Don't Count On It

by safarisafarisafari

Rating: everyone
Tags: Comedy, Adventure
Length: 907

A short story about how you shouldn't "count your chickens before they hatch".

Rainbow Dash needs to pay back Applejack after she lost a bet, so she decides to enter a flying contest and knows for sure she will win. However, a selfish accident causes Rainbow Dash to think.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-08-15 08:16:02 UTC

Full Story

Rainbow Dash stomped the apples as hard as she could, but Applejack had won this bet.

Applejack had bet that she could make more delicious applesauce with her hooves than Rainbow Dash could. Being as competitive as Rainbow Dash is, she took the chance and lost it.

"I let you win, Applejack," Rainbow Dash said, reassuring herself that she hadn't just lost.

Applejack snorted, swishing her tail everywhere. "Psh, I had won and you just don't like the darn fact of it!"

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, flicking the smashed apple pieces off her hooves.

"You owe me 10 coins, Rainbow Dash!" Applejack pushed.

She obviously knew, but Rainbow Dash was broke after she bought some wing brushes. She had no idea where she would get the coins from.

"I won this contest, and now I'll get some coins for myself!" Applejack said, interrupting her thoughts.

That was it!

Rainbow Dash could win a contest easily. She only had to go to the Ponyville bulletin board and see if there was some rookie flying contest. She could beat out the other competitors easily!

Rainbow Dash sat outside Twilight Sparkle's library. She had just cleared the sky three times today, and she was very tired. The sun beat on her wings and back, and her throat urged to get herself a drink.

Suddenly Twilight trotted out of her tree, holding a saddlebag overflowing with books and notebooks. She saw Rainbow huffing and puffing, and decided to see what was wrong.

"Why don't you get a drink, Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow didn't want to admit she had no coins. Her face showed she was struggling to answer.

"Rainbow?"

She shouted some grumbles and replied grimly,

"I don't have any coins... I'm broke, really."

Twilight rolled her eyes, knowing Rainbow Dash spent it on ridiculous magic cream for her wings or some weird brushes. She knew she had to help her friend out, so she rushed into her library and picked up 10 coins, just enough for two to three drinks.

"Here's 10 coins, Rainbow. Use them wisely."

Rainbow Dash's face lit up when she realized the number of coins. She could give the coins to Applejack! Nah, she would definitely win that competition. She took the coins and galloped off, responding with a muffled thanks.

Rainbow thought she could spend all of it on some drinks, but then she realized she could just spend 6 coins on an expensive wing cream, then the rest on some good milk.

Soon she had bought her things, and was heading for Cloudsdale. She flapped her wings, gliding above the clouds and looking up at her favored home. Maybe she could use the wing cream on her wings before the competition - to give an extra burst.

She had arrived at her home and looked on the packaging of the cream.

Use moderately and precisely when applying.

Contains certain ingredients that may be allergenic to most pegasi.

Ah, nothing bad. Just some allergy stuff and steps. She knew how to use it.

She took out half of the tub and smacked it onto her wings. She rubbed it in with an old wing brush, seeing that it also made her wings look sparkly. Rainbow smiled and headed off towards the competition area, which was only a few lengths away from her home.

As she flew, her wings started to get a little tingly. She thought maybe they were ready for supreme action and agility. Yes! She was just ready to fly and win that competition.

As she signed in and went to the finishing line, she saw the small ponies beside her. Hah, this would be easy!

Wait, what was that tingly feeling doing in her wings again? Now it started to sting.

"Ouch!" Rainbow yelled, and looked over at her once sparkly wings.

They had turned into a red, puffy mess. They also had shriveled up a bit at the ends. Rainbow shook her head and hoped for the best.

"Ready... set... go!"

She opened her wings and started flying as fast as she could. Then she saw the rookies sprint by her. Rainbow struggled and fell like Derpy Hooves!

She looked down at the ground, very embarrassed. She tried to make it to the end of the race, but it took forever. The ponies had finished way before she had, and were angry for waiting a long time.

"Stop it, Twilight!" Rainbow begged as the unicorn rubbed in some liquids into her wings. Twilight laughed, knowing Rainbow had done the wrong thing.

"So, I need a letter to Princess Celestia, can you help me with that?" she asked, knowing Rainbow Dash would have an entire story to tell the Princess.

"Well, okay," Rainbow said, waiting for Spike to assist her.

The tiny green dragon ran on over, his eyes flickering. "I'm ready, Dashie!"

Dear Princess Celestia,

It's me, Rainbow Dash. Twilight let me write it this time, since I had an event this week.

I've learned to never assume things. I assumed I would win a competition.. but I didn't. I wasted coins because of it!

So simply, never really assume things will happen. Not everything will go your way, and I learned that the hard way.

"Rainbow Dash, I need my coins right now, missy!" Applejack called in angrily.

Oops, I have to go.. well, anyways, I guess I have learned my lesson.

Sincerely,

Rainbow Dash.