Forgotten People

Chapter 14 – Friendship Means More Than Victory

“Chocolate Medals! Get some chocolate medals here!” shouted three small ponies at a stand in the Olympic Market-Place.

“Freshly made!” shouted Scootaloo.

“Very tasty!” Sweetie Belle shouted.

“Help us get our Cutie Marks!” shouted Applebloom. The other two stared at her in disappointment. She was meant to say something encouraging. At the same time, Alec and Hamish were walking through the Market. As neither of them were in their finals anymore, they wondered round looking for things to buy. As for Luna and Rainbow Dash, they were prepping in the stadium for their final event. A few minutes later they came across the Crusader’s Stand.

“Wow, they look really good.” Alec said with a smile. Two of the fillies blushed a little, while Scootaloo stared at him with his jaw wide open.

“Hold on, you’re Alec Bishop?” she asked excitedly.

“Yeah, why?” Alec asked curiously. Scootaloo’s eyes opened a little wider.

“Wow! You’re one of the racers?! I know Rainbow Dash is my idol, but you’re pretty incredible!” Alec felt happy and anxious at the same time.

“Yeah, well…sorry if you’re disappointed, but I’m not racing in the finals. I came 3rd. Did you see the last race?”

“No, sorry. These two right here played a really cruel trick on me.” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle both giggled mischievously. Hamish raised an eyebrow at them. “What happened? Is Rainbow Dash in the finals? Oh, I really hope so!”

“Well, get your hopes high kid, she is.” Hamish butted in. Alec’s blue eyes shot him a disappointed look while Scootaloo was cheering with glee.

“The reason she’s in the final is because I let her beat me. I know that sounds hard, but…there’s a cheater in the finals.

Yesterday he tripped up Rainbow Dash and almost made her lose the race. If I hadn’t stopped and helped her finish, she wouldn’t be in the final. Arrogant as that sounds, it’s the truth.” The smile on the young filly’s face receded a little.

“Oh. That sucks. Well, I guess you’re a good person then. Tell her I wish her luck!” At this point, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom recognised Hamish.

“Ain’t you Hamish Johnson? As in the guy who does weight-liftin’?” Applebloom asked curiously. Hamish nodded neutrally, aware of what would happen next. Both of the fillies faces smiled.

“You know, for 14 years old, you’re pretty strong.” Sweetie said sweetly. Hamish tustled her mane.

“Hey, do you two want to buy some of these?” Scootaloo asked holding up two chocolate medals.

“Sure, why not?” Alec said giving them some bits. Just as Applebloom was handing them some change, Alec refused it.

“No, keep the change.” He offered as the two friends walked off to the stadium. Sweetie Belle was sitting on the ground with a huge grin on her face. The other two raised their eyebrows curiously.

“What is it?” Scootaloo asked anxiously.

“He touched my mane. I’ll never wash it again.” Sweetie said stupefied. The other two fillies looked at each other.

“I’d give her three days before Rarity makes her wash it.” Applebloom whispered mischevouslly.

***

“Rainbow Dash? What’s wrong?” Luna asked her curiously, “I haven’t seen you this anxious for a while.” The two equines were supposed to be prepping for their final races, however Dash seemed unusually distracted from it.

“I’m just worried. You know, about the finals. Because…” she cut off the last part of her sentence. Luna tilted her head curiously.

“Worried about what?” Dash bit her lip anxiously. Should she tell her about Ace?

“Because in the race there’s a…a…chea-chance I could lose!” Luna smiled at her companion.

“Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll win. Besides, even if you don’t, we’ll still be proud. And anyway, you have a special somepony who has helped you through these races.” Rainbow Dash’s mood perked up a little, she was telling the truth. After all, she was a very wise Alicorn.

“Thanks Princess, that makes me feel better.” Dash said reassuringly as she walked to the starting line.

Uh oh.

There was a crowd standing around in a circle just outside the stadium chanting ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’ and there were the sounds of two colts grunting and shouting. Dash recognised both of these voices and scurried over to see what was happening. A shocking sight met her eyes.

Alec and Ace, both bloodied and bruised, were fighting in the middle of this small ring. It was visible to see that Alec had knocked one of Ace’s teeth out while Alec’s forehead was bleeding badly. Both were swearing and shrieking at each other.

“What did I tell you, you little s***?! You let me win!” Ace shouted dealing a blow to Alec’s face making him stumble back. He got back up, rage burning in his eyes.

“Why does it matter to you? You’ve won so much, then a newbie comes along and shows you up? Haven’t you heard of encouragement?!” Alec shrieked back smashing his hoof into Ace’s stomach making him winded.

“How about this then f***tard? I’ll blurt out your secret whether you win or not! And your stupid cyan b**** can go down with you!” Ace swore smashing Alec’s jaw upwards. The sandy-maned Pegasus fell to the ground spitting out a tooth. Ace progressed back slowly, the smirk of victory on his face.

“Whether you win or lose. It’s game over kid. Game over.” He trotted off with the other ponies following him. Rainbow Dash remained behind to help him.

“What happened?” she asked helping the destroyed Pegasus onto his feet. He spat out another tooth, this time a front one.

“He just saw me…and decided to…hit me…hard. Then I hit him back…and that started…ugh…” He really was wounded, and Dash’s race started in an hour. With no other option, Dash lifted him onto her back and flew to the Hospital.

***

“Is he going to be okay?”

“It’s hard to tell at the moment. He hasn’t lost any blood, but his wounds are quite serious.”

“That Ace…I’m gonna kill him for doing this!”

“Hamish, calm down. Violence won’t solve anything right now.”

“All I’m worried about is his body. Are any bones broken Nurse?”

“Luckily, no. But two of his teeth are gone and a rib has been splintered slightly, but nothing major.”

“Nothing major? He has two teeth missing!” And one is visible!”

“Hamish…just sit over there and calm down. This’ll be over soon.”

“Shh! He’s waking up!”

Alec’s eyes began to slowly flicker open as he became aware of his surroundings. He was in hospital and he couldn’t feel his chest. As his vision began to un-blur he saw Rainbow Dash, Hamish, Luna and Nurse Redheart standing by his bed. It was clear that Rainbow had been crying with stained tears running down her cheeks.

“God, my head…” Alec said putting a hoof to his skull. The others sighed in relief.

“Alec! Thank Celestia you’re okay.” Rainbow smiled in relief.

“Goddamnit Alec, why are you so fragile? You’re just like David Clare!”

“Leave him out of this, he’s stuck doing school at the moment.” Alec instructed, “Wait…Dash, why aren’t you at the stadium? You’re meant to be racing!” Dash lowered her head a little. Hamish and Luna looked at each other.

“I think we’ll let you both have a private talk.” Luna said calmly as the human and Alicorn walked out of the room.

“Alec, the truth is…I quit.” Dash admitted sadly. Alec’s eyes opened wider.

“What?! Why would you do that?” He said surprisingly. Dash raised her head again with her magenta eyes sparkling.

“Remember in the semi-finals how you gave up your position to help me? Well…I’ve done the same for you, I thought I wouldn’t be a good friend if I didn’t.” Alec’s eyes began to sink back in understanding.

“Aw, thanks so much Dash, it means a lot.” He said sweetly, “But you still know about Ace. We’re both boned.” She nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, it sucks. But I don’t care and neither should you.” She replied firmly.

“Heh, in my opinion I didn’t really give a s*** in the first place.” They both laughed softly. “But we shouldn’t care, he was just jealous that a couple of new racers were very good. He’s a cheater and we both know that. It may change our emotion, but it shouldn’t change our personalities.” Alec spoke truthfully. They both looked at each other for a short time.

“Come here.” Alec said with limbs outstretched. Dash embraced his weak body and let it all out. Alec felt his back become wet with her tears, but he could handle it. The embrace lasted for a few minutes with Dash letting all her sadness out.

“I love you.” They both said emotionally.

Hamish and Luna both listened from outside the door. “Wait, isn’t it wrong to eavesdrop?” Hamish said wonderingly. Luna laughed at her friend’s innocence.

“Hamish, let’s go and teach Ace a lesson, shall we?” Luna said excitedly. Hamish leapt up from the door grinning.

“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.” He said happily as they both walked off to the stadium once again.