under me. My legs can’t stop shaking.

“What has happened, Reel Tape?”

“I am standing and taking in the scene before me. There are no words that can describe this...carnage. There is smoke everywhere. There is debris everywhere. There is fire everywhere. Cough… cough… Rainbow Flash along with Thorny Sparks have plowed into stands crowded with ponies at near Sonic Rainboom speed. By Luna’s grace this can’t…Ponies are dead, Daffodil. Ponies are dead. Bodies have been shattered and torn apart. The smoke is thick, black and arid. It stings the lungs and the smell… oh Celestia’s sweet mane. The smell of burn flesh, it clogs the air. It has the smell of burnt oil and burn nuts. It is impossible to breathe. Ponies are stampeding in panic trying to get away from the fire.”

“Reel Tape, please get yourself some medical attention.”

“Did you hear that, Daffodil.? I… I think there are ponies trapped in that forest of red flames. Above me, I can see weather ponies trying to put out the blaze with a torrent of rain. But the wall of magic flames is too intense and they can’t get close enough to the center of the inferno. Some pony has to rescue them. Where are the unicorn fire responders? Somepony has to… I’m blinking in.”

** *** **

“No pony can forget that, Winter. No pony. I was actually there at 1042 Trottingham Airshow as a spectator. 119 ponies and 32 foals died on that tragic evening. Among the ponies that died that day was EBC sports reporter Reel Tape. She was credited with saving four ponies and a foal by teleporting three times into a burning blaze before succumbing to smoke inhalation. 523 ponies were also injured in the fire and subsequent stamped. The impact was so severe and the fires so intense that magical residue analysis was required to identify the remains of the accident victims, which included Rainbow Flash and Thorny Sparks.”

Winter Flake continued. “The deaths of Rainbow Flash and Thorny Sparks left a gaping wound in the race circuit that took a generation to fill. This unfortunate accident also hammered home the dangers of flight at Sonic Rainboom speed. A pegasus is truly alone in the sky when flying as such terrific speed.” Winter Flake paused, collecting her thoughts before she continued. “After that accident, pegasi racing was temporarily halted by decree of Her Royal Highness Princess Celestia of Equestria. It was only a year later, after much pressure that pegasi racing was allowed to resume. One of the most significant changes and improvements in safety was introduction of the Pegasi Flight Disabling talisman. Moments before a crash, this talisman cuts off a pegasi’s innate magic preventing the magic driven fires that killed so many on that tragic day at Trottingham Airshow. Sadly for technical reasons, the use of this talisman in pegasi racing ended the era of low ground maneuvers…. Summer? Are you alright?”

“I... Ah, yes I am Winter Flake. Where was I? Ah! Aside from all the new talismans that the safety ponies started sticking on our racers, the crash of Trottingham cemented the legend of the Cursed Rainbow Goggles.”

“Oh please…that old mare’s tale?”

“Every recount of the Rainbow herd must include the tale of the Cursed Goggles. In every fatal accident that has claimed the life of a Rainbow, this one object has survived intact and undamaged to be passed along to the next Rainbow mare. Legend has it, any ponies who wears the goggles of the famed Rainbow Dash is destined for greatness and ultimately tragedy. It is these same goggles that Rainbow Lightning now wears, like every Rainbow mare before her. Ponies have claimed to hear whispers when holding these goggles. Some claim to have felt a strange presence come over them with whispered promises of awesome if they just let go.”

** ** **

“R.L, no matter what happens please promise me you won’t use the Buccaneer Blaze.”

The mare with rainbow coloured mane didn’t look up. Her mane was cut short, and even the hair on her tail was trimmed to aerodynamic perfection. She wore a red skintight flight suit and allowed only one thing to mar her streamline form. It was a pair of old goggles. It was decades old, passed from mother to daughter, down four generations of Rainbow mares. She slapped the locker door shut. She didn’t answer the stallion.

“Please,” the stallion begged. “The theoretical speed boost is not worth it. Combining the Buccaneer Blaze and the Sonic Rainboom killed your mother and your grandmother. It will kill you too.”

She didn’t reply.

The desperate stallion took a step closer but dared not touch the pegasus mare. “We have known each other all our lives. I can’t bear to watch you kill yourself over a record.” He knew he had made a mistake the moment the words left his mouth.

Her face hardened. “Then don’t.”

His gaze fell to the floor. How could she say that? How could she throw away her life like that? He….he lov… He looked up, he had to say something.

But she was already gone.

And the single words he had kept hidden in his heart for so many years died before reaching his lips.

A special message from our sponsors

Chapter 2
A special message from our sponsor.

“Before we return to the live coverage of the 50th Annual CloudsDale Pegasus Race, a special message from our sponsors,” Winter Flake announced.

** *** **

“Hello, my name is Dinky Hooves and I am the proud owner of Hooves Courier Service. For over fifty years, we at Hooves have been carrying packages for our customers across Equestria. We even carry packages to the faraway plains of Zebrica and the mountain spires of Gryhonia.

We have come a long way in those five wonderful and unforgettable decades. Hooves Courier offices can now be found all across Equestria from the stream and ponds of the sea ponies to the high windy valleys of the Flutter ponies. But that has not always been so. I remember far more humble times.

When my mother, Derpy Hooves, first began her courier service it was from a wobbly table with only three good legs that took up the corner of our one bedroom home. My mother certainly never dreamed that our little carrier service would go beyond the streets of the small town of Ponyville. All she wanted was a way to earn a few extra bits to support her foal, me.

You see my mother was born with a birth defect. She had a condition called Aphasia. It was a hard condition to live with. While my mother understood everything that happened around her, all she could say was a jumbled mixed of words. It didn’t help, that the same birth defect gave her wall eyes. The only word truly under her control was muffin. I was her ‘muffin’.

There is a school for ponies who have special difficulties like my mother. The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning will teach ponies the skills that they need for an independent life. I ask very listener to please help by donating to the school. Even a single bit helps.

We will continue to serve, you our valued customers with the same determination my mother did. The mail always gets through.

Controversies

Chapter 3
Controversies.

“Summer, I see a large number of balloons, right across from where you are hovering.”

“That’s right. This year’s race has attracted an unusually large number of ground ponies. Race organizers had to, pardon my pun, race to find enough space to accommodate the forty extra balloons. They did so by removing the standing cloud pens, a very unpopular move among fans. Those clouds used to provide the best and closest view of the race track.”

“That maybe so, Summer. However Race Festival President, Morning Sunshine has stated that that all standing accommodations were to be removed in accordance to the new safety rules by CloudsDale Safety Inspectors. CloudsDale Race Course is now an all sitting course. These new rules were brought in on the tail of the last year’s mishap when the weight of cheering, hoof stomping pegasi fans caused the cloud they were standing on to break into a late afternoon shower. Hundreds of ponies where thrown into open sky. No ponies were hurt, although it was a scare for mares with foals who were too young to fly. The unexpected shower did cause a complaint to be filed by a prune farm on the ground below.”

“I am not sure if the two newly built cloud decks are fair compensation,” Summer Bubble’s tone was sorrowful. “But I do have an idea. Hire a balloon. Yes, I am telling you my fellow pegasi, hire a balloon. I wouldn’t be surprise if next years race will see fans sitting in balloons whether they are ground ponies or pegasi. Balloons now offer the best seats in the CloudsDale Race Course and while we are talking about views, what is the view on this year’s athletes, Winter?”

“In fifty years, five ponies have managed to split the light barrier. Two of them are here in this race, Midnight Magic and Sea Biscuit. Both mares are experience speed racers. Over the past three years, their rivalry has become the thing of legends. If we look at their statistic both mares are…”

“Perhaps,” Summer Bubble cut in. “You should add another pony to that round up and call it six ponies. I have word from a reliable source that Rainbow Lighting has split the light barrier whilst in training at Filidephia.”

“You know the kind of mare I am, Summer. Only the facts please and the fact is Rainbow Lightning has yet to perform a Sonic Rainboom in an event officiated by the Race Commission.”

“Facts aside, I wish you were here with me at the warm up line. For the past half an hour, these athletes have been warming up their wing muscles. The noise of their wing beats is amazing. You can actually feel the heat radiating from the feathers of these top athletes. Professional speed racers can bet their wings twice as fast as the average pegasus and in a sprint the best athlete can actually beat her wings almost three times as fast.”

“Speaking of wing beat speed, it brings us to the controversy that has surrounded this year’s CloudsDale Pegasus Race. The pony at the heart of this storm is none other than Rainbow Lightning.”

“Quite right, Winter.” Summer Bubble continued. “This controversy began at the weigh-in just two months ago. Competitors cried foul when Rainbow Lightning clocked a wing beat that was four times pegasi norm. Yes, you heard me right, four times. I would hold up my hooves to show the number four, but I won’t have anything to stand on. And yes, Winter, I do know I have wings. You don’t need to point that out. This impossible wing speed has seen accusation of illegal drug use and magical enhancements thrown at the young mare, especially when it was later found that her body weight was only two thirds of an average pegasi mare. So intense were these accusations that that the Canterlot University of Gifted Unicorns was brought in to do a full arcanophysical test on Rainbow Lightning. Their findings have since cleared her of any use of illegal performance enhancing magic or drugs. So what we have here everypony is good old natural ability, a once in a millennia athlete, born from one of the fastest pegasi families in Equestria.”

Summer Bubble continued. “However that was when the controversy skipped tracks and heading. Unhappy competitors next began to question if Rainbow Lightning could actually compete in the CloudsDale Pegasus Race, the emphasis being ‘Pegasus’. Is Rainbow Lightning pegasus enough to fall under the definition of pegasus? I personally must say, what a sad day that was in Equestrian sports. Never have I imagined a day went I have seen so much unpony like behaviour. We are here to race and see Sonic Rainbooms! Not fiddly around with questions that do not involve speed and weather conditions.”

“Many ponies would agree with you, Summer.” Winter Flake replied. “For many a pony, this controversy is a storm in a teacup. If a pony has feathered wings, she is a pegasus, plain and simple. But not all ponies agree. And on closer inspection it is not hard to see why. Listeners at home, in front of me are several photographs of Rainbow Lightning taken two months ago at the weigh-in. It is obvious to me that Rainbow Lightning looks nowhere near the average pegasus mare. Her body is slimmer. Her legs are thinner. Her face has an exotic narrowness along the lines of her snout. Even the arrangement of her primary feathers is odd. The cross section of her wing is narrower than a pony would expect. This controversy only worsened during the latter part of the weigh-in when Rainbow Lightning bench pressed another impossibility. Pound per pound, this young mare is actually as strong as an Earth pony.

“Awesome!” Summer Bubble exclaimed. “The average earth pony is nearly twice as strong as the average pegasus.”

“If you are wondering where all these feature came from, a pony only needs to look at Rainbow Lightning’s pedigree. While both her grandmothers have been pegasi, this has not been true for her grandsires. Let us begin with her maternal grandmother, the famed Rainbow Dash. Her mate was Macintosh of Ponyville.” Winter Flake said.

“That is a rather odd name for a pegasus.” Summer Bubble added.

“Indeed it is.” Winter Flake said in agreement. “As I have said, the reason is simplicity in itself. Macintosh was not a pegasus. He was an Earth pony stallion. On her paternal line, her grandmare was Thorny Surprise, a former Wonderbolt, while her parental grandsire was a flutter pony stallion named Dust from Flutter Valley.”

“So it all makes sense now!” Summer Bubble exclaimed “In Rainbow Lightning, we have the enormous strength of earth pony muscle powering the swift wings of a pegasus, which were then bolted onto the agile body of a flutter pony by the engineer of birth. I am speechless. What we have here is a flying machine. It really is true that picking your parents and grandparents is the way to winning a Triple Tiara! Where can I go to trade in mine?” Summer Bubble asked in despair.

“Summer, I don’t know. But I believe you may be getting a fire letter from your mother in the nearest future. And there you have it folks, the controversy surrounding Rainbow Lightning in a nutshell. What constitute a pegasus? Is it form, lineage, or ability? In the end, race officials of the CloudsDale Pegasus Race turned to their rule book to determine Rainbow Lightning’s eligibility. What they found was one word ‘Pony’, the CloudsDale Pegasus race is open to any breed of pony, provided they do not use magically enhanced wings.”

“There goes the first sounding of the air horn ending the warming up session.” Summer Bubble interrupted.

GENTLE COLTS AND MARES, THE, 50th ANNUAL CLOUDSDALE PEGASUS RACE SHALL BEGIN SHORTLY.

“That was the Royal Canterlot Voice of her Her Royal Highness Princess Luna.” Summer Bubble yelled over the deafening royal announcement. “Below, I can see young Prince Abacus climbing up onto a platform with the starting flag in mouth. The competitors are making the rounds of the cloud field now, waving to what has to be a packed audience of thousands of cheering ponies! Oh, you can just feel the roar of the crowd, literally feel the clamour of a thousand hooves, from your ankles to the tips of your ears, ladies and gentle stallions! Competitors are taking their places.”

“How is the line up?” Winter Flake asked Summer Bubble.

“I see the reigning champion Sea Biscuit in pole position followed by Midnight Magic in second place.” Summer Bubble answered in a more even tone. “For nearly five years this has been the norm. These two mares have been competing neck and neck for every trophy on the racer circuit. The pony I don’t see is Rainbow Lightning.”

“Where is she?” Winter Flake asked.

“Where is she indeed?” Summer Bubble replied. “That is indeed the question. Despite our high hopes throughout the program this morning, Rainbow Lightning, the candidate for a Triple Tiara has actually take last place in the grid position. In the time trial last week, Rainbow Lightning literality trotted over the finishing line, taking an amazing 19 minutes and 46 seconds to complete the course. That in itself is record as it was one of the slowest qualifying time trials in CloudsDale Race Course history.

“Has Rainbow Lightning suffered an injury of some kind?” Winter Flake asked.

“Again I can not say.” Summer Bubble answered. “Speculations have been rife in and around the racing circuit for the past few days. However the most common belief is that this is some sort of strategy on the part of Rainbow Lightning.”

“If it is, I for one can not see what she is planning. The only tactical advantage to be had from such a position is to ride the slip stream of the leading ponies. The more pegasi are ahead of you, the strong the slip stream and the greater the energy savings. However this tactic is rarely useful outside marathons. What place it has on today’s fast paced race is questionable.” Winter Flake finished.

“That was why I tried to interview Rainbow Lightning to get her thoughts straight horse’s mouth. Unfortunately Rainbow Lightning continues to refuse any and all attempts for an interview. I was however able to arrange with another of pony of interest. I was leafing through the pedigree of our various racers when I chanced upon a fact of interest. Rainbow Lightning will be racing against one of her cousins, Apple Shop.”

“Well, as we have a few minutes before the race begins. Let us hear this interview.

** *** **

“Hello, does this work?” the recording gave three loud beats of a pony tapping the head of the microphone.

“I am sure it does, Miss Apple Shop. Please stop that.”

“Beg your pardon. Ah’m not too familiar with all these new fangled gizmos.”

“Could you tell me a little about your family history?”

“Well that’s not much to say. Ah have three sisters, but am the only one with wings. My sire was a pegasus and that was how ah got mah wing. His name was Sorin’. Ah guess you already know that, seeing that he was a bit famous in his day. He was a Wonderbolt, vice captain for 9 years before he retired. My ma was an Earth pony of good stock from the old Apple clan. Apple Jack was her name. She died back in 46. Stress took her health and her heart finally gave out. Father didn’t live much longer after that. Ah guess he couldn’t live without my ma or her apple pies.”

“I am sorry to hear that, Miss Apple.”

“Think nothing of it. It’s old history now. My Pa never learned to bake but he sure loved to eat. Mah aunt Apple Bloom took us in after that but we were pretty much grown up by then. Mah three sisters run a tavern in Ponyville.”

“I’ve noticed that you are a rather large pegasus.”

“Are ya’ calling me big boned?”

“Not at all, but you must admit that you aren’t the usual type. What do you think of your chances at today’s race?”

“Ah can be pretty fast if ah want too. Maybe not as fast as these young mares, but ah believe ah can give as good as ah get.”

“Quite a boast, considering that three ponies in this year’s race are able split the light spectrum.”

“Well, that just means ah won’t be the first, second or third. But ah’m sure as Celestia’s sun will rise, ah will try mah very best and it won’t be last place.”

“You are referring to your competition with Window Cloud.”

“Yes.” Apple Shop answered hastily. “You see, we are kind of neighbours in the professional sense. Although we aren’t all that neighbourly given that her shop is opposite mine and we compete for the same customers. I sell apples confectionaries, mostly pies at my shop while she sells those light and fluffy cloud cakes. I know what’ you are thinking, the heat needed to bake a pie would evaporate the cloud right under me. Well, ah fly up mah baked apple goods from my sister’s down in Ponyville and sale em’ here in CouldsDale.”

“You commute daily from Ponyville?”

“Sure do. It is a two and a half hour flight, sometimes even four depending on where CloudsDale is in its drift cycle. You might call me an amateur marathon racer. Ah got some endurance. Where was I... about four months ago Window and ah got into a mighty big disagreement. So we thought we would settle our difference in a grand old race. And just around that time, we saw a flyer for CloudsDale pegasus race.”

“I am sure you have heard the bright and upcoming star Rainbow Lightning. I understand that she is one of your cousins.”

“Apples are a mighty big clan. Ah have cousins from Seaddle right the way up to Appaloosa.”

“She is a lot closer that a distant cousin. Her grandsire is your mother’s older brother.” Summer Bubble paused. “Are you two close?”

“No,” Apple Shop answered reluctantly. “The Apples and Rainbows are not on speaking terms. The relationship between the two herds is pretty much soured. Been that way since after the big accident.”

“What happened?”

Apple Shop sighed. “Old history. From what ah heard, after the big accident the settlement took pretty much everything the Rainbows had and then some. That some was a third of the Sweet Apple Acres which mah uncle inherited from mah grandma. We couldn’t afford to lose so much of the farm, so my ma tried to cut the Rainbows off. Things just went down hill from there. We still lost a third of the farm and after that we couldn’t make ends meet no more.”

Apple Shop signed again. “Selling off Sweet Apple Acres piecemeal killed my ma, one sale at a time. Ah –“

** *** **

“I am afraid this is all the time we have for this interview, the race is about to begin.” Winter Flake interrupted.