Twilight Sparkle lay within the library indulging in another book, her eyes shifting from page to page. Suddenly a gust of wind was heard and the cheering of many. With a ruffle of her feathers she stood and went out to take a look.

There stood Rainbow Dash amongst a small crowd of foals. They all surrounded her praising her on her many accomplishments, with a particular orange filly chanting her name the loudest. Rainbow Dash absorbed the praise standing in pride.

“Yes, I know kids I am awesome.” She beamed.

“Mind keeping it down, Rainbow?” Twilight asked, now fully standing outside.

“Sorry Twilight, but I can’t disappoint the fans.” She chuckled.

“Well could you not disappoint them somewhere else?” Twilight frowned.

“When you’re as skilled as me you can’t really decide where your gonna be awesome.”

Twilight’s frown deepened at her friends arrogance, “Come on Rainbow Dash it’s not that big of a deal how fast a pony can fly, I mean it’s just...” but stopped when she looked at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow looked at Twilight in insult, her crowd reflecting the look. Rainbow Dash opened her mouth to retort, but was cut short by a foal in the crowd.

“I bet she could beat you in a race!” He cried, the other foals cheered in agreement.

Twilight looked to them befuddled by their instant rage. “Now children, I didn’t mean that as a challenge...” She answered.

“Oh come on Twilight how about a race? Then we could settle how much of a big deal it is.” Rainbow Dash grinned.

“Rainbow Dash don’t encourage them! I don’t want to race, I was studying. I...” Twilight cried.

“I bet you Twilight could so win!” Spike who had been in the back interrupted.

At this point Scootaloo also came out, “Rainbow Dash would win!” She exclaimed.

Spike and Scootaloo began to argue about the true best flyer. The children began to scream amongst themselves.

“I think this has gotten out of hoof.” Rainbow Dash whispered to Twilight.

Twilight nodded in agreement, but before she could talk the crowd came to face them.

“Twilight you need to race! Show Scoo-Rainbow Dash who’s best!” He demanded.

“Rainbow Dash you NEED to race, fight for your title! Shoe Spi-Twilight who's boss!” Scootaloo cried.

The two mares looked to each other, “I guess we have to now.” Twilight whimpered, looking back to her library.

So the two headed out to an open air space followed by the children. As they walked the children called out to others to come watch and by the time they arrived to the field a large crowd had accumulated. Pinkie Pie skipped out of the crowd.

“OH MY GOSH I HEARD YOU TWO ARE GOING TO RACE?”She squealed. “HOW FUN! IT’LL BE JUST LIKE THE RUNNING OF THE LEAVES!”

“Uhmm...sure.” Rainbow Dash answered, not fully sure of to what she agreed to.

Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy came out of the crowd as well and walked to the three.

“Twi, R.D. is it true that ya’ll are gonna race?” Applejack asked them.

“Yeah, I guess.” Rainbow Dash answered.

“Oh darling! You should have told me earlier, I would have brought my opera glasses!” Rarity cried.

“Umm...but why are you racing?” Fluttershy whispered.

“Because i’ve lost control of my life...” But before Twilight could finish Spike ran up to them.

“Everypony is seated! Let me tell you the lay out of the race.” Spike said.

“What! Spike really?” Twilight growled.

The group headed out towards the center of the crowd. Scootaloo stood there placing rope on a quickly made track that consisted of it, making its outline.

“It’s basically 10 laps around this track, first to finish wins.” Scootaloo told them and led them to the makeshift starting/finish line.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash walked uneasily to the line, the crowd cheering excitedly in the background. After all it was not normal for an alicorn princess and the fastest flier in Equestria to be having a competition.

“Don’t worry Twilight i’ll go easy on you.” Rainbow Dash grinned.

These constant proclamations of Twilight’s inability irked her, “I won’t need you to.” She answered back and opened her wings. Twilight’s wingspan being an inch or so larger than Rainbow Dash’s.

Rainbow Dash looked at her and grinned, “You’re on.” Fluttering her wings open and preparing her stance.

Spike and Scootaloo stood in front of them holding a flag each. Around them the now large crowd cheered. They shouted in cheer for their monarch or future Wonderbolt. Twilight gulped and quivered at her previous boost of confidence. Looking around she noticed that many cheered for Rainbow Dash,’ I have to win now, if only to stop Dash’s arrogance.’ Twilight thought.

“On the left we have our purple pony princess...” Spike proclaimed.

“And on the right we have radically righteous Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo finished.

“On your mark...get set...GO!” They both shouted.

Rainbow Dash blasted off immediately flapping her wings furiously. Twilight on the other hoof flew at a calm pace keeping her beats steady. Looking back Rainbow Dash saw Twilight’s slowness and stopped flying.

“Easy win.” She said to her self. She flapped her wings barely propelling her forward at a meandering pace.

Meanwhile behind Twilight flew on. Small drops of sweat stuck to her forehead. She was already several laps behind of Rainbow Dash when she noticed her stop and fly down. Rainbow Dash stood next Fluttershy stretching her wings and merely chatting. Applejack seemed to be scolding her. Twilight flew on advancing and regaining a lap, only one left to catch up to Rainbow Dash, who was now eating hayfries.

Looking up Rainbow Dash noticed Twilight had catched up. She stuffed the rest of the fries into her mouth and flew up. She pumped her wings and flew fast catching up to Twilight. She smiled at Twilight as she passed her again and with a grin boosted her speed, her mane fluttering back in a rainbow trail making another lap and passed her again. She slowed down and equaled Twilight’s pace flying next to her.

“2 laps for me, 4 for you. You know what I think i’ll take a nap.” Rainbow Dash flew up to a high cloud and lay there resting her head upon the plush surface.

Twilight snorted in disbelief and quickened her pace. Her arrogance! She thought.

“Just a quick nap and then i’ll fly by and win.” Rainbow thought.

But when she awoke she looked down to see the crowd cheering. As Twilight got close to the finish line.

“Twilight is now reaching the end of her last lap with Rainbow Dash still napping. Can this be, Rainbow Dash defeated?” Spike commentated.

Rainbow’s eyes widened, mustering all her strength she raced to the distant line. She could not lose, she had a reputation to uphold. Twilight looked up and noticed her. She smiled at Rainbow Dash and with a sudden burst pumped her wings and with godly speed crossed the line, skidding to a halt on the ground.

Rainbow Dash arrived moments later heaving and with sweat on her brow.

“How... did you... do that?” Rainbow gasped.

“Just like in the running of the leaves. I went slow keeping pace and at the end while you were distracted I used all my energy to sprint to the finish line.” Twilight answered proudly.

Scootaloo and Spike ran to them along with the crowd of foals from earlier.

“Twilight you won!” Spike cheered.

“Rainbow Dash you lost!” Scootaloo cried.

Rainbow Dash nervously chuckled. She looked at Twilight and answered, “Goes to show kid that even the fastest and best flyer in Equistria needs to learn to go slow and steady from time to time.” She said, now humbled. Twilight smiled back at her.

“I guess...” Scootaloo mumbled. “Here, you win.” Scootaloo threw a gem to Spike who caught it cheerfully.

And from there forth Rainbow Dash learned indeed that slow and steady does win the race.

Author's Note

Any mistakes, suggestions comments feel free to tell me.

If there is any artsy bronies (or pegasisters) that would be willing to draw an art piece for each story that would be great and feel free to contact me.