The Speed of Sound

The night skies were always the most freeing place to be for Rainbow Dash; the dark azure sea above so close it almost feels like she could touch it, the ground so far below it was almost out of sight and the air so thin the Pegasus' mind was completely clear of all worry and trouble. This is what I live for! She thought to herself. I bet I could fold my wings and fall for ten full minutes. Hmm, maybe I should try that... and closing her wings firmly against her body, she began to plummet, turning the stars into rays of light, the clouds whirling and passing faster than she thought possible.

As the earth of Equestria rose toward her, she let her wing out in a full spread, the air catching under and pulling her back up in a sharp arch. Ascending, Dashes wings stung with a numbed burning, the pull up from that plummet must have been a lot sharper than she thought. They didn't hurt, however, the burning felt more satisfying than pain filled. I haven't felt that for a while. That always feels sooo awesome!

As she inclined, she spotted something unusual in the sky, a spark of emerald light. "What the in the name of Celestia IS that?" She mumbled to herself, tilting her wings by minute angles, switching her trajectory toward the now flickering, fading light. With her usual speed, the Pegasus closed the distance in a heartbeat. But just as she approached, the light completely flickered out, and from it, something plummeted.

Following the quick dropping mass, Dash began to get closer, close enough to realize that it was an animal, but at the speed she was following at, she couldn't make out much else. Not good, that fall'll kill it! Her mind roared, and kicking into high gear, she burst towards the ground to catch it. As she closed in, she slowed her descent, and catching the creature's added weight, hit the ground with a firm thud. This pain wasn't satisfying at all. "Oh for the love of Equestria that hurt!" She groaned to herself, and rolling over, she pushed her weight onto the forehooves and stood up. Her rump aching, she limped over to investigate exactly what it was she had saved.

What she gazed upon was more than enough to force any pain out of her mind. Before her lay a creature that looked unlike anything she's ever seen, spiked quills protruding from its head, and bare spot on what she assumed was its belly, and some kind of muzzle on its face, with a black nose stretching from it. Its fur was blue like her own, but some shades darker, its ears seaming to be the only other similarity she could make. Whatever this thing is, it might be hurt, I guess I should bring it to Fluttershy for help. Maneuvering her head under the creature's body, she bucked and shifted until it was lying atop her and headed toward her friend's house near the forest.

The night air of the trip seemed to have brought whatever Dash saved to a semi consciousness.  Between groans, she could hear mumbles, almost whispers; "Egg.. ma... What did.. Tai.. ls..?"

So, you can talk, your voice sounds pretty male, and wherever you came from, something bad happened. The young pegasus thought to herself. Not my problem, but I guess I couldn't just leave him. Oh well, I'll just drop him off with Fluttershy and come back in the morning, he might have an interesting story.

The last thing Fluttershy expected this late at night was to find her friend Rainbow Dash on her footstep, carrying some animal even the pink-maned pegasus pony couldn't recognize. "Oh, oh hello Rainbow, how are you? Who... What's this?" Moving passed Fluttershy; the blue pegasus rolled the now again completely unconscious creature off of her back, and onto a bed, obviously not big enough to fit him, it'd have to do. "I think he's hurt, I was hoping you could help him."

Giving a shy yet excited squeak, the yellow pony walked closer to the blue animal before her. "Oh, oh of course. I would never turn away an injured animal." She blushed slightly, her pale blonde fur turning a faint red around her cheeks.  And I certainly would never turn YOU away...

As the glow of Luna's night faded into the radiance of Celestia's day, a streak of light lay itself across Rainbow Dash's eyelids. Apparently, she must have fallen asleep at Fluttershy's. Aww jeeze, I guess I was more tired than I thought. Her eyes fluttering open with some reluctance, and spotted Fluttershy looking more flustered than normal, her cheeks deep red, and eyes darting anywhere.. besides Rainbow Dash. Was.. was she watching me? Smiling calmly, Rainbow lifted herself up and walked over towards Fluttershy. "Hey Fluttershy, sorry about passing out here. Hope I wasn't too much of a problem."

Fluttershy simply put on her typical gentle, yet worried smile. "Ooh, it was no problem at all, but you worried me a little when you just.. fell over like that. You're much lighter than I thought though; I had barely any trouble carrying you to the bed."  The pink-maned pony said with a sort of pride. "With the way you are, I thought you'd have been much heavier, what with the muscle mass." As Rainbow Dash thought of how it must have been for Fluttershy, something came to her. "So did I take up much space on your bed? Were you able to sleep alright?"

If there was anything redder than Fluttershy's face, Rainbow Dash had never seen it. Her cheeks were so bright it looked as if the once calm pegasus was about to explode. "Oh, oh, I, I mean, oh my... Well, well yes.. I, I mean yes, I did... Sleep I mean." The blue pony giggled at Fluttershy's ridiculously flustered response. "Oh Fluttershy, you're priceless."

As Fluttershy's cheeks turned back to her typical pale blonde, she almost shifted gears like Rainbow Dash's last comment didn't even exist. "Oh, about that animal you brought in, he seems to be alright, although he seemed to have taken a nasty fall." Fluttershy's words seemed truthful, but she still seemed worried for the creature.

Rainbow Dash thought about last night. "Yeah, when I found him, he just... appeared, I was flying around and I saw this HUGE flash." She stretched her arms out for emphasis. "And he just kinda fell from it. I managed to catch him before he hit ground." The pegasus spoke with the typical pride in her voice. Fluttershy smiled and spoke, a little of her embarrassment still lingering on her breath. "That's good, he would have been a lot worse without you. But anyway, I should check on him." She began to walk toward the stairs down, when Rainbow Dash followed. "I might as well check it out too, it could be interesting."

Now that she was completely awake and fully aware, Rainbow Dash observed this animal she saved. Deep blue fur, beige chest and arms. As she stared, the steady rise and fall of his chest hastened, and his body began to subtly twitch to life. His eyes shifting under the eye lids, he began to mumble to himself. "Ooooh, last time I EVER let Eggman press a big red button. Tails, you alrii.." His eyes fluttering open, his bright emerald eyes caught sight of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "..ight?"

The time in complete silence was impossible to measure, all that could be distinguished was the confusion coming from this animals eyes. "You, you're not Tails. Who, what in the world are you?" Fluttershy attempted to speak, but she could only manage a squeak, Rainbow Dash decided to speak up. "I'm Rainbow Dash, and this here's Fluttershy." The pink-maned pegasus shrunk away as her name was spoken. "Who are you?"

The simple, hardy friendliness in Rainbow Dash's voice seemed to have caught some trust from the blue animal, who smiled a brave, cocky smile and, at a speed that shocked Fluttershy and even impressed Rainbow Dash, jumped up and flipped through the air into a standing position, this guy seems to stand on his hind legs. "Heh, who am I? I'm Sonic the hedgehog: fastest thing alive!"